The 2024 Matlock Bath Illuminations will run every Saturday and Sunday from 7 September to 27 October.
The 2024 Matlock Bath Illuminations season will run every Saturday and Sunday from 7 September to 27 October,.
What time do the Illuminations start?
The Derwent Gardens (DE4 3NR) gates open at 5.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The Lights are from 6pm (or when it goes dark) and entertainment starts near the bandstand from around 6.20pm. The models are mounted on rowing boats and paraded on the River Derwent each Saturday (from around 8pm in September and from around 7pm in October) and Sundays from around 8pm in September and 7pm in October. We also have a fireworks finale every Saturday in October on the final night, Sunday 29 October. Every night is themed, with characters in the Gardens with whom young visitors can have their photos taken for free.
Aren't Derwent Gardens a public area?
Yes, the Gardens are a public area operated by us as the local council 365 days a year. On Illuminations nights last entry to the Gardens (via the Derwent Gardens entrance and Jubilee Bridge onto Lovers' Walks) as a public space is 4.30pm and we will make announcements asking everyone to leave the Gardens by 5pm. Even if you have a ticket, our security officers will ask you to leave and queue to come back into the event to enable us to audit the number of people attending for safety reasons. Please abide by these requests to ensure that the Gardens are empty when gates open for the paid event at 5.30pm.
How long is the 2024 season?
The season starts on Saturday 7 September and runs until Sunday 27 October.
How do I book online?
Tickets are now on sale.
Do I have to book tickets for under 16s?
Yes, you must include accompanied children in your online booking.
When is the deadline to book online?
The deadline for purchasing online tickets is at 5.30pm on the day of the event you wish to purchase tickets for, but we cannot guarantee tickets will still be available at that time.
When/how will I receive my tickets?
Tickets will be emailed directly to your email address account through our online ticketing website.
Do I have to print out my e-ticket?
It's quicker for us (and the queue) if you have a printed version of your e-ticket to present at the gate, but we can accept an e-ticket on your phone if that's a problem for you.
What happens if I miss the online deadline?
We advise early booking to avoid disappointment. Our ticket booth at the entrance to Derwent Gardens is open from 5.30pm for card payments only, but we cannot guarantee tickets will be available on the night, as the event could sell out in advance through online sales. There is a possibility that on sell-out nights, on-the-night tickets could be available to buy from 5.30pm for admission after 8.00pm when the first of the early visitors who have booked advance tickets start to leave the event - but it is more expensive than booking in advance and the queue is likely to be long. We accept card payments only at the ticket booth on the night. We only let in the same number of people who have left, and tickets are issued on a first come, first served basis, and cannot be guaranteed.
Will tickets be available at the gate on sell-out nights?
The situation on sell-out nights is that we may have tickets available to buy at the gate from 5.30pm on a first come, first served basis. These tickets allow admission to the event after the first visitors with advance tickets have left the Gardens. We monitor this and it tends to happen around 8.00pm.
How much are tickets?
2024 ticket prices. Online tickets purchased through Ticket Source have no added charge when using a debit card. You may opt to receive your ticket as a text message for an extra 50p. Accompanied under 16s need a ticket.
What classes as a concession?
Concession prices are available for disabled people and retired people receiving their state pension. Unfortunately students are not entitled to a concession ticket.
Can I use my ticket on any night?
No. Tickets are not transferable and are non-refundable.
How much is the funfair?
- 1 token = £2.50
- 5 tokens = £10
- All rides are 1 token per person to ride.
This year's rides are:
- Jet ride
- Mini Waltzer
- Train
- Ferris Wheel
- Convoy Race
The Hook-A-Duck stall price is £4 a go. For that you win any prize on the stall - there are no catches - it is prize every time.
Am I guaranteed a parking place in Matlock Bath?
Unfortunately not. Car parks at Matlock Bath Station (DE4 3NS) and on Temple Road (DE4 3NR) can be full by 5pm or even earlier. Please allow plenty of time for your journey, arrive early, please park considerately and be prepared to use the Park & Ride, which operates on Firework Saturdays and the final Sunday only. Additional parking in Matlock Bath itself can often be found at the Gulliver's attraction on Temple Road (DE4 3PG) and at Masson Mills (DE4 3PY).
So what are my parking options?
There is a car park on the A6 between Matlock Bath and Matlock at Artists' Corner ((DE4 3PS). In Matlock itself (which is 2 miles from Matlock Bath), the 192-space Station Car Park (DE4 3NA) is situated next to the town's main bus station. There is a train service on Saturdays and Sundays on the Derwent Valley line between Nottingham and Matlock (including Matlock Bath).
