Derby Book Festival’s Book & Craft Market this weekend

Derby Book Festival’s Book & Craft Market

Derby Book Festival’s Autumn Edition kicks off with the annual Book & Craft Market on Saturday 8 November at the newly refurbished Market Hall, Market Place, Derby DE1 2DB.  This is a new venue for the event, which will be open from 10.30am – 4pm.  There will be 25 stalls with a wide range of book-related merchandise, all making great presents for Christmas.

Throughout the day there will also be drop-in craft activities for children and families in the morning, plus Bookmark printing at 12noon and 2pm with the Smallprint Company.  Derby Saxophone Quartet will entertain visitors in the afternoon and, for those just wanting to have a few moments reading, join Derby Silent Book Club from 2.30pm.  Derby Book Festival will have a book stall selling a range of books featured at the Autumn Edition, plus signed books from the Summer Festival, as well as a selection of Book Aid Charity Christmas cards, children’s books and their popular Mystery Book selection.

Families can also enjoy a special event on Saturday 8 November from 3-4pm at Derby Theatre,  featuring best-selling and multi-award-winning author and illustrator, Rob Biddulph, the creative star behind the phenomenal DrawWithRob videos.

To celebrate their 10^th Anniversary, Derby Book Festival are organising a Prize Raffle: the Big Birthday Book Bonanza with four sets of 10 books to be won.  The sets include books from previous festivals as well as from this year’s.  There will also be one set of books for primary school children and another for secondary school pupils, all written by authors who have previously been involved with the Festival.  Tickets cost £1 each and can only be bought at the Book & Craft Market and at Festival events between 13 and 16 November.

The Autumn Edition of the Festival begins in earnest on Thursday 13 November until Sunday 16 November with 25 events in venues across the city, including QUAD, Derby Museums, Derby Theatre, Artcore and local libraries.  Tickets can be booked online at: https://www.derbybookfestival.co.uk/whats-on/events/ or in person or by phone at QUAD – please check QUAD opening times first.  Tickets are still available for most events but please check website for details of availability.

The Autumn Edition is a ‘hybrid’ Festival of in-person events and recordings.  People can buy a Festival Pass for £60 enabling access to 11 in-person events at QUAD.  There are also individual recordings of 13 events (for 50% of the in-person ticket price) or a Digital Pass is available giving access to all 13 recorded events, which will be available to watch for six weeks after the Festival ends (from 20 November to 2 January) for £40.

Professor Keith McLay, Chair of Derby Book Festival and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “Derby Book Festival continues to draw new audiences to city venues, introducing fresh ideas and perspectives from acclaimed voices and emerging talent in what has been a hugely successful anniversary year.

“The Autumn Edition of the Festival offers a rich and varied programme; an engaging blend of history, popular culture, politics, lifestyle, and appearances by beloved novelists. It is particularly pleasing to welcome Sir Tony Robinson to Derby Book Festival who is a long-time supporter of RSPCA Derby – as he debuts his adult fiction book The House of Wolf.

“Once again, the Festival is proudly funded by the University of Derby and Arts Council England, together with several local businesses and individuals. We are thankful for their support.”

Following the success of previous Book Appeals, the Festival is organising another Children’s Book Appeal to coincide with the Autumn Edition. In the summer over 800 books were distributed to 26 schools in Derby to pass on to children and a total of 11,000 have been distributed to children since 2023. Throughout the Autumn Edition people are invited to donate gently used, pre-loved books suitable for primary school children. Drop off venues include partners Marketing Derby City Lab, Moorways Sports Village, Morley Hayes, Derbion, Wathalls and QUAD.  Local businesses are also getting involved with collections from staff, including Rolls-Royce and Cosy. Festival audiences can also bring their books to events where they will be gratefully received.

The Festival programme, designed by local digital marketing company, Gravity, is available from QUAD, other arts venues, all libraries and tourist offices.