Derbyshire Makes Festival 2026
A free festival across Derbyshire, celebrating making in all its forms.
April to May 2026
Following the huge success of the first event in spring 2025, we’re thrilled to announce that Derbyshire Makes Festival is back this spring - bigger, bolder, and bursting with even more opportunities to get creative.
Throughout April and May, the festival unfolds across the county, from town centres to heritage sites, transforming them into lively spaces of hands-on-making, creative experiences and more.
At the heart of this celebration are six vibrant hub festival days, each one shaped by the character, history and stories unique to that place.
Festival hub dates and locations:
Cromford - Saturday 11th April
Chesterfield - Saturday 18th April
Swadlincote - Saturday 25th April
Heanor - Saturday 2nd May
Glossop - Saturday 9th May
Bolsover - Saturday 16th May
The detailed programme will be released on 24 March 2026. You can look forward to hands-on making, talks, creative walks, exhibitions, performances, music, food, and plenty more.
2026 Festival highlights
Festival Hub Showcase Performances
Enjoy four artistic performances across the Festival, showcased at each of the Festival hub locations. These include:
Parade – The Giant Wheel is a spectacular moving performance featuring a 12-foot Giant Wheel powered by dance artists, travelling through the streets with live music and a community cast of local performers. Created by Autin Dance Theatre, an award-winning touring company known for bold, visually striking performances blending storytelling, physical theatre and large-scale design.
Thingamabob Show is a joyful solo street show built around an ingenious handcrafted, self-exploding contraption - blending circus, clowning and mechanical mayhem, the show celebrates invention and comic timing as a chain reaction of playful engineering unfolds. Created and performed by Matt Pang, a performer, maker and DIY engineer who has been touring inventive circus-inspired shows around the world since 2005.
MakeLAND invites you to step inside a virtual world where Derbyshire’s makers and the landscapes that shape them come vividly to life. This immersive VR (Virtual Reality) experience explores the imagination, skill and deep connection that defines creativity across the county. Created by artist John Whall, whose work brings people together through immersive interactive digital experiences, where you don’t just watch, but explore and co-create.
Val and Friends Community Living Room welcomes you to a home-from-home experience for brews, bants and a dose of good neighbourly vibes. Created by Maison Foo, in collaboration with Make/Shift and Listening Shelf Audio. Maison Foo are a Derbyshire-based theatre company who make theatre, and community experiences that bring people together through creativity.
2025 Festival highlights
Derbyshire Makes Festival unfolded across six local Hubs over five weeks from Friday 28 March to Sunday 27 April 2025. In Chesterfield, Heanor, Cromford, Glossop, Bolsover and Swadlincote, there were artist talks, craft-based demonstrations and making opportunities, as well as exhibitions, performances and more.
Glossop’s central square was transformed into a giant playground, Heanor encouraged neighbours to share their knowledge in the Big Community Skills Swap in Heanor. Each Hub location was programmed by local cultural partners, with activities informed by the stories and history unique to the area. And threading its way between these locations was the mobile workshop and gallery The Makory.
Festival Events
Chesterfield Makers
A striking photographic exhibition.
Clay Mates Exhibition
A vibrant display of hand-crafted clay figures, each uniquely designed by young makers to reflect their community, creativity, and imagination.
Stitches in Time Banner Exhibition
A powerful collection of community-created textile banners capturing the heritage and stories of South Derbyshire.
Melbourne Gallery Artist Exhibition
Featured artists from Melbourne Festival Gallery.
Meet the Maker: Gavin Munro - Full Grown Chairs
Celebrate the people behind the making.
Flourish
A session designed to share insights from a new co-produced toolkit developed by Flourish through 5 years of research and UK-wide case studies.
Celebrating Lace Making in Chesterfield Exhibition
A celebration of local lace making past, present and future.
The Makory Tour - Buxton
Free drop-in creative workshops celebrating Derbyshire’s innovators - past and present - on board Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace.
Derbyshire Makes Festival in Chesterfield
A vibrant celebration of making, local talent and creativity in Chesterfield.
The Great Chesterfield Make Off
Live art show featuring 40 artists. From ceramics to illustration, theatre to crochet. Discover new talents and be inspired.
Chesterfield Postcard Show Workshop
Create Your Own Mini Masterpiece!
Thingamabob
Ingenious solo street show blending circus, clowning, and mechanical mayhem.
MAKEland
An immersive VR journey into Derbyshire’s creative landscape.
Well Dressing Workshop
Discover the traditional Derbyshire art of well dressing in this hands-on workshop with the Friends of Spital Cemetery.
