Derby Festé returns this Saturday 26 September with an action-packed schedule of free, family-friendly outdoor dance, aerial circus, and interactive street theatre across the city centre. Featuring leading UK, international, and East Midlands artists, the line-up offers something for audiences of all ages.

Forecasters are predicting a dry, sunny day for the vibrant event, which will feature everything from giant dogs and dancing hippos to ariel acrobats and high-energy dancers. The performances culminate in the exciting return of Festé After Dark at Cathedral Green, featuring a thrilling 20-metre-high aerial circus spectacle by Gorilla Circus at 7:30pm.

When and Where

  • Time: 11:30am until 5:30pm, followed by Festé After Dark at 7:30pm.
  • Locations: Derby Market Place, Cathedral Green, Derby Market Hall, The Spot, Osnabruck Square, and walkabout acts in the Cathedral Quarter and St Peter’s Quarter.
  • Information point: Head to the Market Place outside QUAD for event assistance and printed programmes and access guides to help you plan your day. Alternatively, check out the line-up on the Festé website. 

Accessibility

  • General access: All performance spaces are wheelchair accessible, welcome assistance dogs, and take place in public outdoor spaces where you can arrive or leave at any time. Public toilets, including a Changing Places toilet, are available inside Derby Market Hall. Limited seating will be available at each of the core performance locations.  
  • Accessible performances: Many of the performances are non-verbal
  • BSL interpretation: Four roving BSL interpreters from Sign4U (wearing marked uniforms) will be available from 12noon, based at the Information Point and roving sites. Two interpreters will cover Gorilla Circus’s performance of A.I.Thentic at 7:30pm.
  • Audio described shows: Sound Board (12noon, 2pm, 3:45pm), Ro:Tes (1pm, 3:30pm), and Garbh (1:25pm, 4:45pm).
    Captioned and touch tour shows: Ro:Tes offers both Captions and Touch Tours at 1pm and 3:30pm. Garbh will have a Touch Tour at 4.20pm.

Festé Fringe and Food

  • Fringe events: Partners across the city are hosting free exhibitions and events at Artcore, Derby Museum and Art Gallery and Pickford’s House, while QUAD will be holding its 18th birthday celebrations. Derby Market Hall features a Banks Mill takeover with local makers and drop-in creative workshops. 
  • Food: Pop into Derby Market Hall to find local pop-up food traders alongside nearby city centre cafes and restaurants.

Getting There and Parking

  • On foot: All main performance areas are a short walk from each other, five to ten minutes from Derbion, and a 25-minute walk from Derby’s train station.
  • By bus: Derby Bus Station is located just a few minutes’ walk from performance sites.
  • By car: Recommended car parks include Chapel St, Bold Lane, and Darwin Place. Limited disabled parking is available on Full Street, opposite Cathedral Green, and right next to Derby Market Place and Derby Market Hall. Check out the ‘Getting Around’ page on the Derby Festé website for more details.

Derby Festé is presented by Derby City Council with project grant support from Arts Council England National Lottery funding, alongside Fabric, Without Walls, Cathedral Quarter Derby, and Derby Theatre. 

Full programme details, performance schedules, locations and accessibility information are available on the official Derby Festé website, plus Facebook and Instagram.