This bank holiday sees the first Hannells Darley Park Weekender. Classic Ibiza gets the party started on Friday 27 August with the finest Balearic beats remixed for a live orchestra and stunning live vocalists. On Saturday 28 August, it’s family film time with outdoor screenings of Frozen II (U), and Sing-a-longa The Greatest Showman (PG), where you can join in and sing your heart out. Then on Sunday it’s the grand finale – the live return of the much-loved Hannells Darley Park Concert.
Derby City Council would not be able to stage the weekend without our partners in the city and region. The weekend is supported by Hannells Estate Agents, who are the headline sponsor for the Hannells Darley Park Concert. Classic Ibiza and outdoor film screenings are brought to you with our media partner, Smooth, and The Hannells Darley Park Concert is also supported by, HUUB, Mortgage Advice Bureau, WDS and our media partner, BBC Radio Derby.
The set list for Classic Ibiza reads like a who’s who of house music, with highlights including Firestarter by Prodigy, Feels So Good by Sonique, One and One by Robert Miles, Praise You by Fat Boy Slim and Set You Free by N Trance. For an idea of what to expect, watch their version of Firestarter.
On Sunday, the Hannells Darley Park Concert will celebrate 300 years of making in Derby. Sinfonia Viva, the East Midlands’ Grammy award-winning orchestra has put together a programme of music to commemorate Derby’s world-leading innovation, marked by the proud reopening of Derby Museum’s Museum of Making this Spring. Enjoy everything from Tchaikovsky and Strauss to John Williams’ theme from the film Superman, performed in tribute to the NHS and key workers for all their work during the pandemic.
Your hosts will be BBC Radio Derby presenters Andy Twigge and Donna Alos, and Hot House Saxophonix, The Dalesmen Male Voice Choir, and Derby’s favourite pantomime Dame Morgan Brind will also be making an appearance.
Sinfonia Viva, who are supported by Rolls-Royce, have put together a programme of stirring classical music for the occasion, with highlights including Wagner – Spinning Chorus, Coates – Dambusters and of course, Offenbach – Overture To Orpheus for the grand firework finale. Conductor James Holmes and vocalist Mary Carewe will be making a welcome return to Darley Park to join Sinfonia Viva onstage. To get in the mood for this weekend’s event, watch our event trailer.
A full programme for all events is available on our website.
While you’re dusting off your camping chair and getting your picnic ready, here’s everything you need to know about the weekend:
The weather is expected to be partly cloudy but with temperatures of around 20ᵒC over the weekend. Whatever the weather, the events will go ahead unless there is a risk to safety, so make sure you come dressed for the elements.
To help us all feel confident about returning to outdoor events, we are urging our audiences to Do the Right Thing for Derby. There is plenty of space for everyone at Darley Park, so please maintain social distancing wherever possible. We also encourage our guests to wear face coverings when moving around in a busy area. Our staff will keep toilets and busy areas clean. We will continue to follow Government guidance and recommend that you check our website for the latest information before you set out.
Visitors can bring their own food and drink, including alcohol, as a picnic is a great way to experience outdoor events. There will be a range of catering units on site for those who wish to purchase food and drinks, including an on-site bar serving alcoholic and soft drinks. Glass bottles are allowed, although visitors are advised to bring reusable plastics where possible and ensure that all waste is deposited in the appropriate bins. Make sure you read through our customer information before you set out for a list of prohibited items, a downloadable map showing all the entrances, and everything else you need to know.
For public safety and comfort, there are a range of security measures which will be in place for the weekend events. Visitors are advised to arrive in plenty of time and to be prepared for bag searches and approaches from security personnel. If you have bought e-tickets, we recommend downloading them at home and saving them to your phone, so you don’t have to rely on mobile data when you get there. There will be queues at entrances as we ensure everyone enters the site safely; please be patient and allow everyone plenty of space.
There will be two entrances to the event area, one located at the Rowing Club end of the park and one at the Darley Abbey Village end of the park. Please see your pre-show email, and our event information, for the times the gates will open and close for your specific event. Tickets will be available from the Box Office at each entrance point on the day of the event, and no access will be granted into the event area without a ticket. There will also be a Mobiloo on site to provide a changing places facility for those who need it.
There will be an Accessible Viewing Area located just off centre of the stage/ stage right and only assistance dogs will be allowed into the event area, although they are advised to leave before 9.15pm if the dog is afraid of fireworks. The Hannells Darley Park Concert will be accompanied by screens flanking either side of the stage for audience viewing pleasure and information. Members of the audience using social media could even see themselves onscreen by using the hashtag #darley21 whilst at the event.
Visitors are advised to walk or use public transport to get to Darley Park. There is limited car parking available from 1pm at St Benedict Catholic Voluntary Academy and Derby Rugby Club for £5 (cash only).
There is limited, first-come-first-served parking available for Blue Badge Holders at the Cricket Club in Darley Village. It is located directly opposite the Abbey Pub, postcode DE22 1DX and is estimated to be no more than a 3 or 4 minute walk to the main event site. Blue Badge holders are advised to show the badge to a security steward on the gate who will show them to a parking space.
It is recommended that visitors wear warm clothes, bring waterproofs, and wear sensible footwear as the grass can be wet and sometimes slippery depending on weather conditions. Although entrances and exits are lit, it is recommended you bring additional lighting such as a torch. Visitors to the event may bring their own seating.
Tickets for all events are available online from derbylive.co.uk or from our Sales and Information Centre on 01332 255800 until 5.00pm on Thursday 26 August. Tickets can be brought or collected from the Derby Market Place box office from 9.00am till 7.00am on Friday 27 August. Online ticket sales close on the day at 1.00pm for Classic Ibiza, 10.00am for Frozen, 2.30pm for The Greatest Showman, and 11.00am for the Darley Park Concert. Book two or more events and qualify for our Livesaver offer – the more tickets you buy, the more you save. You can also buy your tickets on the day from our Box Office points by the event entrances.