Thingamabob
Ingenious solo street show blending circus, clowning, and mechanical mayhem.
Well Dressing Workshop
Discover the traditional Derbyshire art of well dressing in this hands-on workshop with the Friends of Spital Cemetery.
Heritage Crafts Taster: Introduction to creating dead hedges
A free "drop-in" session where you can learn how to create a dead hedge.
Wednesday Webinars - Women Who Walk
Women Who Make invites you to an online gathering exploring how walking can support creativity, connection and wellbeing through everyday.
Meet the Maker: Derek Harbinson – Ceramics
Celebrate the people behind the making.
LAMPLIGHT - Stories from South Derbyshire's Mining Past
Exhibition and Heritage Trail.
Derbyshire Makes Festival - Swadlincote
Bringing our South Derbyshire heritage to life
The Makory Tour - Ashbourne
Free drop-in creative workshops celebrating Derbyshire’s innovators - past and present - on board Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace.
The creation of 'SUNBURST' - Welcome to the Bretby Art Pottery Family
SUNBURST workshops at Magic Attic.
Derbyshire Makes Ceramics Pottery Workshops
Join Derek Harbinson and Elaine Lim-Newton for live demos - and then have a go yourself.
Nature inspired jewellery with Louise Mary Designs
Demonstration and Workshops.
Burton and South Derbyshire College exhibition
Inspired by Bargeware.
Forest and Traditional Makers Market & Craft Fair
Showcasing local artisans inspired by wood and natural materials.
Burton and South Derbyshire College Pop up Art Galleries
Pop-up art galleries and Young Makers Market.
Song Writer Circle with Sonic Boom
Join talented local young musicians as they lead an interactive ‘on the spot’ songwriting session!
Textiles workshops and demonstrations
Explore stringmaking, crochet, weaving, and spinning with various artists.
Japanese Bookbinding & Bookfolding workshops
Turn old books into something totally new!
Community Poet Tree Workshop
Add a leaf and help to grow a poem.
Derbyshire Makes Miniatures - model making, birds and miniature shops in boxes
A hands-on creative experience with artists, exploring miniature making, mixed media, and recycled crafts inspired by stories, materials, and the natural world.
The Oddstuff - Guided Heritage walk with Music
A relaxed, story-filled heritage walk blending local history, nature and live music, with space to share your own memories along the way.
Animating Archives with Youth Landscapers Collective
An interactive digital workshop exploring local mining heritage through film, technology and creative storytelling.
Repair Cafe Advice Station
Saving items from the landfill.
Burton and South Derbyshire College Exhibition - ‘Canopy’
A collaborative exhibition exploring The National Forest through photography.
By Lamplight' Mining Inspired Tunnel Books Exhibition and Drop in Workshop
A hands-on collage workshop exploring local mining heritage through layered paper and sculptural tunnel books.
Celebrating Lace Making in Chesterfield
Demonstration of lace making with hands on activities for all ages.
Music Performance - 5 in Harmony
Easy listening from this local group.
Parade - The Giant Wheel
A moving performance inspired by the beauty, power and impact of people from different walks of life coming together.
Music Performance - 5 in Harmony
Easy listening from this local group.
Wilkes’ Gob Border Morris Dance Performance
A lively, contemporary Morris dance performance bringing local industrial heritage to life through music, movement and storytelling.
Music Performance - The Coal Tits
Performing post industrial original folk songs.
Wilkes’ Gob Border Morris Dance Performance
A lively, contemporary Morris dance performance bringing local industrial heritage to life through music, movement and storytelling.
Parade - The Giant Wheel
A moving performance inspired by the beauty, power and impact of people from different walks of life coming together.
French Balfolk Dance Workshop and Bal with Cosmos Chocolat
Kilnside Folk Events presents award-winning French quartet Cosmos Chocolat - French balfolk dance workshop and bal.
Wednesday Webinars - Making as Soft Power
Women Who Make invites you to an online event exploring the power of making to shape culture.
Meet the Maker: Peter Knight - Printmaker
Celebrate the people behind the making.
Heanor Community Craft Fair
A treasure trove of fabulous artisan crafts and foods.
Heanor Market
Explore Heanor’s weekly outdoor market.
Derbyshire Makes Festival - Heanor
A celebration of all things handmade and preloved
Creature & Flag Making Drop In Workshop
Drop-in creative workshop: making seasonal creatures & celebration flags for Glossop's Celebration parade
Greenfolk Festival by Shipley Eco Action Group
Celebrate spring in beautiful wildlife-friendly gardens.
