Things to do this weekend including: A new cocktail bar in Derby Market Hall, Willington Carnival, and Elvaston Castle’s Food Festival

Morning Derby! It’s a stacked weekend! Quick reminder that Elvaston Castle’s Food & Drink Festival is landing Saturday and Sunday, and it’s looking busy! Theres going to be burgers, cocktails, live music, the works. There’s also a brand new cocktail bar and distillery opening inside Derby Market Hall (yes, gin is involved). Willington’s going full village carnival with inflatables, a dog show, and something called the Chicken Run. Plenty going on.

📅 WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK?

🍔 - Elvaston Castle’s Food Fest This Weekend
📍 - Elvaston Castle Country Park
📅 - 19th - 20th July
⏰ - 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM, both days
🎟️ - Free Entry
📷 - @mad_hatters_events

Quick reminder about this weekend’s big one: the Elvaston Castle Food & Drink Festival. It’s set to be packed, loud, and absolutely full of things to do. You’ve got street food, cocktails, artisan stalls, live music, and enough kid-friendly entertainment to buy you a peaceful pint. The castle backdrop’s doing the hard work on the photos, and the food line-up’s looking like lunch, snacks, and dessert all in one go. Get there early, it’s going to be busy.

FRIDAY:

90’s & 00’s Silent Disco - Chocolate Factory
7:00 PM | More Info

SATURDAY:

Weekend Yard Sale - Chaddesden
9:00 AM | More Info

Gut Health & Fermentation Workshop - Hannah Fields Community Garden
10:00 AM | More Info

Makers Market - Denby Pottery Village
10:00 AM | More Info

Needlefelting Beginner Workshop - 6-10 Werburgh Street
10:00 AM | More Info

A Choir’d Taste Coffee Concert - Melbourne Parish Church
10:30 AM | More Info

Family Fun Day - Derby Rugby Club
10:30 AM | More Info

Long Lane Festival - Ashbourne
12:00 PM | More Info

Family Fun Day - Project Derby
12:00 PM | More Info

Radbourne Fete 2025 - Radbourne Hall
2:00 PM | More Info

Littleover Parks Walk - King George Fields
2:00 PM | More Info

Paint & Sip - Elvaston Castle
3:00 PM | More Info

SUNDAY:

Weekend Yard Sale - Chaddesden
9:00 AM | More Info

American Auto Meet - Great Northern Classics
10:00 AM | More Info

Sunday Social Dog Walk - Elvaston Castle
10:00 AM | More Info

Family Fun Day - Derby Rugby Club
10:30 AM | More Info

Picnic in The Park - Calke Abbey
12:30 PM | More Info

Summer Market - Shiny Tap
1:00 PM | More Info

Luxe Scented Candle Making - Derbion
3:00 PM | More Info

Little Shop of Horrors - St Nicholas Church
3:00 PM | More Info

🍔 SCRUMPTIOUS SCOOPS

🍸 - Grand Opening - The Spirit Run
📍 - Derby Market Hall
⏰ - Wed: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
⏰ - Thu - Sat: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
⏰ - Sun: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
📷 - @spiritrunderby

The Spirit Run opens this Saturday with cocktails, locally-made spirits, and enough gin to ruin your Sunday in the best possible way. Brought to you by the crew behind Darley Abbey Wines, it’s slick, strong, and not the place for anyone who says “I’ll just have one.” Their signature gin, The Uncommon Thread, is clean, crisp, and dangerously good. If you walk out without a bottle or at least a mild wobble, you’ve done it wrong.

🎭 ACTIVITY ALLEY

🎤 - Tina Turner by Candlelight
📍 - Derby Cathedral
📅 - Saturday 19th July
⏰ - 7:30 PM (Doors open 6:45 PM)
🎟️ - From £25 (Premium to Balcony)
📷 - @concertsbycandlelight

Derby Cathedral’s going full Proud Mary this Saturday as Dixie Daye belts out Tina Turner hits by candlelight. From River Deep Mountain High to Private Dancer, it’s a full-on tribute to the queen of rock and roll. The band’s live, the drinks are flowing, and yes, there’s aisle dancing. Just don’t try it on the balcony, where it’s seated only and strictly no strutting.

🌟 FRESH EXPERIENCES

🎈 - Willington Carnival
📍 - Twyford Road Playing Fields
📅 - Saturday 19th July
⏰ - 12:00 PM - 7:30 PM
🎟️ - Free Entry
📷 - @willingtoncarnival

Willington’s big day out is back this Saturday with inflatables, fairground rides, food stalls, and a dog show where half the pets are better behaved than the owners. There’s crafts, competitions, the legendary Chicken Run, and live music from 4:30 PM. Add face painting, tug of war, and a raffle full of “well I wasn’t expecting that” prizes, and you’ve got an easy win for the whole family.

🎶 LIVE MUSIC

Friday

• Independent Artist Night - Spondon Liberal Club - 7:00 PM

• Coldplay Tribute - Hairy Dog - 7:00 PM

• Henry John & Milly Ayesha Live - Derby Market Hall - 7:00 PM

• Soul Time - Ashton-on-Trent War Memorial Hall - 7:30 PM

• The Detroits - Mickleover British Legion - 8:00 PM

• Cover Story - White Swan Ockbrook - 8:00 PM

• The Soul Revival - Victoria Inn - 8:15 PM

• Junkyard Angels - Spondon Liberal Club - 9:00 PM

Saturday

• Grief Disco Derby - Dubrek Studios - 1:00 PM

• Acoustic Sundays - Victoria Inn - 3:00 PM

• Rosie & Glyn Live - Derby Market Hall - 7:00 PM

• The Newcranes Live - Flowerpot - 8:30 PM

• Carnival After Party - Hairy Dog - 9:00 PM

Sunday

• Robyn Wallis Johnson Live - Derby Market Hall - 12:00 PM

• Junction - The Smithfield - 4:00 PM

• Sunday Disco - Coronation Pub - 5:00 PM

☁️ WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday
28°C 🌡️ 17°C | Sunny.

Saturday
24°C 🌡️ 16°C | Sunny.

Sunday
24°C 🌡️ 14°C | Light rain changing to sunny intervals by early evening.
Temperature readings taken from the Met Office the night before publication

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