FAQs

The 2022 Matlock Bath Illuminations season has now finished. It will run every weekend from 9 September to 29 October 2023.

What time do the Illuminations start?

The Derwent Gardens (DE4 3NR) gates open at 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays (5.30pm on the final Sunday of the season). The Lights are from 6pm and entertainment starts around the bandstand at 7pm on Saturdays and 6.30pm on Sundays. The models are mounted on rowing boats and paraded on the River Derwent each Saturday (from around 7.45pm in September and from around 7pm in October) and Sundays from around 7pm. We also have a fireworks finale every Saturday in October and a low noise fireworks display on the final night, Sunday 30 October. Every night is themed, with characters in the Gardens with whom young visitors can have their photos taken for free.

Aren't Derwent Gardens a public area?

Yes, the Gardens are a public area operated by us as the local council 365 days a year. On Illuminations nights last entry to the Gardens (via the Derwent Gardens entrance and Jubilee Bridge onto Lovers' Walks) as a public space is 5pm and we will make announcements asking everyone to leave the Gardens by 5.30pm. Even if you have a ticket, our security officers will ask you to leave and queue to come back into the event to enable us to audit the number of people attending for safety reasons. Please abide by these requests to ensure that the Gardens are empty when gates open for the paid event at 6pm.

How long is the 2023 season?

The season starts on Saturday 9 September and runs until Sunday 29 October.

How do I book online?

Tickets will go on sale in Summer 2023.

Do I have to book tickets for under 16s, even though they are free?

Yes, you must include accompanied children in your online booking.

When is the deadline to book online?

The deadline for purchasing online tickets is at 6pm on the day of the event you wish to purchase tickets for, but we cannot guarantee tickets will still be available at that time.

When/how will I receive my tickets?

Tickets will be emailed directly to your email address account through our online ticketing website.

Do I have to print out my e-ticket?

It's quicker for us (and the queue) if you have a printed version of your e-ticket to present at the gate, but we can accept an e-ticket on your phone if that's a problem for you.

What happens if I miss the online deadline?

We advise early booking to avoid disappointment. Our ticket booth at the entrance to Derwent Gardens is open from 5.30pm for card payments only, but we cannot guarantee tickets will be available on the night, as the event could sell out in advance through online sales. There is a possibility that on sell-out nights, on-the-night tickets could be available from approximately 8pm when the first of the early visitors who have booked advance tickets start to leave the event - but it is more expensive than booking in advance and the queue is likely to be long. We accept card payments only at the ticket booth on the night. We only let in the same number of people who have left, and tickets are issued on a first come, first served basis, and cannot be guaranteed.

Will tickets be available at the gate on sell-out nights?

The situation on sell-out nights is that we may have tickets available at the gate on a first come, first served basis, but only after the first visitors with advance tickets have left the Gardens. We monitor this and it tends to happen sometime before 8.30pm.

How much are tickets?

2023 ticket prices have not yet been decided. Online tickets purchased through Ticket Source have no added charge when using a debit card. You may opt to receive your ticket as a text message for an extra 50p.

What classes as a concession?

Concession prices are available for disabled people and retired people receiving their state pension. Unfortunately students are not entitled to a concession ticket.

Can I use my ticket on any night?

No. Tickets are not transferrable and are non-refundable.

How much is the funfair?

Funfair prices haven't increased since 2015. Ride tokens are:

• 1 token = £2
• 3 tokens = £5
• 7 tokens = £10
• All rides are 1 token per person to ride.

Also, the Hook-A-Duck stall price has been frozen at £3.50 a go. For that you win any prize on the stall - there are no catches - it is prize every time.

Am I guaranteed a parking place in Matlock Bath?

Unfortunately not. Car parks at Matlock Bath Station (DE4 3NS) and on Temple Road (DE4 3NR) can be full by 5pm or even earlier. Please allow plenty of time for your journey, arrive early, please park considerately and be prepared to use the Park & Ride, which operates on Firework Saturdays only. Additional parking in Matlock Bath itself can often be found at the Gulliver's attraction on Temple Road (DE4 3PG).

So what are my parking options?

