11 September to 31 October 2021
Fireworks on Saturdays from 9 October to 30 October plus Sunday 31 October.
Matlock Bath Illuminations is a fun-packed family event featuring a spectacular parade of illuminated and decorated boats along the River Derwent.
During the 8-week season Matlock Bath Venetian Boat Builders’ Association decorate themed models with an array of coloured lights. The models are mounted on rowing boats and paraded on the River Derwent each Saturday (7.45pm and 9.15pm in September and from around 7pm in October) and Sundays from 7pm in Derwent Gardens, giving a unique and illuminous display. The boats can only be viewed on admission into the gardens.
Firework Displays
There will be fantastic firework displays on Saturday evenings from 9th October and Sunday 31st October. The fireworks light up the skies around Matlock Bath in multi-colours. The firework displays begin at 9pm with the best viewing positions being in the Bandstand area of Derwent Gardens.
Please note that on Saturdays in particular Matlock Bath can get extremely busy.
Prices, events & capacity
Tickets for 2021 are £6.50 on Firework Saturdays (£5.50 concessions) and £5.50 on Non-Firework Saturdays and Sundays (£4.50 concessions) if bought online in advance – apart from the final Sunday (31 October) when Saturday prices apply. Accompanied under 16s continue to be free, with concessions available for OAPs. Online tickets can be booked until 6pm on the night of the event.
On the night it cost £8.00 on Fireworks Saturdays (£7.00 concessions) and £7.00 on Non-Firework Saturdays and Sundays (£6.00 concessions) – £1.50 more expensive than the online prices. On-the-night tickets are not guaranteed and are not available if the event sells out in advance. Please note that we will be taking card payments only on the night.
Saturdays from 9th October in 2021 will include a fireworks finale, with numbers in Derwent Gardens restricted to a maximum of 4,000 – down from 8,000, the maximum in 2016 and previous years – to improve crowd movement and enjoyment for visitors.
To enhance the reputation of Sundays as a “family night”, entertainment starts and finishes earlier, running from 6-8.15pm to take account of the fact that younger visitors have school the following morning.
