Matlock Bath Illuminations

Our 2024 Illuminations season closed on 27 October. We will be back in 2025. If you visited in 2024 please take our survey.

Check on the booking website.

Look out for a discounted tickets offer from our sponsor the Heights of Abraham when you book Illuminations tickets. Make a day of it in Matlock Bath with a visit to the top attraction with its cable cars and entertainment, followed by an evening at the lights! Details on your e-ticket when you book.

Matlock Bath Illuminations is a fun-packed family event featuring a spectacular parade of illuminated and decorated boats along the River Derwent. The 2024 season ran every Saturday and Sunday night from 7 September to 27 October.

During the 7-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 (from around 7.45pm in September and from around 7pm in October) and Sundays (from around 7.30pm in September and 7pm in October) in Derwent Gardens, giving a unique and illuminous display. The boats can only be viewed on admission into the gardens.

There were fantastic firework displays every Saturday in October and the final night, Sunday 27 October. The fireworks light up the skies around Matlock Bath in multi-colours. The firework displays begin at 8.30pm.

Please note that on Saturdays in particular Matlock Bath can get extremely busy. For travel, timings and ticketing tips, see our FAQs

Both Saturdays and Sundays have themed nights and there's also entertainment including stilt walkers plus the fabulous parade of decorated boats on the River Derwent. Sundays are "family nights", when entertainment starts and finishes earlier, running from 6.00pm-8.30pm to take account of younger visitors having school the following morning.