Once again Christmas is looming ever closer and the time for festive shenanigans and last-minute Christmas dashes will soon be upon us. As Santa and his elves make all the final preparations we take a look at what’s happening here in Derbyshire in the final weeks that lead up to Christmas. DERBYChristmas lights: Christmas lights have already been switched on in Derby Market Place (Sunday 19th Dec) Late Night shopping: Every Thurs from the 16th Nov – 14th Dec from 0900 - 2100 then every night from 18th Dec - 22nd Dec from 0900 – 2100 Parking/Park And Ride public transport: All Derby Council off-street car parks will be open throughout the Christmas period. All Derby City Council car parks are free on Sundays and Bank holidays with the exception of the Asssembly Rooms and Council House car parks. Evening charges are in place in all DCC car parks. This includes late night Christmas shopping. However, on-street 'pay and display' areas are free of charge between 6pm and 8am and all day Sunday. If you have satellite navigation, enter the post code for your nearest Derby Car park to get you there easily. Christmas Entertainment: - Derby Hospitals Choir Christmas Concert, 29th Nov - Assembly Rooms
- Charles Dickens a Christmas Carol, 2nd Dec – 27th Jan - Derby Playhouse
- Advent Carol Service, 3rd Dec - Derby Cathedral @ 6pm
- Advent Music and reading, 6th Dec - Bridge Chapel @ 7.30pm
- Community Carol Service, 7th Dec - St Peter's City Centre Church
- Cathedral Choir Christmas Concert, 9th Dec Derby Cathedral @ 7.45pm
- Open Air - BBC Radio Derby's "Carols 'Round the Christmas Tree", 14 Dec – Market Place @ 6.30pm
- St Peter's Carol Service – 17th Dec St Peter's City Centre Church @ 6.30pm
- Santa's Storytime – 18th Dec Derby Central Libray in Wardwick @ 10.30am -11.15am
- BBC Radio Derby Christmas Carol Service, 20th Dec – Derby Cathedral. Service starts at 7.30pm - please be in your seats by 7.00pm for a rehearsal! (No ticket required)
- Sing Christmas, 22nd Dec – Derby Cathedral @ 12.45pm
- Journey to Bethlehem – crib service, 22nd Dec – Derby Cathedral @ 3pm
- Morning Worship, 24th Dec – St Peter's City Centre Church@ 10.45pm
- Crib Service, 24th Dec – St Peter’s City Centre Church @ 4pm
- Christmas Carol Service, 24th Dec – Derby Cathedral @ 3.30pm & 6.30pm
- The Midnight Mass of Christmas, 24th Dec – Derby Cathedral @ 11.30pm
- Christmas Communion, 25th Dec – St Peter’s City Centre Church @ 10am
- Preacher at the Eucharist: Bishop of Derby, 25th Dec - Derby Cathedral @ 10.45am
- Evening prayer and Carols, 25th Dec, Bridge Chapel @ 5.15pm.
............................................ ChesterfieldChristmas Lights: The lights have already been switched on (Sunday 19th November). Late Night Shopping: Chesterfield town Centre shops opens til late on Thursdays from 7th – 21st Dec from 9.00am – 7.00pm. Vicar Lane Christmas opening hours will be from Mon 18th – Fri 22nd Dec from 9am – 7pm, and over the weekend, but will be closed on Christmas day. Shops will then re-open on Boxing day from 10am – 4pm and Wed 27th Dec at 9am – 7pm after which it's back to normal trading hours. Sunday Markets: will be open from 10- 4pm Christmas Weekday Markets will be open from Thurs 28th – Fri 30th December. Parking: Parking during the Christmas period will only cost you a £1 after 6pm in all town centre car parks and on Sundays it's free. For further information contact the Chesterfield Tourist information Centre on 01246 345777 ............................................ BuxtonChristmas Lights – The lights will be switched on at 5pm onwards on Friday 1st Dec in the Market Place. Late Night Shopping: Spring Gardens Shopping Centre will be open for late night shopping from 7th – 21st December at 9am – 7pm, Parking: No free parking Schemes. For further information contact Buxton’s Tourist information. 01298 25106 ................................. AshbourneChristmas Lights: Friday 8th Dec from 6pm at the Market Place. Late Night Christmas Shopping starts: Friday 8th Dec (Includes Traditional Pig Roast) The Lions will be putting on the roast for the night. On this evening, there will also be children's lantern parade as well as various street entertainments. Also many shops will be opening on Sunday from 10th Dec (normal Sunday trading hours) and everyday during the week until the run up to Christmas from 9.00am – 9.00pm. For further information contact Ashbourne Tourist Information Centre on 01335 343666. .................................... BelperChristmas Lights: Switch-on - Fri 1st Dec at 6pm – 8pm in the Belper Market Place - to be switched on by BBC East Midlands Today and Radio Derby weather girl Sara Blizzard with the Mayor of Belper and the winner of the Christmas Festival Poster competition. This is all part of the Belper Christmas Festival. Event will include free entertainment a brass band, folk duo, a rock band and Santa's Grotto in the Amber Valley Rates Office on Kings Street. Late Night Christmas shopping in Belper: Fri 1st Dec for one night only. Shops will be open until 8pm, but back to normal trading hours after that. Kings Street will be closed from 4pm – 9pm to enable the Christmas Festival to take place between 6-8pm. Christmas Events: - Farmers' Market in the Market Square on 9th Dec from 9am – 2pm.
