A cool Christmas as Derby's ice rink returns
Published: 13 July 2022
Last year's Christmas Lights Switch On. Picture by Graham Whitmore.
As temperatures soar across the United Kingdom, Derby is looking ahead to Christmas.
Plans are being finalised to mark the festive season in the city with an offer which sees the return of the much-loved Market Place ice rink, this time with a roof to protect skaters from the winter weather.
Further highlights include a Christmas Lights Switch On event and a family Christmas show in the city centre.
The proposed offer will bring partners across the city together to build on the success of Festive Derby, which brought visitors back into the city centre in a Covid-safe way in 2020 and 2021.
Popular elements from these years, such as street entertainers and artists, a family trail and light projections will return to make the city centre a vibrant place to be in the run up to Christmas and beyond.
Councillor Jonathan Smale, Cabinet Member for Finance, Digital and Culture, said:
We’re putting plans in place to enable us to link up with partners and get the right infrastructure and support. When we had Derby Market Place and the Derby Loves You temporary venue, every £1 we invested brought £3 back into the city centre, demonstrating great value for money.
Councillor Matthew Eyre, Cabinet Member for Community Development, Place and Tourism, added:
Christmas in Derby will bring everyone together. The Council will be teaming up with our partners across the city to create seasonal delights for families and friends to enjoy, in a way which will bring people into the city centre and boost our retail and hospitality businesses at a critical time of year. More details will be announced soon.
The City Council has pledged to spend up to £245,000, to include festive lighting and the Christmas Lights Switch On event. The funding has come from underspend from other budgets.
Councillors will be asked to sign off the plans at a Cabinet Member’s meeting on 21 July.