Discover the magic of the holidays in Ilkeston with our detailed event guide. For both Ilkeston residents and visitors, this guide is your roadmap to the city's holiday delights.
One of the highlights of this festive season is the Chatsworth Christmas Market, known for its charming atmosphere and wide array of local crafts and delicious foods. With twinkling lights and festive stalls, it truly captures the spirit of Christmas. Another essential event is the Derby Christmas Lights Switch-On, which transforms the town into a winter wonderland with dazzling displays and activities for all ages. And the Ilkeston Christmas Lights is something you definitely don't want to miss, as the town comes alive with vibrant decorations and community festivities. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Ilkeston
- Chatsworth Christmas Market (Bakewell)
- Derby Christmas Lights Switch-On (Derby)
- Ilkeston Christmas Lights
- Haddon Hall Mercatum Christmas Artisan Market (Bakewell)
- Pavilion Gardens Christmas Fair (Buxton)
- Matlock Victorian Christmas Market (Matlock)
- Ilkeston Charter Fair
- Belper Winter Food Festival and Christmas Lights Switch On (Belper)
- Long Eaton Christmas Lights (Long Eaton)
- Fireworks Event
See these and even more events listed below!
Ilkeston Holiday Light Displays
Derby Christmas Lights Switch-On
What to Expect:
Community-led lantern parade with local performances.
Description:
Join Derby for a vibrant celebration as the city's Christmas lights are switched on. Enjoy free live entertainment, a stage show featuring local and community acts, and the Derby Lantern Parade. Skating is available from 11am at the Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink.
Where: Derby | More Info: Derby Christmas Lights Switch-On
Belper Winter Food Festival and Christmas Lights Switch On
What to Expect:
Local charities and voluntary groups have free stalls.
Description:
Belper Winter Food Festival and Christmas Lights Switch On combines a day of local food and craft stalls with the festive switch-on of Belper's Christmas lights.
Where: Belper | More Info: Belper Winter Food Festival and Christmas Lights Switch On
Ilkeston Christmas Lights
What to Expect:
Colourful light displays and community stalls.
Description:
Ilkeston Christmas Lights features vibrant displays of festive lights, charity and craft stalls, and a lively atmosphere in the town centre.
Where: Ilkeston | More Info: Ilkeston Christmas Lights
Long Eaton Christmas Lights
What to Expect:
Community-driven festive light display with charity and craft stalls.
Description:
The Long Eaton Christmas Lights event features a vibrant display of festive lights and music, with charity and craft stalls adding to the community spirit.
Where: Long Eaton | More Info: Long Eaton Christmas Lights
Ilkeston Holiday Markets and Shopping
Matlock Victorian Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Traditional funfair rides and festive performances.
Description:
The Matlock Victorian Christmas Market is a vibrant event featuring over 200 stalls selling unique gifts, crafts, and seasonal goodies. Enjoy festive performances, funfair rides, and specialist foods in a charming Victorian setting.
Where: Matlock | More Info: Matlock Victorian Christmas Market
Ashbourne Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Unique gifts and local food offerings.
Description:
The Ashbourne Christmas Market offers a variety of locally crafted gifts, seasonal food, and festive beverages. The market features stalls selling items like cheese, cured meats, Ashbourne honey, bedding plants, homemade fudge, brownies, olives, pasta sauces, fresh fish, coffee, loose tea, and fresh seasonal vegetables. It is a great place to find unique Christmas presents while supporting local artisans and enjoying the town's festive atmosphere.
Where: Ashbourne | More Info: Ashbourne Christmas Market
Pavilion Gardens Christmas Fair
What to Expect:
Unique shopping experience with a variety of handmade gifts and festive activities.
Description:
The Pavilion Gardens Christmas Fair in Buxton features over 50 stalls offering a wide array of Christmas gifts, including jewellery, original artwork, photography, ceramics, woodwork, handmade cards, children’s toys, and ladies’ clothing. Enjoy hot food and drinks stalls, children’s rides on the Promenade, and meet Father Christmas at his Grotto in the Octagon Hall.
Where: Buxton | More Info: Pavilion Gardens Christmas Fair
Chatsworth Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Extensive variety of local and sustainable gift options.
Description:
The Chatsworth Christmas Market offers over 100 stalls with a wide range of Christmas gifts and decorations, live music, and seasonal food and drink. Explore exclusive ranges in the Stables shop, featuring home, garden, and fashion gifts from local and British makers. Enjoy mulled wine and German beer at outdoor bars or sample gourmet burgers, sausages, hot pork rolls, pancakes, and churros.
Where: Bakewell | More Info: Chatsworth Christmas Market
Haddon Hall Mercatum Christmas Artisan Market
What to Expect:
Luxury artisan market with over 180 vendors in a historic setting.
Description:
Haddon Hall's Mercatum Christmas Artisan Market features over 180 artisans selling luxury Christmas gifts, including ceramics, art, chocolates, jewelry, and more. The event is set in beautifully decorated courtyards and rooms, with twinkling lights, luxurious decorations, and delicious street food.
Where: Bakewell | More Info: Haddon Hall Mercatum Christmas Artisan Market
Chestnut Fair
What to Expect:
Local craft and charity stalls.
Description:
The Chestnut Fair is a vibrant event featuring a variety of stalls selling local crafts and charity items, creating a lively atmosphere in the town.
Where: Ilkeston | More Info: Chestnut Fair
Bakewell Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Live entertainment and festive food stalls.
