SEASONAL · 1-19 NOV
4 NEW THIS WEEKChristmas, done properly 🎄
Grottos, light trails, pantos and festive farm days across Derby, from the first switch-on to Twelfth Night, with the dates, prices and ages that organisers publish.
PICK YOUR KIND OF MAGIC
What sort of Christmas are you after?
Everything on this page is filed by what it is, going on the organiser's own description. Some things fit more than one, so we've put each where it sits best.
Santa & grottos
Little ones · book early
Grottos, breakfasts with Santa and the elves that come with them.
Show me these
Lights & trails
All ages · wrap up
Illuminated trails, lantern walks and the big switch-ons.
Show me these
Shows & pantos
Ages 3+ · oh yes it is
Pantomimes, festive theatre, carols and Christmas cinema.
Show me these
START HERE
If you only book three things
One per venue, soonest first. Grottos and light trails sell out first.
🎅 SANTA & GROTTOSSundown Christmas Spectacular 2026
Sundown Adventureland · 14-19 November · daily
Kids ride into Santa's Magical Grotto, meet elves and Mrs Claus, with timed Santa slots at the arena.
from £20.95Details
✨ LIGHTS & TRAILSLanterns of the Wild
Twycross Zoo · 6-18 November · daily
Evening lantern trail at Twycross - lights from 4:30pm, separate evening ticket, animals not out on the lantern route.
from £13.75Details
🎭 SHOWS & PANTOSCarols by Candlelight
Treak Cliff Cavern · 5 dates · 1-15 November
Candlelit carol singing in the Witch's Cave at Treak Cliff Cavern, with mulled wine and mince pies after.
ages 0+Details
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS · 21 DEC - 1 JAN
A plan for every day of the Christmas holidays
- Mon210 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Tue220 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Wed230 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Thu240 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Fri250 on
Christmas itself. Nothing listed yet.
- Sat260 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Sun270 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Mon280 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Tue290 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Wed300 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Thu310 on
Nothing listed yet.
- Fri10 on
Nothing listed yet.
Santa's grottos
1 grottoEVERYTHING ON
10 things on for Christmas 2026
Lights & trails · 3
- from £13.75
6-18 November · daily
Lanterns of the Wild
Twycross Zoo · Atherstone
Evening lantern trail at Twycross - lights from 4:30pm, separate evening ticket, animals not out on the lantern route.
from £127-19 November · daily
Christmas at Chatsworth
Chatsworth · Bakewell · ages 0+
Walk the garden light trail, explore the decorated house, then let the kids loose in the farmyard and playground.
7-19 November · daily
Christmas in the Garden
Chatsworth · Bakewell
A light and sound trail through Chatsworth's garden, telling the Twelve Days of Christmas after dark.
Everything else · 5
7-18 November · daily
Christmas Market
Chatsworth · Bakewell
Christmas market at Chatsworth with more than 100 stalls selling gifts and decorations.
from £26Thu 12 November · 18:30
Festive Glass Fusion Workshop with smARTsy
Framework Knitters Museum · Ruddington
Festive-themed glass fusion workshop at the Framework Knitters Museum, with a talk and basic tool tuition.
Indoors
Sat 14 November
Hand Printed Christmas Cards
Chatsworth · Bakewell
Lino printing workshop at Chatsworth making your own hand-carved Christmas card designs.
from £1414-15 November · daily
Kramplewick! Steam Event
Papplewick Pumping Station · Nottingham
A Krampus-themed steam weekend at Papplewick Pumping Station with the Whitby Krampus Run, drumming, parades and all engines in steam.
14-19 November · daily
Christmas at Gulliver's
Gulliver's Valley · Rotherham · ages 2-13
A festive Christmas experience at Gulliver's Valley theme park in Rotherham, running from mid-November to Christmas Eve 2026.
PLAN A DIFFERENT DAY
What's on, when you need it
Everything open and on in Derby today, with times and prices.
TOP PICKCricketer & Stockinger: Exploring the Relationship Between Cricket & Framework Knitting · free- Fri30 things · Autumn at Chatsworth
- Sat28 things · Autumn at Chatsworth