Get creative for Christmas in Markeaton Park
This December, celebrate the festivities with your family in Markeaton Park with a new series of activities and workshops. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we can’t bring you Family Festivities in the normal way this year, and so instead we are bringing you Christmas in Markeaton Park!
Everything has been planned to put public safety first whichever tier Derby goes into following the national lockdown and in the run-up to Christmas. Visitors to the park are reminded that we can all play our part in doing the right thing for Derby by following the guidelines, wearing a face covering when indoors if we can, observing social distancing at all times and following guidance about who we can be meeting with.
In the lead up to Christmas, each weekend of December, join us in Markeaton Park for a variety of fun, pre-bookable workshops run by many of the tenants of the Craft Village. Make models with Jumping Clay, paint wonderful winter landscapes with Art in the Park or make a variety of Christmassy decorations to hang up at home with Suzy Blues Flowers, Minoan Mosaic and Esmary Fused Glass, in some of the brilliant workshops on offer between 5-20 December. For full details about each workshop, check out the listings below.
Also in the Craft Village, every day from 5-20 December, is the usual dazzling Christmas Tree for you and your family to enjoy and take pictures in front of. Or, you can bring your letter to Father Christmas to post in the Markeaton North Pole post box. Experts have consulted and determined that it is safe for Father Christmas to travel this year to deliver all of his presents, so make sure to write to him to let him know what you want! You should write your letter before coming to the park - you can download a template from our website at inderby.org.uk/parks/news/
The popular free Elf Trail will also be returning, which will take you exploring around Markeaton Park on the lookout for little elf houses! See if you can spy the elves moving in and settling down for a festive Christmas living in Markeaton Park. Download your map from our website from 23 November and submit your completed entries between 5-20 December to be in with the chance of winning some treats, including a voucher to spend in Studio Gift Shop in the Craft Village. Find out more at derbylive.co.uk/whats-on/elf-
Or you can wrap up warm and enjoy the fresh air with a walk, bike ride or scooter around the many pathways at Markeaton Park. The park is beautiful at this time of year, with lots of winter wildlife to see. Derby Adult Learning Services are also offering as series of free, bookable, socially distanced walks for people aged 19+. These guided walks will be led in French, Italian and Spanish this festive season. Cycle Derby are offering sessions for new riders aged 3-16. For £10.50, your child will be provided with a bike (or you can bring your own) and will be taught all the basics in these fun bike riding workshops. Or why not download the free Love Exploring App and have an adventure while walking around Markeaton Park, discovering all the fun facts and secrets on offer?
The Mini Golf will also remain open in the lead up to Christmas for you to enjoy a festive family game together. Put on your hats, scarves and gloves and have a little family competition and see if you can score a hole in one! The Orangery Café is also open for hot take-away drinks or for a festive snack to keep you warm and energised this winter. Plus, each weekend from 5-20 December, the first 20 customers each day will receive a free mince pie!
Get creative this Christmas by joining in these workshops:
Wreath Making Workshop with Suzy Blues Flowers
Create a stunning Christmas wreath with help from Suzy Blue Flowers. All materials needed to create the wreath will be provided in the two hour workshop.
Sat 5 - Sun 6 Dec | Markeaton Park Craft Village
£30.50 per person, for ages 18+
Christmas Crafts with Jumping Clay
Join Jumping Clay to make a Gingerbread man model and build an elf cuddly toy to take home with you that same day! Sessions are for one household with prices starting at £25.50 for one adult and one child. An extra adult is an additional £10 and an extra child is a further £15.
Sat 5, Sun 6, Sat 12, Sun 13, Sat 19 & Sun 20 Dec | Markeaton Park Craft Village
£55.50 - £25.50 for one family/household
Painting Fun Workshop with Art in the Park
Come to this one-off class to teach you and your child how to paint a wonderful winter landscape on canvas this winter. Prices start at £15 for one canvas and £20 for two canvases.
Sat 5, Sat 12 & Sat 19 Dec | Markeaton Park Craft Village
£20.50 - £15.50 for two people (One child and one adult)
Mosaics Workshop with Minoan Mosaic
Design and create your own mosaic Christmas Decorations in these 60 minute sessions. Your decoration will be suitable for indoor use or outdoor use when grouted. Have fun and make a creative, personal addition to your Christmas tree this year!
Sun 6, Sun 13 & Sun 20 Dec | Markeaton Park Craft Village
£40.50 for one household of up to four people
Introduction to Glass Fusing with Esmary Fused Glass
Come and learn how to fuse glass during the festive period. You will create a glass Christmas decoration or coaster during the 2hr 30 min session. Your glass creation will be available to collect seven days later, once it has been fused.
Sat 12 - Sun 13 Dec | Markeaton Park Craft Village
£45.50 per person, for ages 16+
And get outdoors this winter with these sessions:
Ditch those stabilisers…and more with Cycle Derby
Gain confidence on your bike this festive season with sessions from Cycle Derby. They have three different sessions on offer - Learn to Ride, Balance and Early Skills, and you can attend as many of the session as you like. Bikes can be provided, and two trainers will support the learning environment with fun and games on the bikes.
Sat 5, Sat 12 & Sat 19 | Markeaton Park - The Train Sheds
£10.50, for ages 3-16
Walk in French with a Christmas Theme with Derby Adult Learning Services
Take a gentle Promenade en francais around the park with opportunities to stop along the way to learn about Christmas in French speaking countries. Suitable for all levels of French from real beginners to those with more knowledge.
Sun 6 Dec | Markeaton Park Craft Village
Free, for ages 19+
Walk in Spanish with a Christmas Theme with Derby Adult Learning Services
Take a gentle Paseo en españolis around the park with opportunities to stop along the way to learn about Christmas in Spanish speaking countries. Suitable for all levels of Spanish from real beginners to those with more knowledge.
Wed 9 Dec | Markeaton Park Craft Village
Free, for ages 19+
Walk in Italian with a Christmas Theme with Derby Adult Learning Services
Take a gentle Passeggiata in italiano around the park with opportunities to stop along the way to learn about Christmas in Italy. Suitable for all levels of Italian from real beginners to those with more knowledge.
Sun 13 Dec | Markeaton Park Craft Village
Free, for ages 19+
All the workshops have been planned with Covid safe measures in place and put public safety first. We remind participants to wear a face covering where required if possible and follow social distancing guidelines. If you begin to show symptoms, please remain at home and get in touch with us in advance of your workshop to let us know that you are unable to make your booking, and we will arrange a refund for you.