Greatevents
Look forward to a great summer of fun events across the East Midlands with our guide to what’s on in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire in 2017
IT’S time to grab your diaries and make a note of some of the brilliant events taking place in our region over the next few months. From world-renowned music festivals to fantastic street entertainment, there’s a breathtaking line-up of events in store – and you won’t want to miss a minute. Here’s our look ahead at the highlights:
MAY WELL DRESSINGS, various villages in Derbyshire, between May and September
This ancient tradition brings some of Derbyshire’s loveliest villages together in a celebration of all things floral, with schools, groups and individuals creating living art installations using all-natural materials – plus there’s always lots of partying and entertainment often lasting for several days. Dates include: May 20-22 – Etwall; May 25-31 – Tissington; June 10-18 – Ashford-in-the-Water; June 25 – Bakewell. July 8-15 – Whitwell; July 15-22 – Heath; July 15- 21 – Holmesfield; July 15-16 – West Hallam. Details at www.visitpeakdistrict.com
SPARK FESTIVAL, Various venues in Leicester, May 22- June 3
Renowned as the largest children’s arts festival in England and Wales, this annual celebration brings a host of venues, including libraries and theatres, together for a non-stop programme of sparkling entertainment. www.sparkfestival.co.uk
BEARDED THEORY, Catton Hall, Derbyshire, May 25-28
Brilliant festival, this year featuring Madness, Seasick Steve and Skunk Anansie – plus there’s an exciting programme of all-action fun with the popular Bearded School for kids. www.beardedtheory.co.uk
ASHBY ARTS FESTIVAL, various venues in Ashby-dela-Zouch, Leicestershire, May 26-27
Featuring hundreds of local artists, musicians, song writers, poets, performers and story tellers, this colourful festival links amateurs and professionals together to create drama performances, street theatre, music, workshops and a photography competition. Famed for its giant outdoor gallery, showcasing the wonderful work of individuals of all ages and abilities. www.ashbyartsfestival.co.uk
JUNE LEICESTER RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL, Bede Park, Mile Straight, Western Boulevard and Castle Gardens, Leicester, June 3-4
Don’t miss another lively weekend of activities for the whole family spread over this great venue. The popular event offers boat trips, live music, a variety of food stalls from around the world, displays and an exciting choice of activities for all ages. www.visitleicester.info/riversidefestival
RHS CHATSWORTH FLOWER SHOW, Chatsworth, Derbyshire, June 7-11
This much-anticipated inaugural event highlights the creativity that has shaped the way we think about gardens and gardening, celebrating design revolutionaries, innovation, community spirit and wonderful wildlife.
Discover an amazing array of show gardens, with a host of clever types pushing the boundaries to create daring and exciting outdoor spaces.
Categories such as ‘FreeForm’ will provide a blank canvas for exhibitors to showcase their groundbreaking ideas, plus there’ll be plenty of shopping and other activities in the wonderful historic surroundings of one of England’s best stately homes. www.rhs.org.uk
DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL 2017, Donington Park, Leicestershire, June 9-11
System of a Down, Aerosmith and Biffy Clyro headline at this awesome event honouring the ancient art of heavy rock. www.downloadfestival.co.uk
SAUSAGE AND CIDER FESTIVAL, Cattows Farm, Heather, Leicestershire, June 9-11
Featuring lots of music, lots of cider and lots of sausages – with brilliant tribute acts bringing everyone from Michael Jackson to Bon Jovi to the stage area. www.jamesdeanevents.com
POPPIES: WEEPING WINDOW, The Silk Mill, Derby, June 9-July 23
A fantastic chance for local folk to experience all the impact and emotion of this amazing ceramic sculpture commemorating the first world war, featuring a cascade of poppies pouring from a high window to the ground below.
Artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper are now touring the UK with their wonderful creations – originally part of the stunning 2014 centenary installation at the Tower of London – to give as many people as possible the opportunity to see them.
Over the course of their time in London, the sculptures were gradually surrounded by a vast field of ceramic poppies, each one planted by a volunteer in memory of the life of a British or Colonial soldier lost during the Great War.
In their original setting, they captured the public imagination and were visited by over five million people. www.1418now.org.uk
ASHBOURNE FESTIVAL, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, June 16-July 2
A two-week celebration with an exciting mix of entertainment in this lovely rural setting. With a stand-alone street performance festival, fringe performances and appearances from a range of special guests, including Toyah Wilcox, Patricia Routledge and Tim Brooke-Taylor. www.ashbournefestival.org
FOXTON LOCKS FESTIVAL, Foxton, near Market Harborough, Leicestershire, June 17-18
A great experience for all the family, set around the famous Foxton Locks. With crafts, Saxons, hands-on activities, live music and plenty of other stuff to enjoy. www.foxtonlocksfestival.co.uk
FOREST LIVE, Sherwood Pines Forest Park, Notts, June 23-25
Olly Murs, Sir Tom Jones and Elbow head to the deep dark wood for this annual celebration of music and entertainment. www.forestry.gov.uk
JULY DINOSAURS OF CHINA, Wollaton Hall, Nottingham, July 1-October 29
Huge exhibition, coming to Europe for the first time, featuring fossils and specimens never before seen outside of Asia, with an additional satellite exhibition at Nottingham Lakeside Arts Centre.