Cyanotype Workshop with Dean Leivers
Explore a hands-on, creative process that blends art, science, and reflections on the local landscape.
Making Musical Monsters with Sian Watson
A playful, hands-on sound experience celebrating creativity, curiosity and collaboration.
Meet The Musical Monsters with Rachel Scanlon
The monsters live inside an imaginative installation space designed by children and created with support from artist Rachel Scanlon, who has been working in schools to shape the environment.
Orchestra of Possibilities - Live Performance
Invitation for everyone to get involved.
Val & Friends Community Living Room, by Maison Foo
A home-from-home experience for brews, bants and a dose of good neighbourly vibes.
Make Do, Mend and Reinvent workshops with The Upcyling Allstars
Upcycle a charity shop top and make it your own.
Make Do & Mend with Crich Repair & Share café
Bring your things that need a fix to our pop-up Repair Café.
Make Do, Mend and Reinvent workshops with Swanwick Men's Shed
Listening Lounge, by Maison Foo & Listening Shelf Audio
Local stories and community connection.
Heanor's Patterned Past, Printing Workshops with Aby Dennett
Rediscover the town through the hidden beauty of its Victorian architecture.
Heanor's Patterned Past, Town Trail
The whole town becomes an openair gallery.
Matt Pang - Thingamabob
Ingenious solo street show blending circus, clowning, and mechanical mayhem.
Val & Friends Style Your Neighbour Challenge, by Maison Foo
Join style guru Val for a comedy ‘Style your Neighbour’ challenge.
Orchestra of Possibilities - Live Performance
Invitation for everyone to get involved.
Matt Pang - Thingamabob
Ingenious solo street show blending circus, clowning, and mechanical mayhem.
Future Fibres - Is fibre’s future rooted in its past?
An afternoon celebrating ancient threads, hand crafts, gentle stories and powerful conversations.
The Nettle Dress
Film Screening
Future Fibres - Is fibre’s future rooted in its past? Panel Discussion
Hosted by Abigail Wastie: Heritage, craft & fibre
Natural Fibres - Skills Sharing
Create handmade threads.
Beneath Our Feet
Exhibition by Amanda Haran
Mini flax basket making workshop with Amanda Haran
Make your own small flax basket or pick up one that's already been made.
Sustainable School Uniform Project by Abigail Wastie
Sustainable School Uniform Project
The Nettle Dress
Film Screening
Future Fibres - Is fibre’s future rooted in its past? Panel Discussion
Hosted by Abigail Wastie: Heritage, craft & fibre
The Makory Tour - Belper
Free drop-in creative workshops celebrating Derbyshire’s innovators - past and present - on board Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace.
Silver Lining by Sandi Toksvig
A hilarious comedy about a group of women staging their own escape.
Concious Creativity
Environmental sustainability training for artists
Meet the Maker: Emma Croman - Storytelling portrait and brand photography
Celebrate the people behind the making.
Screen Printing Workshop at KIN.DER
Screen printing workshop inspired by folklore and springtime.
Derbyshire Makes Festival - Glossop
A springtime celebration of heritage, folklore and making
The Makory Tour - Glossop
Free drop-in creative workshops celebrating Derbyshire’s innovators - past and present - on board Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace.
Lady of the Loom: Opening ceremony
Our Lady of the Loom puppet opens our day.
Yarn Bombing & Knitting Displays
A Springtime Weaving Revival
Help create a community artwork.
Springtime Stage
Live music celebrating springtime.
Glossop Community Allotment and Men in Sheds
Craft skills demonstration and handmade items for sale.
Maison Foo presents… Val and Friends Community Living Room
Val & Trev welcome you round to their pop-up up home from home for brews, bants and a dose of good neighbourly vibes.
The Lady of the Loom's Parade Crafting Workshop
Drop-in creative workshop: making seasonal creatures & celebration flags for Glossop's Celebration parade.
Cabinet of Treasures
Celebrate the special places, people, wildlife and stories of Glossop in this creative drop-in workshop.
Partington Theatre: Storytelling Takeover
Gather with us to experience local stories and folklore through talks, films, and cosy storytelling gatherings.
Springtime Makers Market
Treat yourself to something special this spring.
Thingamabob
Ingenious solo street show blending circus, clowning, and mechanical mayhem.
Film Cuts Club: Creative Workshop
Join this drop-in session for some folklore-inspired film fun.
Thingamabob
Ingenious solo street show blending circus, clowning, and mechanical mayhem.
Flash Folk: A Creative Writing Workshop
Glossop is full of stories waiting to be retold!