There is a car park on the A6 between Matlock Bath and Matlock at Artists' Corner ((DE4 3PS). In Matlock itself (which is 2 miles from Matlock Bath), the 192-space Station Car Park (DE4 3NA) is situated next to the town's main bus station. There is a train service on Saturdays and Sundays on the Derwent Valley line between Nottingham and Matlock (including Matlock Bath).

How much does it cost to park?

In District Council car parks, where charges generally apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, charges are:

• £1.50 for up to 1 hour
• £2.50 up to 2 hours
• £3.80 2-3 hours
• £5.00 3-4 hours
• Parking after 6pm is just £1

Derbyshire Dales residents with a valid Resident's Parking Permit can park free after 4pm. We have no control over the price at the Gulliver's attraction, which is usually around £4 for the evening to 10pm.

Learn more about car park charges.

Do you operate a Park & Ride service?

2023 details will be announced soon. The Park & Ride service will operate from 5pm to 10.30pm on our firework nights only - every Saturday in October and the final Sunday 29th October (4pm to 9.30pm). The site is Cromford Meadows, Cromford (Sat Nav - DE4 3RQ / 53.110300,-1.553536) - drops off near Illuminations entrance, so better suited to visitors with mobility issues.

How much does Park & Ride cost?

Park & Ride costs £2.00 (return) per adult, £1.00 for children and under 5s are free. The Park & Ride buses are fully accessible and well behaved dogs are welcome. There is no parking charge at Cromford Meadows on top of the park & ride fee.

How often do the Park & Ride buses run?

The buses run approximately every 15 to 20 minutes on fireworks nights only.

Can I park on the road?

There is limited onstreet parking on the A6 in Matlock Bath itself, but parking is not permitted on double yellow lines or verges either side of the village. This restriction is enforced via a £70 fine. Side streets in Matlock Bath are stewarded to ensure they are accessible only by local residents.

Is Matlock Bath the same place as Matlock?

No it isn't! Matlock Bath, where the Illuminations take place, is a village on the A6 road approximately two miles south of the larger town of Matlock. Both locations have large car parks and are separate train stations on the Derwent Valley Line. Our park & ride is in Cromford (two miles south of Matlock Bath).

Disabled Visitors

• Limited disabled parking in the Pavilion car park (DE4 3NR). Please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
• A disabled viewing area for the boat parade is located behind the ticket office at the entrance to Derwent Gardens.
• Disabled toilets are available at the entrance to Derwent Gardens and within Derwent Gardens.
• The event is accessible by wheelchairs.
• Disabled people pay the concessionary price and any carer is free of charge

Coach parking

Parking for coaches is available at Matlock Bath Station Car Park (DE4 3PT) costing £5.50 per 3 hours.

What about public transport?

Trains operate to Matlock Bath from Derby and Matlock along the Derwent Valley Line every hour Monday to Saturday and every two hours on Sunday. If you travel to Matlock Bath by train, show your train ticket at the Derwent Gardens entrance and SAVE £1.50 on admission to the Illuminations on the night. The train service is operated by East Midlands Railways, and tickets cost £1.10 from Matlock, £5.50 from Belper, £7.10 from Derby.

Where is the entrance to the Illuminations?

The entrance is in Derwent Gardens (DE4 3NR), located down either side of the Grand Pavilion in Matlock Bath.

What do I get for my money?

Entry to Derwent Gardens includes children's entertainment and activities around the bandstand. You also see the famous parade of decorated boats, and, on Firework Saturdays, a fireworks finale (9pm). There are children's theme characters every Saturday and Sunday too, plus stilt walkers and our new 2022 attraction: a tunnel of lights across the River Derwent.

Check out our entertainment programme. (Not currently available)

What time do the boats parade?

It needs to be dark to fully appreciate the decorated boats, so they parade from around 7.45pm on Saturdays in September and from around 7pm on Saturdays in October. On Sundays they parade from around 7.30pm in September and 7pm in October (allowing for young visitors having to attend school the following day).

What is a "decorated boat"?

A themed model is mounted on a rowing boat, illuminated by around 700 coloured bulbs. The boat is rowed up and down the Derwent Gardens stretch of the River Derwent and themes include children's characters such as Thomas the Tank Engine plus more adult themes such as Herbie the VW, the Red Arrows, a Lancaster plane and a 1st World War tank. The models are built by volunteers belonging to the Matlock Bath Boat Builders' Association and there are 8 models in 2021, plus a traditional candle boat built to show the way the parade used to look many years ago.

