Looking for things to do in Derby and Derbyshire this Summer? From creative workshops and storytelling sessions to theatre shows, outdoor adventures and budget-friendly days out, Derbyshire has lots of family-friendly events to keep kids of all ages entertained during the school holidays.
This guide brings together the best Summer Holiday events in Derby for kids and families, with a mix of free and paid activities across the city and surrounding areas. The page will be updated regularly as more events are announced, so make sure to bookmark it and check back for the latest ideas to help you plan your half term days out.
UPDATED July 2026
- Derby City Centre
- Parks, Gardens, Stately Homes and National Trust
- Farms, Theme Parks and other Attractions
- Theme Parks
- Council Events and Libraries
- Indoor Play Centre Events
- Shopping Centres and In Store Events
- Museum, Galleries and Theatre Activities
- Baby and Toddler Classes and Parties
City Centre
Derbion
Jungle Park
Date: 23rd July – 4th September · £3, booking recommended
K-Pop Demon Hunter Performers
Date: 13 August · Price: FREE
Flo Skatepark Taster Sessions
Date: Monday 27 July to Sunday 2 August · Price: Free, Booking required
PAW Patrol Meet & Greet
Date: 20 August · Price: FREE
Derbion Get Active
Date: 27 July – 2 August · Price: FREE
Electric daisy
Messy Play Party – Julia Donaldson
Date: 31 July 2026, Time: 12pm-3pm, Price: £8.50 per child Booking required.
Family Outdoor Cinema – A Minecraft Movie
Date: 5th August 2026, Time: 5pm-9pm, Price: £6.50pp Booking required.
Messy Play Party – Roald Dahl
Date: 13th August 2026, Time: 12-3pm, Price: £8.50 per child Booking required.
Kids Day Rave!
Date: 28th August 2026, Time: 2-5pm Price: £5pp, £15.65 Family Ticket, Booking required.
DERBY MARKET HALL
Derby Emergency Services Day
Date: Fri 14 Aug 10-2pm, Price: Free, drop in
The Market Express: Ride On Railway
Date: 21 Aug 2026 – 31 Aug 2026, 10am – 4pm, Price: Free, drop in
Debry Quad
Get Creative, Motorised Mobiles for 7-11 Year Olds
Date: Thu 30 July , Time: 11am-4pm, Price: £20, booking required
Get Creative: Imaginary Mapping (7 – 11 Year Olds)
Date: Fri 31 July , Time: 11am-4pm, Price: £20, booking required
Create & Play – August 2026
Date: 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 August 2026, Time: 12-5pm, Price: free, drop in
Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust
Derby River Boat Trips
Date: Weds, Sat and Sundays , Time: 11am-4pm, Price: Adults £8, Under 16s £6, Family ticket – £22
Under 3 Free but still require a ticket, booking required
Parks, Gardens, Stately Homes and National Trust
NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM
The Art of Remembrance
Date: 18 July – 30 August 2026, 10am – 5pm · Price: various
Workshop Wednesdays – Making Music
22 July, 5 August & 19 August | 11am, 12pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm
Advance booking recommended
Drop-in Arts & Crafts
Date: 29 July, 12 August & 26 August | 11am – 3pm · Price: Free
Stick Man Outdoor Trail
Date: Daily, ongoing · Time: during opening hours · Price: Free · Drop in
CONKERS
Summer Activities
Date: 20th July – 6th September 2026· Included in admission. Under 5 Yrs: Free
Hicks lodge
Room on the Broom Trail (ongoing in 2026)
from 27 Jan · during opening hours · free – trail packs £4 – parking from £7.50 · Drop-in
Hardwick hall
Pokémon Joins Hardwick’s Summer of Play
Dates: 18 July–6 September
Prices: Included with admission.
Summer of Play: Free Weekly Crafts
Dates: 22 July–2 September (Wednesdays)
Prices: Included with admission.
Summer of Play: Pop Up Poetry
Dates: 18 August
Prices: Included with admission.