The Lady of the Loom's Celebration Parade
Our Lady of the Loom returns in a closing parade.
Dare to Dream Sewing Bee - Glossop
Dare to Dream invites you to a free, drop-in Sewing Bee in Glossop, exploring creativity, textiles and shared futures.
Arts Taster: Nature Mandalas for well-being
Make mandalas with natural materials and learn how patterns in nature can help support our wellbeing.
One Act Play Festival
Partington Theatre's annual festival
Wednesday Webinars - Where Women Create
Women Who Make invites you to an online event exploring how women shape the spaces we live through creativity and care.
Meet the Maker: Sarah Ogden - Horseshoe Flowers
Celebrate the people behind the making.
Screen Printing Workshop at KIN.DER
Screen printing workshop inspired by folklore and springtime.
New Horizons: Digital Art and AI
A thought-provoking panel discussion exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping creativity in Derbyshire and beyond.
Mixed-Media Collage with Steph Coley - An Online Creative Workshop
Women Who Make invites you to an online creative workshop exploring mixed-media collage through play, experimentation and process.
Derbyshire Makes Festival - Bolsover
A celebration of creativity and craftsmanship of local people.
Lantern Making workshop
Create your own simple willow and tissue lantern
Bolsover Festival of the Arts
An annual celebration of creativity in Bolsover.
English Heritage Conservation in Action Van
Hands-on creative conservation activities for all ages.
Teenage Market
Explore a thriving marketplace created by Bolsover’s talented young entrepreneurs.
Shelf Creatures and ‘Grumpy Heads’
Making Demonstrations
Collage a Postcard
Create one-of-a-kind mini artworks.
Silk Painting with Rachel Scanlon
Help create a collaborative silk piece of art.
Under Our Feet
Open flax stems and begin making mini baskets.
Introduction to Heritage Button Making
Discover heritage button techiniques.
Gelli Plate Printing
Create textures and layers of colour in beautiful prints.
Interactive Family Portraits
A Family Portrait with a Twist!
Punch needle embroidery with Kaleido Marbling Art
Let loose your imagination and create something unique.
Made in Bolsover
Vibrant photography exhibition.
Boho Dance Ribbons
Create your own Boho Dance Ribbon Wand.
The Makory Tour - Bolsover
Free drop-in creative workshops celebrating Derbyshire’s innovators - past and present - on board Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace.
Meet & Make Craft workshops
Fun, hands-on craft workshops suitable for all ages.
Wonderful Weaving with Claire
Simple free-form weaving techniques.
Punch needle embroidery with Kaleido Marbling Art
Let loose your imagination and create something unique.
Gelli Plate Printing
Create textures and layers of colour in beautiful prints.
Parade - The Giant Wheel
A moving performance inspired by the beauty, power and impact of people from different walks of life coming together.
Make a Fairy Garden/Monster Diorama
Using air drying silk clay and hand building techniques.
Lantern Making workshop
Create your own simple willow and tissue lantern.
Copper Ring Making
Learn basic techniques and make a decorative ring.
Heritage Crafts Taster: Flower pounding & Embroidery workshop
Learning a traditional Japanese craft using natural materials.
Parade - The Giant Wheel
A moving performance inspired by the beauty, power and impact of people from different walks of life coming together.
Copper Ring Making
Learn basic techniques and make a decorative ring.
The Makory Tour - Creswell Crags
Free drop-in creative workshops celebrating Derbyshire’s innovators - past and present - on board Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace.
Meet the Maker: Johnny White & Amanda Wray - Sculpture
Celebrate the people behind the making.
The Makory Tour - Ambergate
Attendees of the Derbyshire Makes History “Heritage Market Place” can join in creative workshops celebrating Derbyshire’s innovators - past and present - on board Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace.
Glossop Arts Network Trail
Discover new work, meeting the makers, and experiencing the rich artistic talent within the local community.
The Makory Tour - Hardwick Hall
Free drop-in creative workshops celebrating Derbyshire’s innovators - past and present - on board Derbyshire’s travelling makerspace.
Revolutions: Imagination Train Exhibition
Step into a series of tiny worlds and see them come to life.
Heritage Crafts Taster: Making charcoal
"Drop-in" session - A family friendly activity learning how to make charcoal and using it to create art and explore nature connection
Women Who Make Festival at Hardwick Hall
Women Who Make Festival at Hardwick Hall, celebrating creativity, community and women’s stories.
Dare to Dream Sewing Bee - Ashbourne
Dare to Dream invites you to a free, drop-in Sewing Bee at Ashbourne Festival, exploring creativity, textiles and shared futures.