Excitement builds for the Festival of Leisure 2022

After a two-year gap, South Derbyshire District Council’s Festival of Leisure is back - returning this Saturday and Sunday at Church Gresley’s Maurice Lea Memorial Park.

The two-day event will take place from 11.30am-5pm on both days and is a continuation of the Council’s Jubilee celebrations, as the 2022 festival will include a special Platinum Jubilee Pageant Arena.

To help celebrate the Queen’s reign, event organisers are asking people to dust off their jubilee attire and wear it to the festival – if spotted and picked out by the event compere, free treats will be awarded.

In true pageant style, there will be lots of local community groups and organisations entertaining visitors, including G’s Studio and Crown Kick Boxing delivering demonstrations and performances each day, such as well as professional stunt and display shows involving gundogs, motorcycles, sheepdogs, ducks, bikes and horses!

The Rolls Royce Derby Brass Band will be performing on the Bandstand (Saturday) and the Woodville Whirlwinds Women’s Institute will be back serving refreshments with their very popular cakes. There will be traditional village games – such as three legged and sack races for all ages to get involved in.

The free-to-attend festival will also have an array of traditional stalls, fairground rides, a Big Lunch street food zone, inflatable fun and much more. There will also be a street party picnic area for people wishing to bring along their own snacks.

Cllr Paul Dunn, Chairman of South Derbyshire District Council said: “I am excited that the Festival of Leisure is making its return after a forced absence.

“We have been able to put together a fantastic programme of family entertainment over the two afternoons, which I’m sure many people are looking to forward to enjoying.

“I’m also especially pleased the festival will have a Jubilee theme - so South Derbyshire residents and people visiting from outside the District can continue to celebrate the achievement of the Queen’s remarkable 70-year reign.”

People Express and the Environmental Education Project Team will be there offering free make and create royal Jubilee inspired activities. And don’t forget to look out for the giant Aldabra tortoises making their appearance (Saturday), the All Aboard mini steam train on the Jubilee Line (Sunday) and meet Arbor (Sunday) - part man, part tree and 17 feet tall!

For festival enquiries, please contact parksandgreenspaces@southderbyshire.gov.uk.

21 June 2022