New entertainment and activities announced for the Tapton Lock Festival 2023
Now in its eleventh year, organisers have confirmed that the popular Tapton Lock Festival will return this September with a host of new activities and entertainment for families to enjoy.
The free annual event is organised by Junction Arts and Derbyshire County Council, with the aim of bringing families and friends together to enjoy the outdoors, promoting better health and wellbeing. During the weekend, the Chesterfield Canal comes alive with outdoor theatre, music and dance, arts and crafts workshops, stalls, ‘have a go’ canoes, boat rides and much more.
Family favourites such as the brilliant bubbleologist, circus skills and climbing wall will return but there’ll also be some new entertainment for 2023 including performances and workshops from Bollywood dancers, African drummers, and the Babbling Vagabonds Magical Market Stall!
Visitors will also be able to try their hand at Lego printing, and greenwood crafts or get green-fingered in a seed workshop.
Junction Arts Coordinator Jane Wells said: “Tapton Lock Festival brings together the arts and the outdoors to create an event that is inclusive and accessible to all. It encourages communities to come together and enjoy the beautiful canal walkways that are on our doorstep. Working with Derbyshire Countryside Services, each year we aim to bring back the popular activities but also introduce something new… This year we’re excited to have new performers and activities that will bring even more colour and vibrancy to the festival.
“At Junction Arts, our aim is to build stronger communities through the arts and The Tapton Lock Festival is a great example of this! The festival raises awareness of the area along the Chesterfield Canal and the network of footpaths and cycleways, encouraging people to spend more time in nature with family and friends becoming healthier and happier.”
As part of the festival, Junction Arts will also be doing community outreach with Brimmington Junior School in July. Pupils will enjoy a trip to the canal to learn all about the flora and fauna of the canal with a countryside ranger. In September they will also get to work with a local artist to create a piece of artwork that will be displayed at this year’s festival and complete their Arts Award Discover.
For further community engagement, Junction Arts will also commission an ‘artist in residence’ at Chesterfield Football Club to work with a small group of young people who attend Thr1ve, a social prescribing group for young people, part of the Club’s Spireites Trust.
Tapton Lock Festival is a free event that takes place around the Tapton Lock Visitor Centre on the 9th and 10th of September from 11:00 am until 4.00 pm daily.
For more information about how you can get involved, sponsorship and stall opportunities contact jane@junctionarts.org or hannah@junctionarts.org
Find out about the packed schedule of summer events and activities taking place across Chesterfield throughout the summer: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/summer/
Junction Arts supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
Image supplied by Nathan Hamer
