Festivity at Melbourne Festival: A Creative Finale to the Summer

As the Festivity tour reaches its final stop, we’re delighted to announce our line-up for Melbourne Festival, where we’ll be rounding off the summer with a joyful celebration of Derbyshire’s creative talent.

Set in the heart of this picturesque market town, Melbourne Festival is already a highlight of the cultural calendar, and this year, Festivity is joining the party! Expect a full weekend of live music, vibrant performances, creative workshops, storytelling, and our stunning digital exhibition.

🎶 Live Music

• Saturday 20th September – Poke O’Swedgers
• Sunday 21st September – Steve Bonham

🖼️ Digital Exhibition

Our digital exhibition continues to tour with Festivity, showcasing 11 exceptional artists, including:

• Bernie Rutter & Vitor
• Paul Johnstone
• Small Print
• Ray Gumbley
• Nikki Dennett
• Rebecca Morledge
• Stephanie Sian Coley
• John Bullock
• Nell Swift
• Mark Knight
• Alice Marshall (Film)

🎤 Spoken Word

Derby Poetry Festival, brings its final spoken word programme of the Festivity series. Expect moving performances, fresh voices, and poetry that brings the tent to life.

📖 Storytelling

Storytellers curated by Adverse Camber will share tales from near and far, inviting audiences of all ages to step into a world of imagination, wonder, and connection.

🎨 Workshops

Workshops will be led by Creative Melbourne, the passionate local arts organisation which organises the annual Melbourne Festival , offering a range of interactive activities for festival-goers of all ages to enjoy including letterpress bookmarks with The Smallprint Company and Flower Power workshops coordinated by Jo Rost.

Stephen Munn, Director of Arts Derbyshire, said:
“Melbourne Festival is the perfect place to wrap up Festivity—a celebration of creativity, community, and everything we love about Derbyshire arts. We’re thrilled to be part of it.”

Sharon Brown, of Melbourne Festival said:

“This is the TWENTIETH Melbourne Festival and hosting FESTIVITY as part of this years Festival is a great way to bring a party atmosphere to the Festival.”

Come and be part of this final Festivity weekend, whether you’re making, listening, watching, or wandering, there’ll be something to inspire you at every turn.

Free entry – everyone welcome!

Find out more about the Festivity events to be held this summer across Derbyshire:

• Bolsover Castle, 31 May to 1 June
• King George V Park, Staveley, 21 to 22 June
• Victoria Park, Ilkeston, Erewash, 5 to 6 July
• Tapton Lock, 6 to 7 September
• Melbourne Festival, 20 to 21 September