Children's Festival

A New Children’s Festival For Chesterfield!

Words & Images: Junction Arts

This summer a new children’s festival is coming to Chesterfield, a free weekend of fun for families that will include music, theatre, storytelling, dance, and art workshops.

The Chesterfield Children’s Festival is being organised by award-winning arts charity, Junction Arts and will celebrate the joy of childhood, imagination, and play. It will take place in Queen’s Park on the 29th and 30th of July and promises to bring colour and excitement to Chesterfield during the summer holidays.

The two-day event will focus on arts and culture, with a number of acts and activities taking place over the weekend. Entertainment announced so far includes a silent disco tour, an interactive game zone, a comedy club, a circus, storytime yoga, tie-dye workshops, face-painting and a brass band that plays everyone’s favourite Disney tunes!

Music and live theatre will take place in and around the town centre during the festival weekend, the full line-up will be announced in June.

Junction Arts will also commission a new artwork on the themes of childhood, play and games to celebrate the launch of the festival. Three local primary schools in Chesterfield and surrounding areas will work with the artist during several engagement sessions in the spring to deliver the art.

Junction Arts Project Coordinator, Jemma Burton said: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of the Chesterfield Children’s Festival, a weekend that’s all about fun with live performances and lots of opportunities to get creative. We have secured lots of high-quality acts already, but we’ll be announcing more very soon!

“Everyone is welcome, there’s no need to register or buy a ticket, families can simply turn up, get involved in the workshops or just enjoy the entertainment on offer. We look forward to seeing you there!”

Junction Arts hope that this will become a much-loved annual event for the town, inspiring children and young people for generations to come.

The Chesterfield Children’s Festival will take place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July, from 10am to 4pm daily.

For more information visit: www.junctionarts.org

'What's On' events in S40 Local and S41 Local are delivered free to 14,500 homes. If you have an event to list, please just drop us an email to: paul@s40local.co.uk

May

Mon 1: Spring Exhibition by Chesterfield

Art Club 10am to 4 pm. Parish Hall, Milken Lane, Ashover S45 0BS. Exhibition coincides with Village May Day Carnival.

Tue 2: Chesterfield and District Family History Society - Victorian Housing Conditions

Dennis Hill speaking on line and at St Thomas’ Centre, Brampton at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome. For details and to register please contact secretary@cadfhs.org

Tue 2: Mellors & Kirk Valuation Day. See www.mellorsandkirk.co.uk

Tue 2: Coronation Tea Dance

Celebrate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. The Ashby “Little” Big Band with six musicians and a singer will play a mix of ballroom & sequence at the special event. 2:30 to 5:30pm @The Winding Wheel. Tickets £7.50. T: 01246 345222 or visit www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

Wed 3: Holymoorside Horticultural SocietyPeople Plants Pleasure and Passion

A talk by Don Witton. 7:30pm URC meeting room Cotton Mill Hill Holymoorside. T: 01246 568000 for details.

Fri 5: Mellors & Kirk Valuation Day

See www.mellorsandkirk.co.uk

Fri 5: Chesterfield RSPB Field Trip - Flash Lane

8pm to spot the nightjars and woodcocks. For info T: 01246 201663.

Sat 6 May: Coronation of King Charles III

Sat 6: Coronation Celebration @Vicar lane

A celebration for shoppers & visitors to enjoy! 10am to 3pm, families can pull up a deckchair on the green in St James’ Square which will be laid out amongst some family favourite giant games! Vicar Lane will be showing the Coronation Service live on their big screen which is due to begin at 11am. Activities, stilt walkers, face painters & royal themed entertainers, bringing a sense of joy to Steeplegate & Vicar Lane. Details see vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk/whats_on

Sun 7: Holymoorside 10k

10:30am start to this great annual event. For details see www.holymoorside10k.co.uk

A Cappella Women’s Chorus www.minervachorus.co.uk

E: minervachorus@gmail.com

Sun 7: Come & Try Bowls at Robinson at Bowls, Walton Dam

Drop by for a Taster session between 12 noon until 5 pm. Please wear flat shoes and we will lend you the bowls. All ages welcome. See FB Robinson Bowls Club.

Mon 8: Coronation Bank Holiday

Mon 8: NEDIAS Heritage Talk - The Great Little Trains of Wales

By Alastair Clark at St Thomas Centre, Chatsworth Road. Info from cliff@nedias. co.uk. All welcome - non-members £3.

Tue 9 to Fri 19: Postcard Show Chesterfield's annual exhibition of mini masterpieces. See your own work exhibited. West Studios, Sheffield Road. Visit junctionarts.org for details on how to get involved.

Wed 10: Chesterfield RSPB Midweek walkAvenue Washlands

10am Start. For info T: 01246 201663.

Sat 13 & Sun 14: Chesterfield Postcard Show Open Weekend

10:30am to 2:30pm @ West Studios, Sheffield Road. See junctionarts.org

Thu 11: Rhys James

The Leadmill, Sheffield. www.leadmill.co.uk