Things to do this weekend: Banks Mill Open Studios, A Elf Fun Run, Plus Santa's Grotto!

Morning! The weekend is loaded with everything from open studios to elf races, ice rinks and about six different chances to meet Santa before the big day. Banks Mill turns into a maze of artists, the markets are buzzing and the food spots are tempting enough to derail any good intentions. It is a full run of festive fun, and you’ll probably come home with things you never meant to buy and stories you didn’t plan to tell.

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

🎨 - Banks Mill Open Studios - The Only Place You’ll Say ‘Wow’ Twenty Times And Mean It
📍 - Banks Mill Studios
📅 - Fri 28th to Sun 30th Nov
⏰ - Fri 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
⏰ - Sat & Sun 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
🎟️ - Free entry
📷 - @banksmillstudios

Banks Mill is throwing open the doors for its annual open studios weekend. More than fifty artists and makers are working away across five floors, and you get to wander through the lot. Painting, printmaking, ceramics, illustration, glasswork, photography, all happening right in front of you. You can chat to the makers, buy pieces straight from the source and follow the kid’s art trail if you want bonus points for being fun. It is the most creative building in Derby for one weekend, and you get full access.

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

Ethical Christmas Market - Derby Market Hall
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:

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

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

SCRUMPTIOUS SCOOP

🍽️ - The Engine Room - The New Spot Everyone Pretends They Discovered First
📍 - Riverlights
📅 - Breakfast 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM (7:00 AM weekends)
📅 - Lunch 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
📅 - Full Menu 12:00 PM to 9:45 PM
📷 - @engineroomderby

The Engine Room is the newest place turning sensible adults into plate guarding goblins. Small plates, smoky grills, hand stretched pizzas and a pork tomahawk that could start family arguments. It is shiny, industrial and stylish enough that you’ll immediately claim you found it before anyone else. The food hits hard, the cocktails hit harder and the desserts will cheerfully destroy whatever discipline you had left. Ideal for date nights, group catch ups or that “quick bite” that somehow becomes a full shift.

ACTIVITY ALLEY

🧝 - Mental Elf Fun Run - The Only Race Where Lycra Meets Pointy Ears
📍 - Elvaston Castle
📅 - Sun 30th Nov
⏰ - From 9:00 AM
🎟️ - From £10
📷 - @derbyshiremind

Mental Elf is back and it’s the one day a year you can sprint through Elvaston Castle dressed like an elf without anyone calling security. It is a fundraising run with a festive twist, complete with costume competitions, pets in outfits and enough Christmas spirit to power the lights on the Market Place. Do the 5k, the 10k or the family fun run. Jog, walk, skip, stumble, whatever your elf energy allows. It is silly, wholesome and all for a brilliant cause.

FRESH EXPERIENCES

🎅 - Santa’s Grotto - The Only Queue Kids Are Happy To Stand In
📍 - Derby Market Hall
📅 - Sat 29th Nov to Wed 24th Dec
⏰ - Various times
🎟️ - £4.50
📷 - @derbymarkethall

Santa’s clocked in early this year and he’s working harder than half the elves. Kids get their photo, a present and a festive trail, all wrapped up in a neat fifteen minute visit that keeps the excitement high and the stress low. It’s cheerful, well run and the closest you’ll get to guaranteed Christmas magic without needing a miracle. Perfect if you want the little ones grinning and the grown ups surviving.

LIVE MUSIC

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
11°C 🌡️ 4°C | Sunny Intervals.

Saturday
8°C 🌡️ 1°C | Sunny Intervals.

Sunday
7°C 🌡️ 4°C | Sunny Intervals.
Temperature readings taken from the Met Office the night before publication

THANKS!

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