How much does it cost to park?
In District Council car parks, where charges generally apply 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, charges are:
- £1.50 for up to 1 hour
- £2.50 up to 2 hours
- £3.80 2-3 hours
- £5.00 3-4 hours
There is an event charge from 4pm-10pm of £5 on Saturdays and Sundays during the Illuminations for the following car parks:
- Artists' Corner
- Pavilion
- Temple Walk
- Station Yard
Derbyshire Dales residents with a valid Resident's Parking Permit can park free after 4pm. We have no control over the price at the Gulliver's attraction, which is usually around £4 for the evening to 10pm or the parking at Masson Mill.
Learn more about car park charges.
Do you operate a Park & Ride service?
The Park & Ride service operates from 4.30pm to 10.00pm on our firework nights only - every Saturday in October and the final Sunday 27th October. The site is Cromford Meadows, Cromford (Sat Nav - DE4 3RQ / 53.110300,-1.553536) - drops off near Illuminations entrance in Pavilion car Park, so better suited to visitors with mobility issues.
How much does Park & Ride cost?
Park & Ride costs £2.00 (return) per adult, £1.00 for children and under 5s are free. The Park & Ride buses are fully accessible and well behaved dogs are welcome. There is no parking charge at Cromford Meadows on top of the park & ride fee.
How often do the Park & Ride buses run?
The buses run approximately every 15 to 20 minutes on fireworks nights only.
Can I park on the road?
There is limited on-street parking on the A6 in Matlock Bath itself, but parking is not permitted on double yellow lines or verges either side of the village. This restriction is enforced via a £70 fine. Side streets in Matlock Bath are stewarded to ensure they are accessible only by local residents.
Where do coaches park?
We ask that coach operators visiting the Illuminations email us at
Is Matlock Bath the same place as Matlock?
No it isn't! Matlock Bath, where the Illuminations take place, is a village on the A6 road approximately two miles south of the larger town of Matlock. Both locations have large car parks and are separate train stations on the Derwent Valley Line. Our park & ride is in Cromford (two miles south of Matlock Bath).
Disabled Visitors
- Limited disabled parking in the Pavilion car park (DE4 3NR). Please arrive early to avoid disappointment.
- A disabled viewing area for the boat parade is located behind the ticket office at the entrance to Derwent Gardens.
- Disabled toilets are available at the entrance to Derwent Gardens and within Derwent Gardens.
- The event is accessible by wheelchairs.
- Disabled people pay the concessionary price and any carer is free of charge
Coach parking
Please contact
What about public transport?
Trains operate to Matlock Bath from Derby, Nottingham and Matlock along the Derwent Valley Line every hour Monday to Saturday and, on Sundays, every two hours in the morning and every hour from early afternoon until late evening. If you travel to Matlock Bath by train, show your train ticket at the Derwent Gardens entrance and SAVE £1.50 on admission to the Illuminations on the night. The train service is operated by East Midlands Railways. Children aged 5-15 travel at half the adult fare. View Nottingham to Matlock timetable on the East Midlands Railway website.
Bus services to Matlock Bath: The 6.1 operates hourly throughout the day including late evening services on Saturdays between Derby, Belper, Wirksworth, Matlock Bath, Matlock and Bakewell offering opportunities to travel by bus after the firework displays. Find details of all the local bus services to Matlock Bath.
Where is the entrance to the Illuminations?
The entrance is in Derwent Gardens (DE4 3NR), located down either side of the Grand Pavilion in Matlock Bath.
What do I get for my money?
Entry to Derwent Gardens includes children's entertainment and activities around the bandstand. You also see the famous parade of decorated boats, and, on Firework Saturdays and Sunday 27th October, a fireworks finale (8.30pm). There are children's theme characters every Saturday and Sunday too, plus stilt walkers and our new tunnel of lights across the River Derwent.
Check out our entertainment programme.
What time do the boats parade?
It needs to be dark to fully appreciate the decorated boats, so they parade from around 8pm (earlier as the month progresses) on Saturdays and Sundays in September and from around 7pm on Saturdays and Sundays in October.
What is a "decorated boat"?
