Matlock Christmas Weekend

First Weekend in December each year, Matlock hosts a Christmas Weekend with local and European produce, craft stalls, live entertainment and fun for all the family throughout the weekend. This is combined with the "switch-on" of the Town's Christmas lights followed by Fireworks that light up the skies of Matlock. In December 2005, Marie Ashby from TV news programme East Midlands Today was our celebrity guest, and here she is with the Mayor, Councillor Barry Hopkinson in Charisma Gallery in Matlock who hosted high tea for the occasion. 

The Town's illuminations have become a major attraction in recent years with visitors travelling from far and wide to enjoy the spectacle.

The Christmas Weekend opens around 10.00am on Saturday and Sunday, and Santa comes into town. He can be found in Santa’s Grotto, run by the Lions. The Mayor accompanies our celebrity guest and Santa, in style as evening falls, on a horse drawn carriage, and leads the parade through the streets around Matlock to Hall Leys Park for the grand light switch-on. 

The event welcomes an estimated 15,000 visitors over the weekend.  People come from Matlock and surrounding villages and new visitors from far & wide as well as grandparents with fond memories of holidays in Matlock bringing their grandchildren.

For a hassle free visit, why not arrive in Matlock by bus or local train.

Victorian Matlock Christmas Weekend leaflet 2007