How can I see the boats once I am in Derwent Gardens?

At Derwent Gardens, the pathway on both sides of the river is roped off for viewing. On busy nights it is not always possible to get a front row place straight away, but spectators do move on at regular intervals and the boats stay on the river long enough to ensure everyone gets a great view (usually between 45 minutes and an hour).

How do I get to the other side of the river?

A bridge spans the river from Derwent Gardens onto the other side (Lovers' Walks). Since the introduction of a "tunnel of light" on the bridge in 2022 we ask visitors to keep moving when using the bridge to cross from one side of the river to the other.

I've seen reports that the event is crowded?

Saturday nights can be very busy, but in 2017 we responded to comments about numbers in Derwent Gardens by reducing the maximum capacity by 2,000, to give visitors more space to move around. Sundays are traditionally less busy if you prefer a quieter night. Visitor numbers were reduced by a further 2,000 to 4,000 for the 2022.

Can I see the boats from other parts of Matlock Bath?

No. The decorated boats parade can only be seen from Derwent Gardens and the Lovers' Walks paths on the opposite side of the River Derwent. The parade takes place between the landing stage near the Grand Pavilion and New Bridge downstream, and can only be seen by people who have paid to get into the Illuminations.

How do I leave the Illuminations?

You can leave the way you came in (the Derwent Gardens entrance by the side of the Grand Pavilion) or by crossing via the New Bridge to the other side of the river and turning left, walking along Lovers' Walks to Jubilee Bride halfway up the main parade in Matlock Bath.

Are the Illuminations only on at weekends?

The entertainment and parade of decorated boats are only on at weekends, but the Lights themselves can be viewed free of charge every weekday from 6pm to midnight.

When are the fireworks?

A fireworks finale happens on every Saturday in October, including the last Sunday night, 29 October of the 2023 season. The display is set off from the cliffs on the far side of the river at 9pm and cannot be viewed from Lovers' Walks. This area is cleared prior to the fireworks display. Fireworks can be viewed from most areas of Derwent Gardens.

How long does the fireworks display last?

Approximately 10 minutes.

Can I buy food in Derwent Gardens?

Yes, food is available in Derwent Gardens e.g. burgers, hot dogs, coffee/tea/cold drinks, cake, sweets. Please bring cash to pay.

What else is in Derwent Gardens?

Derwent Gardens has a bar, a small funfair (a charge to use the rides) for children, plus a novelty light-up toys stall. Please bring cash to pay. Funfair prices in 2023 are:

• 1 token (1 ride) = £2
• 3 tokens = £5
• 7 tokens = £10

Toilets

• Temporary toilets are located on the entrance to Derwent Gardens by the side of the Grand Pavilion.
• Baby changing facilities are available in the disabled toilet near to the entrance to Derwent Gardens.
• Temporary toilets are situated in Derwent Gardens and on Lovers' Walks on firework nights.

Cash point

There is a free cash machine in the Pavilion car park near the Derwent Gardens entrance but please note that we will be taking card payments only at the ticket office. Its cash sales for the food and drink stalls and funfair.

Accommodation

Can be booked at www.visitpeakdistrict.com

Dogs

Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome at the Illuminations, but owners should be aware that the fireworks at 9pm on Saturday are loud and can cause distress to some animals. Here's some advice from the RSPCA on pets and fireworks.

What happens to the entrance money?

Through entrance charges, Derbyshire Dales District Council aims to organise the popular festival - which boosts the local economy - at no cost to local Council Tax payers. Any profit is generally ploughed back into the following year's event.

Wasn't it once free to get into the Illuminations?

There was a brief period from 1984 when entry to the Illuminations was via voluntary contribution, so you could get in for free if you wished. The District Council rescued the event when the organising company was voluntarily wound up after the 1983 season was hit by bad weather. The reason no formal charge was made at that time was due to the event being temporarily scaled back.Other than this brief period, throughout its 120-year history the Illuminations has always been a ticketed event. In fact when boats paraded on the longer stretch of the Derwent, watched from the former Promenade Gardens in Matlock Bath (an arena lost to road widening in 1968), the river was blocked off with high fencing so people who had not paid could not see the boats.