Cathedral Quarter Businesses Celebrate Advent With Free Entertainment and Events Programme
Derby Cathedral Quarter has organised its first Living Advent Calendar event with 24 different free events and entertainment across the area every day in the run up to Christmas.
The programme has been led by the Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) and sponsored by Timms solicitors in Queen Street. The festive programme has been published in a leaflet which is available across the Cathedral Quarter as well as on the website www.derbycathedralquarter.co.uk with contact details of all the businesses involved for further information and pre-booking where required.
The Living Advent Calendar joins an already packed programme of events and entertainment across the Cathedral Quarter throughout December. Highlights include the Cathedral Quarter 3aaa ice rink in the Market Place; free street entertainment organised by the BID, the Market Hall Winter Wonderland produced by Furthest From the Sea and a wide variety of entertainment and activities at key venues including Derby Cathedral, Derby Museums, QUAD, Déda and the Guildhall Theatre.
Martin Langsdale chairs the Cathedral Quarter Board and Management Group, which drive forward activities under the area’s Business Improvement District (BID). He said: “We are delighted that so many businesses in the Cathedral Quarter have embraced our idea of holding a ‘Living Advent Calendar’ series of entertainment and events for the first time this year. “We were keen to coordinate a wide range of special festive events that would appeal to everyone from young families to older people and provide a fantastic experience for all our visitors at this very special time of year.”
Timms’ Managing Partner Fiona Moffat added: “The ‘Living Advent Calendar’ programme is a brilliant initiative which will hopefully encourage far more people into the Cathedral Quarter this December and also provide a wonderful opportunity for people who work in this area and their families to enjoy some great festive events and entertainment free of charge. “We relocated to the Cathedral Quarter so that we could be part of the thriving professional services community of businesses here and were keen to support this programme in recognition of the positive impact that the retail, leisure and cultural sectors have on the quality of life of our staff and our clients.”
The programme is:
Thursday December 1: Free styling tips, consultation and exclusive promotions at Sally Montague Hair Group in Sadler Gate between 11am and 4pm.
Friday December 2: Surprise Christmas ‘cracker’ event at the Old Bell in Sadler Gate, 6pm to 8pm
Saturday December 3: Family trail starting at the Silk Mill Museum in Full Street between 11am and 3.30pm
Sunday December 4: Wreath making workshop at Selena’s Contemporary Flowers in The Strand between 1pm and 3pm
Monday December 5: Free Snowball Doughballs at Pizza Express in Iron Gate (12 noon to 6pm)
Tuesday December 6: Fondue making and cooking demonstration at Milk and Honey in Sadler Gate between 10.30am and 11.30am
Wednesday December 7: An afternoon of live music by Mr Clean at BPM Records in Old Blacksmith’s Yard off Sadler Gate
Thursday December 8: Mini cocktail masterclass and food tasting at Revolution in The Strand between 2pm and 4pm
Friday December 9: Launch of ‘What a loving beautiful world’ exhibition at QUAD in the Market Place at 6.30pm
Saturday December 10: A day of live festive music at Foulds in Iron Gate
Sunday December 11: Gaming session at Games Workshop in Sadler Gate 10am to 12 noon
Monday December 12: Festive salt dough decoration workshop at Baked in The Strand (3pm to 4pm)
Tuesday December 13: performance by Cherry Tree Hill school choir at Bookcafe in the Corn Market 10am to 11am
Wednesday December 14: Carols and pyclet tasting throughout the day at Pyclet Parlour in the Market Hall
Thursday December 15: Meet producers and sample a variety of beverages at Prosecco Parlour in The Strand Arcade between 4pm and 8pm
Friday December 16: Eyebrow shaping or a blow dry at The Strand Hair and Beauty in The Strand
Saturday December 17: Star Wars games demonstrations at Galactic Models, The Strand Arcade
Sunday December 18: Pub quiz with free chips at Ye Olde Dolphin, Queen Street from 9.15pm (over 18s only)
Monday December 19: Free family laser battle game at Megazone in Willow Row between 3pm and 6pm (available only to families who pre-book)
Tuesday December 20: Live music and Christmas entertainment courtesy of Furthest from the Sea at Derby Market Hall between 10am and 4pm
Wednesday December 21: Carols and Journey to Bethlehem story at Derby Cathedral – two performances at 12.45pm and 3pm
Thursday December 22: Open mic session at Blacksmith’s Lounge, Sadler Gate from 7.30pm
Friday December 23: Festive family event at Derby Museum and Art Gallery 10am to 11.30am
Saturday December 24: CQ Saturdays Knickerbocker Glorious live Christmas entertainment at the Waterfall, Market Place between 11am and 3pm
For more information about the Cathedral Quarter, visit www.derbycathedralquarter.co.uk, follow on Twitter @DerbyCQ and like the Facebook page cathedralquarterderby.