- The Christmas Eve Carol Service which will start at 7.45pm at St Johns Chapel, The Butts, Belper. The candle-lit procession will go down to the Market place to the service which begins at 8pm led by Canon Robert Parsons and the Heage Band.
Parking: Free parking is available in the Coppice car park For further information contact Belper Town Council on 01773 822116. .................................... CastletonChristmas lights: were turned on 18th November 2006 At Christmas time the village of Castleton becomes a magical wonderland with lights, decorations and an array of Christmas trees, which attracts visitors from all over the country. Late Night Christmas shopping: Shops in the village will be open on Fridays and Saturdays until 9pm from 25th Nov - 24th Dec. Sunday opening until 8.00pm. (Opening times subject to change without prior notice depending on the weather and demand) Christmas Events: - Carols by Candlelight on Sat 16th Dec - Sun 17th Dec, and Sat 23rd Dec at the Treak Cliff Cavern, Castleton, 01433 621487 (Ticket Only). This is a very popular event held at weekends before Christmas. The carols will be held in the Witch's Cave.
- 'The Devil's Arse Sings!' at the Peak Cavern Christmas Carol Concerts on Saturday 16 December 6:00pm – ( A Brass Band carol concert)
Parking: Main car park behind the yellow building, Peak Caverns own car park the other big green one across the road also P&D. Free parking beside the roads marked in red, this extends for quite a way up the hill, so if you're up there it will take maybe 10-15 mins walking to the village centre, but, hey, it's free! For more information visit Peak Cavern Events website or call 01433 620 679 .................................... Chapel-en-le-FrithChristmas Lights: On Monday 27th November the Chapel-en-le Frith Business Association Traders' Tree is being lit at the Town End Methodist Church at 6.30pm. Then there will be a procession up to the Market Place to switch on the lights of the Parish Council Tree at 7pm. There will be rides, entertainment and free food available on the night. Late Night shopping: Shop trading hours will be as normal. Parking: Free parking will be available on Thornbrook Road and also in the car park at the rear of the Co-op on Eccles Road. .................................... GlossopChristmas lights: Norfolk Square on Friday 24th November from 5.30pm onwards. The event involves live reindeer and Christmas carols and children's rides and stalls. Late Night shopping: Most shop trading is as normal but the Gamesley Christmas Market will be in Winster Mews on Thursday, 14 December from 5.30pm - 8.30pm. Christmas Events: A greeting card campaign at Bradbury House on Sat 25th Nov at 10 – 2pm Parking: Free parking will be available but check individual parking machines for times. .................................... HeanorChristmas Lights: Will be switched on Mon 4th Dec on the Market Place by the Town Mayor at 6pm followed by a carol service led by the town clergy. Finale of Fireworks at 8.15pm on the night. Late night shopping: will be also be on Mon 4th Dec for one night only when shops will open until 8pm. For further information contact the Ripley Tourist Information Centre on 01773 841488. .................................... IlkestonChristmas Lights switch on: The event will take place on Friday November 24th in Ilkeston Market Place from 6pm. The lights will be officially turned on by the Mayor of Erewash Cllr Mike Wallis, at 6.30pm.
Events on the night:
Santa Claus will be there and nationally-renowned tribute band Girls Alouder! They will all be on hand in Ilkeston town centre to offer entertainment.