Junior Archery ‘Have a Go’ Sessions
Dates: 28 July & 4 August
Prices: £3 per child (plus normal admission).
Kedleston Hall
Summer of Play
Dates: 18 July–6 September
Prices: Included with normal admission.
Meet a Minibeast
Dates: 29 July
Prices: Free with normal admission.
Nature Raft Building
Dates: 5, 12, 19, 26 August
Prices: Included with normal admission
Free Archery Sessions
Dates: 5, 12, 19, 26 August
Prices: Included with normal admission.
Brilliant Birds
Dates: 12 August
Prices: Included with normal admission.
Tree-Mendous Trees
Dates: 19 August
Prices: Included with normal admission
Calke abbey
Summer of Play (with Pokémon)
Dates: 18 July – 6 September
Prices: Included with normal admission.
Storytelling Sessions in the Garden of Imagination
Dates: 26, 27 July, 10, 22, 23 August
Prices: Included with normal admission.
Go Wild with the Rangers
Dates: 6 August
Prices: Free, booking required, admission applies if not a member
Make Your Own Wild Habitats Diorama
Dates: 5 September
Price: £7 – 1 adult and 1 accompanying adult
SUDBURY Hall
Wearing Feelings: Childhood in Black and Bright
Dates: 26 June–7 September (daily throughout July & August)
Prices: Included with normal admission.
Summer of Play
Dates: 17 July–7 September
Prices: Included with normal admission.
Marble Run by Wild Rumpus
Dates: 25 July–31 August
Prices: Included with normal admission
Bolsover Castle
Great British Summer at Bolsover Castle
Sat 18 Jul – Wed 26 Aug 2026 · 10am – 5pm · Drop-in
Carsington Water
Family Fun Day
Wednesday 19 August 2026 10am to 4pm · FREE (parking applies) · Drop-in
Loads of different activities running all through summer
Chatsworth House
Summer at Chatsworth
18 July 2026 –31 August 2026 · Included in Garden Tickets · booking recommended – Loads of different activities running all through summer
CRESWELL CRAGS
Ice Age Summer Activities
Includes: Cave experiences, prehistoric crafts, wildlife activities, bug hunting, pond dipping, fossil workshops, Stone Age jewellery making and the Ice Age Summer Passport.
Dates: 25 Jul-31 Aug Prices: From £6 · Booking recommended
Cromford Mills
Summer Explorers Club
25th July – 6th September · 11-3pm – different activities at various prices · drop in
Moira Furnace
Furnace Fun Days
23, 28 July 3, 13, 18, 27 August 2026 · £10 per child · booking essential
Busy Bee Trail and Piggly Diggly Trail
Summer Holidays · £2 per child· drop in
Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny by Quantum Theatre-
6th August 3-5pm
Farms, Theme Parks and other Attractions
BLUebell dairy
Moo Fest
plus Free Return Ticket valid until 28th September
24th July – 6 September · 10am–4pm · £13 adults, £13.45 Children, Under 2s Free · booking recommended
national forest adventure farm
Farmarama
plus Free Return Ticket valid until 1st September
18 July – 1 September · 10am–5pm · £17.45pp, under 2s free · booking recommended
DRAyton manor
Kids (under 1.2m) go free
Dates: Book between 13th and 27th July for visits from 18th July to 1st September. Prices: from £29.50
Peak Wildlife PArk
Half Price Kids
3rd July – 1st September · 10am–6pm · included in admission, under 2s free · booking recommended
Alton Towers*
Minecraft Meet the Mobs*
18th July – 28th August 2026 · 10am–8pm · £32 (under 90cm free) · booking recommended
OFFER – Twice the Fun* – Free Return Ticket to Alton Towers, Chessington, Thorpe Park or Legoland.
