Derby College has launched a new programme of taster courses designed to introduce local people to new skills and hobbies.

Special pre-Christmas sessions are being held every week from £10 at the Roundhouse in Pride Park in the run up to Christmas for making festive cards, baubles and craft prints as well as sessions to learn basic DIY plumbing skills needed during the winter months.

Two-hour introductions to conversational French and Spanish are also held at the Roundhouse.

The East Midlands’ professional orchestra, Sinfonia Viva will start 2016 with a concert at the recently refurbished Derby Cathedral on January 22.

The concert marks the first anniversary of Principal Conductor Duncan Ward’s appointment with the Orchestra.

It will also feature soloists and Viva players Adam Mackenzie (Bassoon) and Emily Pailthorpe (Oboe).

Duncan Ward said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year as Sinfonia Viva’s Principal Conductor. 

The application window is now open for bands, artists and DJs interested in playing at Indietracks on the weekend of 29-31 July 2016 in Derbyshire, UK.

It will be our 10th festival, and we’ll have up to 50 bands playing across four stages, as well as DJs for our evening discos.

We’d encourage applications from any interested artists and DJs, so if you fancy playing, please get in touch. Also, if you know a band that might like to apply please let them know that we’re inviting applications.

With Buxton Fringe 2016 opening for entries on December 1, this year’s audience and entrants’ surveys estimate that 2015’s event contributed a total of nearly half a million pounds to the local economy.

The biggest Buxton Fringe to date with 174 entries resulted in some £58,000 being spent by performers during their stay in Buxton. Meanwhile estimates show that audiences spent a total of £401,000 on food, accommodation and ticket sales for shows from local performers.

Derby’s Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have joined forces to produce a comprehensive leaflet showcasing the variety of entertainment and events taking place in the city centre this Christmas.

Beginning with the Christmas lights switch on event on Saturday November 14, there will be a huge range of street entertainment, markets, concerts and church services on offer as well as theatre performances, films and exhibitions throughout both BID areas. Much of this entertainment will be available free of charge.

Young people from Derby’s Big Adventures Youth Theatre Company will share the stage with celebrated regional orchestra Sinfonia Viva at the annual New Year’s Eve Gala Concert at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall.

Big Adventures have previously performed alongside Viva at the annual Darley Park concert and will join the Orchestra in Nottingham on Thursday December 31 for a programme full of Hollywood and Broadway glamour.

A 20-strong choir made up of young people aged 12 to 18 will perform a selection of seminal vocal smash hits.

A local actor and musician are joining forces in aid of Friends of the Peak District to tell a tale of one man’s journey in search of the fabled Northwest Passage. Human interest in the Arctic goes back centuries and this fascinating story, though dating back nearly 200 years, releases secrets from the unknown land that are still relevant today.

Croots Farm Shop is launching its annual festive fundraising effort in aid of Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre with a special event on Thursday 12^th November.

The farm shop, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, will be staging a Christmas taster evening, with a range of producer demonstrations and sampling sessions.

5th November 2015 – 6.15pm onwards

Carsington Village

Carsington & Hopton’s local community organisation CARE will once again be putting on the annual fireworks display in Carsington village on Thursday the 5^th November.

After the fantastic success of 2015’s bumper event, Buxton Festival Fringe is inviting audience members, friends and performers to have their say at its new-look Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 11th November at Buxton’s Old Hall Hotel.