So Much to See and Do - Year Round Calendar

For exact dates this year please call one of the local Tourist Information Centres listed at the bottom of this page

January

CAMRA Winter Beer Festival, Derby

Indoor Climbing and Caving, Upper Limits, Leek (all year)

Blackbrook Zoological Park (all year)

February

Folk, Jazz and Blues Festival, Buxton

Dove Valley Centre (all year)

Newfields Gallery, Foxt (all year)

The Retreat Spa Day, Leek (all year)

Shrove Tuesday

Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football, Ashbourne.  This is something to behold!  Every Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday hundreds of residents of Ashbourne turn out for this mega football match.  The rules are not quite those of a normal match!  The ball can float, as often the players are in the river, and the goal is a stone rather than the traditional posts.  The ball can be carried, kicked or thrown.  The game takes up to 8 hours on both days and the pitch is 2 miles wide by 3 miles long!  Shops are boarded up as the action takes place throughout the town. 

March

Alton Towers Opens

Brown End Cycle Hire (all summer)

RSPB Coombes Valley Nature Reserve (all year)

Rudyard Lake sailing (all year)

Easter

Flagg Races (point to point horse racing)

Spotting the Mermaid, Kinder Scout

Watching the Sun dance, Castleton

Easter Egg Hunt, Carsington Water

Brindley Mill Open day, Leek (open weekends in summer)

Easter Services St Giles Roman Catholic Church, Cheadle – the fabulous gothic church designed by AW N Pugin

April

Barmote Court, Wirksworth

Cheadle Continental Food Market

May

Leek Arts Festival

Alstonefield Horse Show

Bamford Sheepdog Trials

Steam Rally, Crich Tramway Museum

Garlanding, Castleton

June

Teapot Parade, Flash

Double Sunset, Leek

Well Dressing at Ashford, Winster,

Morris Dancing, Wakes and Well Dressing, Tideswell

Froghall Wharf Boat Trips, Froghall

Well Dressing:- 2^nd week of June

Cressbrook, Marston Montgomery

Whitwell, Penistone

Well Dressing:- 3^rd week of June

Flash, Norbury, Derby, Mayfield, Tideswell, Over Haddon, Litton, Kniveton, Youlgrave

Well Dressing:- 4^th week of June-

Whaley Bridge, Bugsworth Basin, Hope, Rowsley, Bakewell, Old Wittington

July

The Internationally famous Buxton Festival and Festival Fringe

Ashbourne Highland Gathering

Biddulph Festival, Biddulph

Stainsby Folk Festival

Padley Martyrs Pilgrimage

Church Clipping, Burbage

Alport Love Feast, Alport Woodlands

Well Dressing:- 1st week of July-

Peak Forest, Dore,

Well Dressing:- 2nd week of July-

Old Tupton, Coal Aston, Wessington, Hathersage, Chapel in th Frith, Buxworth, Buxton, Harthill, Dronfield, Bamford, Aston on Trent, Pleasley, Tansley, Grindon, Pilsley, Hayfield, Gee Cross,

Well Dressing:- 3^rd week of July-

Upper Langwirth, Heage Windmill, Great Longstone, Little Longstone, Heath, Ault Hucknall

Well Dressing:- 4th week of July-

August

Eyam Wakes Week

Plague Sunday Commemoration, Eyam

World Championship Hen Races, Bonsall

Dovedale Sheepdog Trials

Leek Carnival and Show

Country Fair, Heaton House Farm, Heaton (Bank Holiday Monday)

Rush Bearing ceremony, Forest Chapel

Bakewell Show

Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, Buxton

Danebridge Church Tea Festival and local Photography completion, Danebridge

Well Dressing:- 1st week of August-

Bradwell, Wingerworth,

Well Dressing:- 2nd week of August-

Barlow, Great Hucklow, Taddington,

Well Dressing:- 3rd week of August-

Holymoorside, Eyam, Foolow, Wormhill,

Well Dressing:- 4th week of August-

Wardlow,

September

Longnor Horse Races

Hayfield Sheepdog Trials

Autumn Footprints Walking Festival

Jenkins Chapel Harvest Festival, Salterford

Church Clipping, Wirksworth

Heritage Open Day, David Mellor Design, Hathersage

Antiques in the Park, Kedleston Hall

Chesterfield Day of Dance and Well Dressing

Historic Dance Week, Sudbury

Well Dressings:- 3^rd week September

Hartington, Chesterfield

October

Matlock Bath famous Illuminations

Apple Day, Calke Abbey

Charter Fair, Ilkeston

Honey Fair, Carsington

Chatsworth Sculpture exhibition

Vintage Festival of Light, Ashover

Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Day, Derwent

November

Dovedale Dash, Thorpe

Hadfield Well Dressing

December

Matlock Bath Boat Race

Curfew Bell, Scarliffe

Santa Specials, Churnet Valley Steam Railway, Cheddleton

Christmas decorations at Kedleston Hall, Haddon Hall, Sudbury, Chatsworth and others

Christmas lights at Ipstones

Christmas Markets, Chesterfield

Open Air Ice Rink, Derby

Carols by Candlelight, Treak Cliff Cavern, Castleton

The Devil’s Arse Sings, Castleton

We hope this gives you a small flavour of what’s on offer locally. However, event dates and details do change so please check before travelling!

Tourist Information Centres:-

Ashbourne Tourist Information Centre: 13, Market Place, 01335 343666

Leek Tourist Information Centre: 1 Market Place, 01538 483741

Buxton Tourist Information Centre: The Crescent, 01298 25106