Heights of Abraham (Matlock Bath)
Meet the Wombles
Fri-Sunday 24th July · 10am–5pm · booking recommended
Summer of Punch and Judy
18th July – 1st September 2026 · 10am–5pm · booking recommended
National Tramway Museum (CRICH)
Dinosaur Day Sat 25th July 10 – 5:30 pm
Matlock Farm Park
K-Pop Superfan Day · 25 July, 11:30-12:15, Meet and greet: 12:30-13:30, 13:30-14:30, included in admission
Summer Superhero Day · 8 August · included in admission ·
Princess Fun Day · 15 August · included in admission ·
Pop Princess Party · 29 August · tbc·
The BIG Bubbleman · 31 August · included in admission
The Peak District Highland Games
30 August 2026, 11-5.30pm · Adults £20, Children £17.50, Under 2s Free · Drop-in
Holiday Clubs 27 July-18 August · 10am-3pm · £65 per day
Council Events, Free Events and Libraries
Libraries
Mickleover Library – Make It Buzz: Paper Circuit Craft Sessions
Date: 4th, 11th, 18th August 2.30-3.30 · Price: FREE. Booking required.*
More Roar Dinosaur Story Club – FREE – booking required
Blagreaves Library: Fri 24 Jul, 11am – 12noon | 01332 255403
Spondon Library: Mon 27 Jul, 2pm – 3pm | 01332 640065
Chellaston Library: Tue 28 Jul, 2pm – 3pm | 01332 640063
Chaddesden Library: Fri 31 Jull, 11am – 12noon | 01332 640062
Groovy Stories with Furthest From The Sea – FREE booking required
Allenton Library: Mon 27 Jul, 11am – 12noon | 01332 642310
Springwood Library: Tue 28 Jul, 11am – 12noon | 01332 640064
Allestree Library: Tue 28 Jul, 2pm – 3pm | 01332 640061
Sinfin Library: Wed 29 Jul, 11am – 12noon | 01332 647933
Koalas in Capes with Terrie Chilvers – SRC Event – FREE booking required
Blagreaves Library: Thu 6 Aug, 11:30am – 12:30pm | 01332 255403
Spondon Library: Thu 6 Aug, 2:30pm – 3:30pm | 01332 640065
Chaddesden Library: Fri 7 Aug, 11am – 12noon | 01332 640062
Allestree Library: Fri 7 Aug, 2pm – 3pm | 01332 640061
Rhyme, Story and Crafts at Derwent Library – FREE
Date: 29 July and 19 August, 11-12pm · Price: FREE
Read to the Beat with Chris White – FREE booking required
Allenton Library: Mon 10 Aug, 10am – 11am | 01332 642310
Sinfin Library: Mon 10 Aug, 1:30pm – 2:20pm | 01332 647933
Springwood Library: Tue 11 Aug, 10:30am – 11:30am | 01332 640064
Chellaston Library: Tue 11 Aug, 2pm – 3pm | 01332 640063
Dylan’s Amazing Dinosaurs with the Lowe Ranger – Free booking required
Alvaston Library: Thu 13 Aug, 10:30 – 11:30am | 01332 647920
Riverside Library: Thu 13 Aug, 2pm – 3pm | 01332 641702
Normanton Library: Fri 14 Aug, 10:30am – 11:30am | 01332 642640
Mickleover Library, Fri 14 Auf, 2:30pm – 3:30pm | 01332 647884
Bookworm Bookmarks Crafting
Spondon Library, Date: 13 August 2-3pm · Price: FREE. Booking required.*
The Adventure of the Flappy Hat with Caroline Eaton
Allestree Library, Date: 18 August · Price: FREE. Booking required.*
Sssnake Ssspiralsss
Date: 22 August 10.30-11.30am · Price: FREE. Booking required.*
Picture Book Musicals with Gareth P Jones
Date: 27-28 August · Price: FREE. Booking required.*
Mickleover Library: Thu 27 Aug, 10:30am – 11:30am | 01332 647884
Alvaston Library: Thu 27 Aug, 2pm – 3pm | 01332 647920
Riverside Library: Fri 28 Aug, 10:30am – 11:30am | 01332 641702
Normanton Library: Fri 28 Aug, 2L20pm – 3:30pm | 01332 642640
Leisure Centres
Moorways Leisure Centre
Date: 12th August · Price: FREE. drop in
Meadowside Leisure Centre
Date: 28 July 2026 · Price: £6 – booking required