Description:
The Bakewell Christmas Market is a quintessential English Christmas event featuring over 100 stalls with festive gifts, crafts, and seasonal foods. Enjoy live entertainment, including local brass bands, choirs, and a DJ, as well as tasty food and drink stalls. Meet Santa in town and watch Buxton's legendary Billerettes on Sunday.
Where: Bakewell | More Info: Bakewell Christmas Market
Chesterfield Christmas Market
What to Expect:
Local businesses selling gifts and seasonal items.
Description:
The Chesterfield Christmas Market is a vibrant event where residents and visitors can shop for presents from local businesses, enjoy the festive atmosphere, and watch a pantomime. The market runs alongside the Christmas Lights Switch On in the Market Square and Market Hall.
Where: Chesterfield | More Info: Chesterfield Christmas Market
Erewash Christmas Events
What to Expect:
Craft and charity stalls with Christmas lights and a remembrance service.
Description:
Erewash Christmas Events feature craft and charity stalls, Christmas lights, and a remembrance service at Bramcote Crematorium.
Where: Ilkeston | More Info: Erewash Christmas Events
Ilkeston Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Service of Remembrance
What to Expect:
Personalized remembrance with name and photo display.
Description:
A poignant Christmas Service of Remembrance at Bramcote Crematorium, featuring carols by candlelight and the option to read loved ones' names and display their photos in a remembrance slideshow.
Where: Bramcote | More Info: Service of Remembrance
Derbyshire Christmas Markets
What to Expect:
Immersive festive experience with interactive light trail and farmyard activities.
Description:
Explore Chatsworth House and garden, featuring festive decorations, an interactive light trail, and a Christmas feast story. Enjoy the farmyard and woodland adventure playground with friendly animals and Christmas crafts.
Where: Various | More Info: Derbyshire Christmas Markets
Ilkeston Other Holiday Activities
Fireworks Event
What to Expect:
Spectacular pyrotechnic fireworks display with traditional funfair food.
Description:
The Fireworks Display at West Park, Long Eaton, features a spectacular pyrotechnic fireworks show and traditional funfair food stalls.
Where: Ilkeston | More Info: Fireworks Event
Ilkeston Charter Fair
What to Expect:
Historic fair with over 700 years of tradition.
Description:
The Ilkeston Charter Fair is a four-day event featuring a variety of rides, candy floss stalls, and traditional side-shows. It boasts over 700 years of history, with its origins dating back to 1252 when King Henry III granted the town the right to hold an annual fair. The event transforms Ilkeston Town Centre into a vibrant fairground filled with colour and action.
Where: Ilkeston | More Info: Ilkeston Charter Fair
Wilne 10k
What to Expect:
Scenic, flat, and fast traffic-free road route.
Description:
The Wilne 10k is a scenic, flat, and fast traffic-free road race open to all abilities, ideal for runners chasing personal best times. The event includes chip timing results, technical event t-shirts for all finishers, and pre- and post-race massage. It features an extensive prize structure and is part of the Run Derby Race Series.
Where: Wilne | More Info: Wilne 10k
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Heanor (4 miles)
- Long Eaton (5 miles)
- Ripley (6 miles)
- Hucknall (6 miles)
- Nottingham (7 miles)
- Arnold (8 miles)
- Derby (8 miles)
- Belper (8 miles)
- West Bridgford (8 miles)
- Alfreton (9 miles)
- Kirkby in Ashfield (9 miles)
- Sutton in Ashfield (11 miles)
- Mansfield (12 miles)
- Loughborough (15 miles)
- Swadlincote (17 miles)
- Coalville (17 miles)
- Burton upon Trent (18 miles)
- Chesterfield (20 miles)
- Staveley (21 miles)
- Newark on Trent (22 miles)
- Melton Mowbray (23 miles)
- Dronfield (24 miles)
- Leicester (24 miles)
- Worksop (24 miles)
- Oadby (27 miles)
- Grantham (28 miles)
- Tamworth (28 miles)
- Wigston Magna (28 miles)
- Retford (29 miles)
- Sheffield (29 miles)
- Lichfield (29 miles)
- Burngreave (30 miles)
- Hinckley (30 miles)
- Rugeley (30 miles)
- Nuneaton (32 miles)
- Rotherham (32 miles)
- Buxton (32 miles)
- Burntwood (33 miles)
- Bedworth (35 miles)
- Chapeltown (35 miles)
- Brownhills (35 miles)
- Sutton Coldfield (35 miles)
- High Peak (35 miles)
- Stafford (36 miles)
- Cannock (36 miles)
- Gainsborough (36 miles)
- Stoke-on-Trent (37 miles)
- Lincoln (37 miles)
- Market Harborough (38 miles)
- Bloxwich (38 miles)
- Newcastle under Lyme (38 miles)
- Walsall (39 miles)
- Doncaster (39 miles)
- Washwood Heath (39 miles)
- Macclesfield (39 miles)
- Kidsgrove (39 miles)
- Bentley (39 miles)
- Congleton (40 miles)
- Coventry (40 miles)
- Aston (40 miles)
- Barnsley (41 miles)
- Stamford (41 miles)
- Willenhall (41 miles)
- Wednesfield (41 miles)
- Rugby (41 miles)
- Wednesbury (42 miles)
- Acocks Green (42 miles)
- Corby (42 miles)
- Birmingham (42 miles)
- Glossop (42 miles)
- West Bromwich (42 miles)
- Wolverhampton (43 miles)
- Solihull (43 miles)
- Tipton (44 miles)
- Shirley (44 miles)
- Kenilworth (44 miles)
- Bramhall (44 miles)