Snap & Chat Express: Craft workshops

About the Event

Enjoy free train-themed craft workshops at Derby Market Hall throughout the school holidays, provided by Snap & Chat Connect.

The workshops will take place on the upper balcony of Derby Market Hall, transforming the space into an interactive railway adventure for children and families. Although there will be six themed workshops across the summer holidays, the overall format will remain the same each day, with the destinations and activities changing to encourage repeat visits.

The Waiting Room

On arrival, families will make their way upstairs to the Railway Waiting Room, where children will receive their own personalised Railway Adventure Ticket and Railway Passport. This area will introduce visitors to the day’s adventure, with information boards explaining what will happen during their visit and interesting railway facts for children and parents to read together.

Platform 1

When the next train is ready to depart, our Station Master will invite children to Platform 1, where tickets will be checked and stamped before they begin their railway journey. Here, children will receive a short introduction to the day’s railway theme and complete their first activity before choosing which destination they would like to visit.

Destination Stations

Children will then travel to one of several themed destinations located around the Market Hall balcony. Each destination will have its own themed signage, volunteer host and creative activity.

Examples include:

• Derby Central Station
• Pirate Cove Junction
• Dinosaur City
• Wizard’s Junction
• Robot City
• Space Station Terminus

The destinations will rotate throughout the summer, meaning children can return and enjoy new adventures while collecting additional passport stamps.

Railway Passports

Each child will receive a Railway Passport to collect destination stamps throughout their journey. The aim is for children to return during the summer holidays to visit different destinations and complete their passport, creating a memorable keepsake of their railway adventure at Derby Market Hall.

Parents and Guardians

At the end of the balcony we plan to create a comfortable Collection Point, where parents or guardians who do not wish to accompany their children around the activities can relax while waiting. This area is next to the café, and we hope to encourage visitors to support this local business by enjoying refreshments while their children take part in the activities.

Derby’s Railway Heritage

Alongside the creative activities, we will display interesting and historically accurate information about Derby’s railway heritage. These facts will help children and adults discover why Derby became one of Britain’s most important railway cities and celebrate the city’s connection with the railways from the early steam era through to the present day.

Dates & Times

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Prices & Offers

• Free