Moorways Leisure Centre
Date: 12th August · Price: FREE. drop in
Moorways Sports Village and Water Park
Under the Sea Party
28/07/2026 · 11.30-2.30 or 1-4pm · £17.50 · Booking Required
South Derbyshire Council
Summer Activities 2026
Play Mobile (bouncy castle, giant games, crafts, and more)
Adventure Mobile (Inflatable mountain climb, laser combat, tug of war and more)
Sports Mobile (Football, cricket, tag rugby, dodgeball and more)
Each one travelling to different parks in South Derbyshire across the summer holidays, FREE, Drop in (need to sign online consent form for certain activities)
derby parks
Superhero Picnic – Free
Allestree Park – Tue 28 Jul
Chaddesden Park – Wed 29 Jul
Darley Park – Thu 6 Aug
Chellaston Park – Fri 7 Aug
Indoor Play and Sports Events
Hero Town Melbourne
Spiderman Visit 18/08/2026 · £tbc · Booking required
Random Acts of Kindness Day 27/08/2026 · £tbc · Booking required
Swadlincote Snowsports Centre
Summer Deals – Toboggan Rides £2.50
Thurs/Friday · £2.50 · Booking recommended
Little moos play barn
Bingo Special 24/07/2026 · 9.30am-11.30am · £14.95 · Booking required
Stitch Special 24/07/2026 · 1-3pm 95 · Booking required
Toy Story Event 26/07/2026 · from 9am · £19.95 · Booking required
Craft Play Explore 27/07/2026 9.30am and 12.30pm · £11.95 · Booking required
Bakelicious Cookery Club (2-5 years) 29/07/2026 and 14/08/26 · 10am and 11am · £12.95 · Booking required
Daisy First Aid Special 1st and 10th 8/2026 · 11.30am · £30 · Booking required
Festival Crafts, Play & Fun! 5/8/2026 · 9.30 and 12.30pm · £11.95 · Booking required
Animal Encounter 10/08/2026 · 9.30am and 10.20am · £16 · Booking required
Miss Rachel Special 24/08/2026 · 9.30am· £19.95 · Booking required
Neon Party with Rumi 21/08/2026 · 9.30am · £19.95 · Booking required
Paint, Plant and Play 26/08/2026 · 9.30am and 12.30pm · £11.95 · Booking required
Gabby Special 29/08/2026 · 9.30am-11.30am · £14.95 · Booking required
Shopping Centres, In Store Events, Restaurant and Café Events
waterstones Derby
Dinosaur Week – 25th-31st July
Pirates Week – 1st – 7th August
K-Pop Demon Hunters Week – 8-14th August
Archaeology Week – 15th-21st August
Space Week – 22-28th August
The Jungle Week – 29th August – 4th September
Themed Colouring and Activities – During opening hours · Free · Drop in
hobbycraft Derby
Kids Letter Decorating Workshop with POSCA
11, 23, 28 August, 1 Sep 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Kids Jigsaw Decorating Workshop
16 and 24 August 2026 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Kids’ Slime Making Workshop Extended
28 July, 9, 14, 18, 30 August 2pm · £8 · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Pets at home – Derby Kingsway and Derby Meteor
Free Pet Pals Workshops
July and August Dates · 2pm · FREE · Age 3+ · Booking Required
Church Farm Tearooms
Have Fun with Miss Rachel 30 July · £8.75/£10.50pp · Booking Required
Meet & Greet with Stitch Date: 3 August · £7/£8.75. Booking required.*
K-Pop Party Date: 7 August · Price: £8.75/£10.50. Booking required.*
Meet Peppa Pig Date: 10 August · Price: £7/£8.75. Booking required.*
Summer Holidays Messy Play Date: 13 August · Price: £7/£10.50. Booking required.*
Frozen Party Date: 14 August · Price: £8.75/£10.50. Booking required.*
Meet & Greet with Paddington Bear Date: 18 August · Price: £8.75/£10.50 Booking required.*
