Festival set to celebrate Derby’s dazzling diversity

Surtal Arts has announced the return of the Derby Season of Light festival, with a range of inspiring arts activities planned.

Celebrating Derby’s dazzling diversity and creativity, the family-friendly festival embraces traditional cultural festivals including Diwali, Hanukkah, Bonfire Night, Christmas and the Chinese New Year, which all share the common theme of light. 

Organised by Surtal Arts and supporting partners, it brings together cultures and communities with a series of arts activities and events taking place across Derby and Derbyshire. 

The flagship event will be the Derby Lantern Parade, which will light up the city centre on Saturday 28 November from 5.30pm.

Organised in partnership with Derby LIVE as part of Festive Derby, the parade is a precursor to the Derby Christmas Lights Switch-On.

Featuring hundreds of community-made lanterns, alongside dance and music performances, the parade is open to anyone and free to attend.

Using the theme of ‘Heroes’, people are encouraged to dress up in their superhero costumes, especially children.

In advance of the parade, Surtal Arts has a programme of artist-led lantern making workshops – supported by Cosy Foundation Derbyshire.

Surtal has also partnered with Greene King brewery to offer workshops in some of their Hungry Horse and Flaming Grill family pubs.

Nathan Geering, artistic director at Surtal Arts, said: “Open to everyone, come and join our family-friendly workshops to craft a glowing tribute to a personal role model, local legend, or superhero, led by our expert artists.

“We are also grateful to Cosy Foundation and Foundation Derbyshire for supporting our programme of workshops taking place within schools and diverse community groups.”

The workshops are suitable for individuals or families and cost £5 per person per lantern. All children aged under seven years need to be accompanied.

To book a place at one of the workshops, click here.

For more information about Derby Season of Light, click here.