The show includes the best preserved dinosaur fossils around – not just bones, but also soft parts including skin and feathers. Many of the species are new to science, only discovered and named in the last 20 years, and some as recently as 2015.
One of the highlights will be the Gigantoraptor, which at four metres high and eight metres long, is the largest feathered dinosaur ever found. www.dinosaursofchina.co.uk
AN INDIAN SUMMER, Various venues, Leicester, throughout July 2017
This family-friendly extravaganza will transform the city into a mecca for South Asian arts and culture, with an outstanding line up of live experiences throughout the month. Experience an enthralling mixture of film, food, theatre, music, dance, talks, workshops and art. www.indiansummer.org.uk
WISTOW MAZE, Wistow, Leicestershire, open from July
Look forward to another summertime favourite, as designers unveil their latest clever puzzle made from allnatural materials. www.wistow.com
DERBY CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL PARADE, Derby city centre, July 15
The city’s West Indian Community Association is marking its 42nd year of organising this colourful parade from Pear Tree Road into the Market Place. The celebrations will once again continue at Osmaston Park on Sunday, July 16. www.emccan.org/derby-caribbean-carnival
COLOUR RUSH, Markeaton Park, Derby, July 16
This event, organised by Treetops Hospice Care, features live music and entertainment, stalls and children’s activities – all building up to the 3k sponsored Colour Rush, which starts at 1pm. Let your hair down and run, jog or walk through the different colour stations en route and get covered in coloured powder as a special reward. www.derby.gov.uk
SPLENDOUR, Wollaton Park, Nottingham, July 22
Family music festival in the grounds of this wonderful historic home, featuring headliners The Kaiser Chiefs. www.splendourfestival.com
Y NOT? FESTIVAL 2017, Pikehall, Derbyshire, July 22-30
For one weekend a year, the gorgeous Peak District countryside becomes a major festival site – with this year’s acts including The Stereophonics, Two Door Cinema Club,
The Vaccines, Clean Bandit and Jake Bugg. www.ynotfestivals.co.uk/ AU U
NOTTINGHAM RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL, Victoria Embankment, Nottingham, August 4-6
Nottingham’s biggest free festival weekend, including food, entertainment and an enormous firework display. www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk
LEICESTER CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL, Victoria Park, Leicester, August 5
Hugely popular multicultural event, celebrating the diverse people of Leicester, which aims to keep the traditions of the Caribbean alive. There’s a brilliant parade through the city centre, plus live music, a fun fair and other entertainment throughout the day at the main venue. www.emccan.org.uk
SURE START ANNUAL FAMILY FUN DAY, Arboretum Park, Derby, August 9
A fun event which also aims to support families on issues such as safeguarding, further education, benefits advice, employment and healthy eating, alongside arts and craft activities for children. www.derby.gov.uk
CITY FESTIVAL, Various venues, Leicester, August 12-28
The city will once again be buzzing with activities for all the family as streets and entertainment venues are filled with fun stuff, street art, sports, culture, music, heritage and more. www.visitleicester.info
NOTTINGHAM CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL, Victoria Embankment, Nottingham, August 20
Action-packed community event centred around the Carnival Village, with fun fair rides, music and a parade setting off through the city centre from 2pm. www.emccan.org/nottinghamcaribbean-carnival
SEPTEMBER CHATSWORTH COUNTRY FAIR, Chatsworth, Derbyshire, September 1-3
Often seen as the event that marks the official end of the summer season in the East Midlands, this shamelessly indulgent extravaganza celebrates amazing food and traditional country pursuits in the grandest setting imaginable. www.chatsworthcountryfair.co.uk
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS, various venues across the region, September 7-10
Celebrating England’s fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. www.heritageopendays.org.uk DERBY FESTÉ, Derby city centre, September 29-30
Street festival with events for all the family, welcoming performers and entertainers from around the world. www.derbyfeste.com OCTOBER GOOSE FAIR, Forest Recreation Ground, Nottingham, October 4-8
One of the world’s most famous travelling fairs, bringing colour and atmosphere to the city for more than 700 years. www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk
ILKESTON CHARTER FAIR, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, October 18-21
Another fairground extravaganza, this time taking over the streets of an entire town in an event which dates back an incredible 765 years. www.erewash.gov.uk