Princess Party Date: 21 August · Price: £8.75/£10.50 . Booking required.*
Bubble & Bounce Date: 24 August · Price: £10.75 . Booking required.*
Tots Fest Date: 29 August · Price: £10.50/£13.13 . Booking required.*
Dobbies Derby
Summer Holiday Club Workshop: Step into Kitty Fairy’s secret summer garden
5, 12, 19, 26 August, 10.15am, FREE · Booking Required
Little Seedlings Club Workshop: Summer sun vs shade
2 August, 10.15am, FREE · Booking Required
Garden King
Free sand and splash area
Open now through summer · 10am–5pm · FREE · Drop-in
Winnie the pooh Woodland Walkthrough
Open now through summer · 10am–5pm · FREE · Drop-in
Critical hit
Ben Whitehead (voice of Wallace from Wallace and Gromit
1st August · 10am–6pm · FREE · Drop-in
Museums, Galleries and Theatre Events
Derby museum of making
Make a Memory Game
29 July 2026, 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm · FREE – suggested donation £3
Steam Babies
30 July 2026, 10.15-11.15am, £3 per child, booking required
Play at the Museum of Making
5 August 2026, 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm · FREE – suggested donation £3
Make a Modular Clothes Construction
12 August 2026, 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm · FREE – suggested donation £3
How do fabrics FIX together?
19 August 2026, 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm · FREE – suggested donation £3
The Craft & Making Summer Club – Age 12-16
Paper Making 31 July 2026, 2-5pm, FREE, booking required
Making Mosaics 31 July 2026, 10-1pm , FREE, booking required
Blacksmithing 1 August 2026, 10-1pm, FREE, booking required
Ceramics 6 August 2026, 10-1pm or 2-5pm, FREE, booking required
Electro Embroidery 7 August 2026, 2-5pm, FREE, booking required
Learn to Sew 7 August 2026, 10-1pm, FREE, booking required
Lino Printing 13 August 2026, 2-5pm, FREE, booking required
Willow Weaving, 13 August 2026 10-1pm, FREE, booking required
Cyanotypes, 20 August 2026 2-5pm, FREE, booking required
Jewellery Making, 20 August 2026 10-1pm, FREE, booking required
Stained Glass, 21 August 2026 10-1 or 2-5pm, FREE, booking required
Woodwork Frames 27 August 2026 10-1, FREE, booking required
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Make Magic Lantern Projections
30 July 2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3.30pm, FREE – suggested donation £3
We Dig Derventio’ – Ask an archaeologist
6 August 2026, 2-4pm, FREE – suggested donation £3
Storytime and Bird Crafts
6 August 2026, 10.30am – 3.30pm, FREE – suggested donation £3
‘We Dig Derventio’- Mini Dig
12 August 2026, 2-4pm, FREE – suggested donation £3
Create your own Still Life Painting
13 August 2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm , FREE – suggested donation £3
The Craft & Making Summer Club – Discover the Collections: Unearthed (age 12-16)
14 August 2026, 10am – 1pm FREE
The Craft & Making Summer Club – Discover the Collections: From the Shadows (12-16)
14 August 2026, 2-3pm, FREE – suggested donation £3
Archaeology talk
20 August 2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm, FREE – suggested donation £3
‘We Dig Derventio’ – Identify your finds
20 August 2026, 2-4pm, FREE – suggested donation £3
Experiments in Art and Science
27 August 2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2-4pm, FREE – suggested donation £3
The National Space Centre StarDome – a Portable Planetarium at Derby Museum and Art Gallery