There will also be a funfair and Victorian Market on offer throughout the evening for visitors to browse, enjoy the food and perhaps find some Christmas presents. Late Night Shopping: t.b.c Parking: Free parking will available after 6pm everyday and all day Sunday. .................................... Long EatonChristmas lights switch on: The event will take place on Friday 1st December in the Long Eaton Market Place. The lights will be switched on at 6.30pm by the Mayor of Erewash. Entertainment starts at 6pm and includes Harrington Junior School Choir performing festive Christmas songs, Long Eaton Silver Prize Band, Pinxton Puppets, stilt walkers, a charity market and funfair. Entertainment on the night: After the lights are switched on there will be a lantern procession through the town centre by children from Wilsthorpe School. Late night shopping: Christmas Continental Market starts 14th - 17th December, High Street, Long Eaton. The official opening of the Christmas Continental Market will take place at 10am on Thursday 14th December, by the Mayor of Erewash. The market will be open on:
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday/Saturday 8am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm. There will be a vast selection of festive gifts on sale including jewellery from Paris, handbags from Italy, Mediterranean pottery, table cloths from Provence, plus much more! To coincide with the Christmas Continental Market, the shops and cafes in the town will be open until 8pm on Thursday 14th December. The normal market will still be held on the Market Place on Friday & Saturday. Parking: Free parking will be available in all the Long Eaton and Ilkeston car parks after 9.30am from the 16th Dec - 2nd January except for the Train station car parks. For further information please contact the Events Team: Tel: 0845 907 2244 .................................... MatlockChristmas Lights switch on: Sat 2nd Dec in Victorian Christmas market, Matlock at 4.45pm by BBC East Midlands Today's Quentin Rayner. Christmas entertainment: includes Santa Special at Peak Rail, Each weekend (in December) in the run up to Christmas, Santa boards his magical steam train at Rowsley south station to start the festive season. Victorian Christmas Weekend, Fri 1st Dec - Sun 3rd Dec, over the first weekend of December Matlock Town Council is promoting parades and entertainment and there will be more than 150 stalls in two marquees. Late Night Shopping: Normal trading hours. Parking: All the Derbyshire Dales District Council car parks are free after 2pm from the 1st Dec until Christmas For Further information contact The Matlock Tourist Information Centre: 01629 583388. .................................... New MillsChristmas lights switch on: New Mills seasonal lights switch on in Union Road (opposite the bus station) on Friday 2 December at 7pm. Events on the night: Against a festive backdrop, courtesy of a snow machine, the festivities will start at 4pm when the children's fun fair opens. New Mills band will be performing some festive favourites and St Mary's school children's choir are going to sing some seasonal songs. There'll be mulled wine to sample to keep out the winter chill whilst the kids visit Father Christmas. Late Night Shopping: Many shops will remain open and there will be a raffle and a lucky dip until 8pm. .................................... RipleyChristmas lights switch on: Friday 1st Dec Ripley 6.30pm at Ripley market place by the Town Mayor followed by a carol service led by the town clergy, with Ashover Band providing the music. Events on the night: includes a childrens playzone and childrens activities in All Saints Church and long with other forms of entertainment. Parking: Free parking in town centre pay and display car parks not on the night but from 18th Dec – 1st Jan. Late night shopping: begins on Fri 1st Dec but will be just for that night only with shops opening until 8pm. For further information contact Ripley Tourist Information Centre on 01773 841488. .................................... SwadlincoteChristmas Lights switch on: Lights have already been switched on. Fri 24th Nov - Delph
Late Night Christmas shopping: Normal Trading hours in the run up to Christmas. Parking: Normal parking restrictions apply .................................... Whaley BridgeChristmas lights switch on: Fri 1st Dec at 7.00pm. Father Christmas will be arriving on his barge at 6pm then he makes his way up to the Mechanic Institutes where the Father Christmas Grotto will be. Entertainment will by a band and carol singing around the tree. Late night Christmas: will be for that night only for local shops Parking: Parking is free (as normal) Christmas events: Farmer's market at Jodrell Arms Whaley Bridge, on Sat 9th Dec and then every second Saturday of the month until April. ...................................... Last posting dates for ChristmasUK First Class - 19th Dec
UK Second Class - 16th Dec
Standard Parcels - 13th Dec
Europe: Air Mail - 13th Dec
USA: Air Mail - 11th Dec
Australia: Air Mail - 8th Dec For all other destinations and services consult www.royalmail.com | 
