Things to do this week: The Big Festive Lights Switch On! Plus The Sadler Gate Night Market!

Morning! The lights are switching on, lanterns are marching around and suddenly everyone’s acting like Christmas started five minutes ago. The Nordic Bar tipis are opening so you can drink something warm and pretend you’re in a snow globe. Sadler Gate is doing a night market that totally counts as festive prep even if you only buy a snack. And the Ethical Christmas Market is offering planet friendly gifts, perfect for anyone who wants to shop while feeling slightly superior.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

🎄 - Festive Derby Lights Switch On - The Moment Christmas Officially Starts
📍 - Derby Market Place
📅 - Thursday 27th Nov
⏰ - 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM
🎟️ - Free entry
📷 - @derbylive

Festive Derby is kicking off the season with ice skating, a lantern parade and a stage show that builds up to the big switch on at half six. The rink and Nordic Bar open from five so you can glide around or grab something warm before the entertainment starts. Schools, local groups and community makers bring their lanterns for a parade that always looks far more magical in person than you expect.

TUESDAY:

Special Psychic Night - The Bless
7:30 PM | More Info

WEDNESDAY:

Wreath Making - Kings Corner Oakwood
6:00 PM | More Info

Painting Party - Carnero Lounge
7:00 PM | More Info

THURSDAY:

Pop Up Market - Derby Market Hall
11:00 AM | More Info

Mini Beer Festival - Suds & Soda
4:00 PM | More Info

Nordic Bar Opening Night - Market Place
5:00 PM | More Info

Lantern Parade - St Peter's Church
5:00 PM | More Info

FRIDAY:

Banks Mill Open Studios (Fri till Sun) - Banks Mills
4:00 PM | More Info

SATURDAY:

Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink - Market Place
9:00 AM | More Info

Christmas Market Weekend - Borrowash Methodist Church
10:00 AM | More Info

Cookie Cutters Workshop - Derby Museums
10:00 AM | More Info

Celebration of Motorsport - Great Northern Classics
10:00 AM | More Info

Christmas Fayre - Melbourne Parish Church
11:30 AM | More Info

Festive Walkaround Entertainment - Derby Market Place
1:15 PM | More Info

Bottomless Brunch Ladies Day - Prince of Wales
3:00 PM | More Info

Christmas Opening - The Winery
3:30 PM | More Info

Christmas Fayre - Kings Corner Oakwood
4:00 PM | More Info

Festive Sip & Paint - Derby Market Hall
5:00 PM | More Info

The Kings Voice Candelight Concert - Derby Cathedral
7:00 PM | More Info

J26 Sinfonietta Concert - St Anne's Church
7:30 PM | More Info

SUNDAY:

Mind Mental Elf 5k & 10k - Elvaston Castle
9:00 AM | More Info

Santa Run - Markeaton Park
9:00 AM | More Info

Breakfast with Santa - Museum of Making
9:30 AM | More Info

Healing Winter Day Retreat - Gong Space
10:00 AM | More Info

Festive Market - Derby Market Hall
10:00 AM | More Info

Christmas Gifts Sale - Alvaston Park
11:00 AM | More Info

Christmas Market - Ashbourne Road
12:00 PM | More Info

Santa's Grotto - Derby Market Hall
12:00 PM | More Info

Christmas Fayre - Littleover Social Club
12:00 PM | More Info

SCRUMPTIOUS SCOOP

🍸 - Nordic Bar - Christmas In A Tent, But Classy
📍 - Derby Market Place
📅 - Sat 29th Nov to Wed 31st Dec
⏰ - Varies daily
🎟️ - Free to enter
📷 - @nordicbarco

Nordic Bar is back and it is basically Christmas wrapped in a giant hug. Three huge festive tipis filled with firepits, wooden benches, twinkling lights and enough foliage to make you check for elves. Hot drinks, cold drinks, mulled drinks, cocktails, mocktails, hot chocolate that could ruin diets in a ten mile radius, it’s all on the menu. You can even grab food from the vendors outside and bring it in like the civilised winter warrior you are.

ACTIVITY ALLEY

🛍️ - Sadler Gate Night Market - The Only Time Shopping Counts As A Night Out
📍 - Sadler Gate
📅 - Thu 27th Nov
⏰ - From 5:00 PM
🎟️ - Free entry
📷 - @lovesadlergate

Sadler Gate is rolling out its night market which basically means browsing, eating and pretending this is absolutely not Christmas panic buying. More than fifty makers are spread across the street, the Strand Arcade and Blacksmiths Yard, so you will get your steps in whether you planned to or not.

FRESH EXPERIENCES

🎄 - Ethical Christmas Market - The Greenest Way To Avoid Amazon
📍 - Derby Market Hall
📅 - Sat 29th Nov
⏰ - 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
🎟️ - Free entry
📷 - @derbymarkethall

The Ethical Christmas Market has thirty stalls of sustainable gifts which means you can finish your shopping and feel morally superior at the same time. Handmade treats, eco friendly goodies and enough recycled packaging to make you say “I’m basically saving the planet here.”

LIVE MUSIC

Wednesday

• Lack of Afro Live - Old Bell Hotel - 7:00 PM

Thursday

• Los Pacaminos - Flowerpot - 8:00 PM

• Karaoke Night - The Friary - 9:00 PM

Friday

• Maisie Tanner Live - Derby Market Hall - 7:00 PM

Saturday

• Blondish - Spondon Liberal Club 7:00 PM

• Ska Madness - Blue Jay Pub - 7:00 PM

• Glass Grave x Aviira - Victoria Inn - 7:00 PM

• Karl Loxley Songs of Christmas - Derby Cathedral - 7:30 PM

• James Cowley Live - Honeycomb - 8:30 PM

• Midnight Pumpkin Trucks - Spondon Liberal Club - 9:00 PM

Sunday

• Hard Rockin Amigos - Flowerpot - 4:00 PM

• Idol Maiden - Smithfield - 4:00 PM

WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday
10°C 🌡️ 4°C | Cloudy.

Saturday
10°C 🌡️ 2°C | Cloudy.

Sunday
9°C 🌡️ 4°C | Cloudy.
Temperature readings taken from the Met Office the night before publication

THANKS!

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