Matlock Bath Illuminations: When to See the Fireworks
Matlock Bath Illuminations runs from Saturday 12 September to Sunday 1 November at Derwent Gardens in Matlock Bath, with published event hours of 6pm to 9pm. The festival is billed as family-friendly, group-friendly and accessible.
Visitors should book online through the official event website. The supplied listing does not state the Illuminations admission price; the advertised £5-per-person offer is a separate same-day discount for the Heights of Abraham.
The opening date is a preview night. The main season then continues every weekend from 19 September to 1 November, with an additional event on Friday 30 October.
Parade and firework times throughout the season
The schedule published by Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Events changes as evenings become darker. September parade starts therefore fall within a time window, while October and November performances have fixed times.
| Event night | Boat parade and fireworks |
|---|---|
| Saturdays 12, 19 and 26 September | Parade starts between 7.30pm and 8pm, depending on the light, and finishes at about 9pm |
| Sundays 20 and 27 September | One-hour parade starting between 7.30pm and 8pm, depending on the light |
| Sundays 4, 11, 18 and 25 October | Parade from 7pm to 8pm |
| Friday 30 October | Parade from 7pm to 8pm |
| Saturdays 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 October | Parade from 7pm to 8.20pm, followed by fireworks at 8.30pm |
| Sunday 1 November | Parade from 7pm to 8.20pm, followed by fireworks at 8.30pm |
The Bandstand area of Derwent Gardens is identified as the best viewing position for the firework displays. Attendance within the Gardens is restricted to a maximum of 4,000 people.
Illuminated boats take over the River Derwent
The centrepiece is a procession of decorated rowing boats along the River Derwent. Members of the Matlock Bath Venetian Boat Builders’ Association create themed models covered with arrays of coloured lights before mounting them on the boats for the parade.
Entertainment varies from night to night and may include stilt walkers, costumed characters and jugglers. The boat procession remains the recurring feature across both firework and non-firework dates, allowing families to attend earlier in the season without choosing one of the busier display nights.
Booking details and the Heights of Abraham offer
Booking is available online through the official event website. The listing marks the event as accessible but provides no detailed accessibility arrangements or transport instructions, so visitors requiring specific provisions should consult the official event information before booking.
Illuminations ticket holders can receive a £5-per-person discount on a combined Heights of Abraham cable car, cavern tours and hilltop park ticket when visiting on the same day. The discounted visit must be booked through the special link supplied with the Illuminations ticket.
Cable cars begin operating at 10am, and visitors are advised to allow three to five hours for the Heights of Abraham visit. Anyone combining both attractions should book online, use the ticket-holder link for the discount and allow enough time before the Illuminations programme begins at 6pm.
Source: Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Events
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Source check How this guide was checked
Dates, parade times, firework nights and visitor arrangements were taken from the official regional event listing.
- Matched the preview night and main season dates against the published schedule.
- Checked the separate parade times for September, October and 1 November.
- Confirmed the Bandstand viewing guidance and the 4,000-person Gardens limit.
- Distinguished the £5 Heights of Abraham discount from the unstated Illuminations admission...
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- Visit Peak District and Derbyshire Events
- Scope
- Matlock Bath
- Updated
- 2026-07-27 19:23
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