A themed model is mounted on a rowing boat, illuminated by around 700 LED bulbs. The boat is rowed up and down the Derwent Gardens stretch of the River Derwent and themes in recent years have included children's characters such as Peppa Pig and Slinky Dog, plus more adult themes such as a tribute to Doctor Who, trucks and even a police car. The models are built by volunteers belonging to the Matlock Bath Boat Builders' Association. There are 10 models in 2024, plus a traditional candle boat built to show the way the parade used to look many years ago.
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How can I see the boats once I am in Derwent Gardens?
At Derwent Gardens, the pathway on both sides of the river is roped off for viewing. On busy nights it is not always possible to get a front row place straight away, but spectators do move on at regular intervals and the boats stay on the river long enough to ensure everyone gets a great view (usually between 45 minutes and an hour).
How do I get to the other side of the river?
A bridge spans the river from Derwent Gardens onto the other side (Lovers' Walks). Since the introduction of a "tunnel of light" on the bridge we ask visitors to keep moving when using the bridge to cross from one side of the river to the other.
I've seen reports that the event is crowded?
Saturday nights can be very busy, but in 2017 we responded to comments about numbers in Derwent Gardens by reducing the maximum capacity by 2,000, to give visitors more space to move around. Sundays are traditionally less busy if you prefer a quieter night. Visitor numbers were reduced by a further 2,000 to 4,000 in 2023.
Can I see the boats from other parts of Matlock Bath?
No. The decorated boats parade can only be seen from Derwent Gardens and the Lovers' Walks paths on the opposite side of the River Derwent. The parade takes place between the landing stage near the Pavilion and New Bridge downstream, and can only be seen by people who have paid to get into the Illuminations.
How do I leave the Illuminations?
You can leave the way you came in (the Derwent Gardens entrance by the side of the Pavilion) or by crossing via the New Bridge to the other side of the river and turning left, walking along Lovers' Walks to Jubilee Bride halfway up the main parade in Matlock Bath.
Are the Illuminations only on at weekends?
The entertainment and parade of decorated boats are only on at weekends, but the Lights themselves can be viewed free of charge every weekday from 6pm (or when it goes dark) to midnight.
When are the fireworks?
A fireworks finale is scheduled to happen on every Saturday in October and the last Sunday, 27 October. The display is set off from the cliffs on the far side of the river at 8.30pm and cannot be viewed from Lovers' Walks. This area is cleared prior to the fireworks display. Fireworks can be viewed from most areas of Derwent Gardens.
How long does the fireworks display last?
Approximately 10 minutes.
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Can I buy food in Derwent Gardens?
Yes, food is available in Derwent Gardens e.g. burgers, hot dogs, coffee/tea/cold drinks, cake, sweets. Please bring cash to pay.
What else is in Derwent Gardens?
Derwent Gardens has a bar, a small funfair (a charge to use the rides) for children, plus a novelty light-up toys stall. Please bring cash to pay. Funfair prices in 2024 are:
- 1 token (1 ride) = £2.50
- 5 tokens = £10
Toilets
- Temporary toilets are located on the entrance to Derwent Gardens by the side of the Grand Pavilion.
- Baby changing facilities are available in the disabled toilet near to the entrance to Derwent Gardens.
- Temporary toilets are situated in Derwent Gardens and on Lovers' Walks.
- Temporary toilets are also situated in the Artists' Corner car park between Matlock Bath and Matlock.
Cash point
There is a free cash machine in the Pavilion car park near the Derwent Gardens entrance but please note that we will be taking card payments only at the ticket office. Its cash sales for the food and drink stalls and funfair.
Accommodation
Can be booked at www.visitpeakdistrict.com
Dogs
Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome at the Illuminations, but owners should be aware that the fireworks at 8.30pm on Saturdays and the final Sunday are loud and can cause distress to some animals. Here's some advice from the RSPCA on pets and fireworks.
What happens to the entrance money?
Through entrance charges, Derbyshire Dales District Council aims to organise the popular festival - which boosts the local economy - at no cost to local Council Tax payers. Any profit is generally ploughed back into the following year's event.
Wasn't it once free to get into the Illuminations?
There was a brief period from 1984 when entry to the Illuminations was via voluntary contribution, so you could get in for free if you wished. The District Council rescued the event when the organising company was voluntarily wound up after the 1983 season was hit by bad weather. The reason no formal charge was made at that time was due to the event being temporarily scaled back.Other than this brief period, throughout its 120-year history the Illuminations has always been a ticketed event. In fact when boats paraded on the longer stretch of the Derwent, watched from the former Promenade Gardens in Matlock Bath (an arena lost to road widening in 1968), the river was blocked off with high fencing so people who had not paid could not see the boats.