27 August 2026, 10.15 – 11.15am, 11.30am – 12.30, 12.45pm – 1.45pm and 2 – 3pm, £5pp
Pickford’s house
Lara Croft: 30 Years On – From Derby to Global Icon
24 July 2026 – 28 November 2026 · All ages · FREE, give what you think
Make Bunting at Pickfords’ House
11 August 2026 – 10.30am–12.30pm, 1.30-3.30pm · FREE, suggested donation £3
Create Stories inspired by Lara Croft
18 August 2026 – 10.30am–12.30pm, 1.30-3.30pm · FREE, suggested donation £3
The Craft & Making Summer Club – Toy Theatres
26 August 2026 – 2-5pm · Ages 12-16 · FREE
Play Theatres
25 August 2026 – 10.30am–12.30pm, 1.30-3.30pm · FREE, suggested donation £3
The Craft & Making Summer Club – Character Design
26 August 2026 – 10-1pm · ages 12-16 · FREE
Erewash Museum
Pop up Beach
Throughout the summer · Museum opening hours · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Live Music Fridays
Fridays From 31 July · 11-4pm · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Thursdays from 30th July · Museum opening hours · All ages · £4 · Booking Required
Lotta and Lola Trail
Sat 22 August – Sunday 13 September · Museum opening hours · All ages · FREE · Drop-in
Sharpe’s Pottery Museum
July Museum Trail – Ice Cream
1-31 July · 10-5pm · £1 · Drop-in
Summer Crafts
25 July – 11:00 am – 3:00 pm · FREE · Drop-in
August Museum Trail – Pottery Pups!
1 August – 10 am – 5 pm · £1 · Drop-in
Clay Play! (4+)
5, 12, 19, 26 August, 2 Sept 2026 · 10am/11am · £5 · booking required
Sharpe’s Studio: Mosaic Making
4, 11, 18. 25 August, 1 September – 1-3pm · from £5 · booking required
Sea Glass Art for Families with Shore Things
30 July, 6, 13 August – 10.30-12pm · £15pp· booking required
Little Potters: Under 5’s Sensory and Messy Play
31 July – 10-12pm · £5pp · booking required
Family Fun: Animal Craft!
8 August – 11-3pm · Free · booking required
Markeaton Craft Village
Kids Weekly Art Class – Saturdays
throughout the summer · 10.30am and 12.30pm · 7-16y · £15 · booking required
Summer Family Sessions
30 July, 6, 13 and 20 August · age 5+ 10.30am-12.30pm · £20· booking required
Manga Sunday Class
23 August · 10am · 7-16y · £20 · booking required
DUDL COFFEE
Summer Art Club
Dates: 28 July, 4/11/18/25 August, 1 Sep 2026, Prices: £12.50 · booking required
Baby and Toddler Summer Specials and Holiday Clubs
Baby Sparks Derby East
Summer Sessions 24th July, every Thursday and Friday in August at Castle Donington and Elvaston
messy play
Summer Specials – 27th July, 31st July, 3rd August, 7th August, 9.30-11am
Holiday clubs Mickleover Community Pavilion on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 28th July to 12th August, 10am–2pm.
messy play
Summer Specials – 27th July, 31st July, 3rd August, 7th August, 9.30-11am
Holiday clubs Mickleover Community Pavilion on Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 28th July to 12th August, 10am–2pm.
Little legs with Lauren
Postnatal & Baby Yoga · 19 & 26 Aug · 1pm · Booking required
Little Dreamers Sensory · 5 Aug · 1.30pm & 2.30pm · Booking required
Little Lunar Bath Spa Experience · 12 Aug · 1.30pm · Booking required
Mama Fit · 7, 14 & 28 Aug · 10am · Booking required
Pregnancy Yoga · Mondays (excluding 10 & 31 Aug) · 7pm · Booking required
Mama Yoga · 17 Aug · 8.15pm · Booking required
Little Artist
Summer sessions – 14th and 21st August at Shardlow Village Hall
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