Follow our Light Trail across Derby

Giant Teddy Christmas light sculpture

The Christmas Lights Switch On will mark the start of the city’s dazzling Festive Derby Light Trail, a display brought to you by the Cathedral Quarter and St Peter’s Quarter Business Improvement District (BIDs) and Derby City Council. Exploring the city centre and find your picture-perfect moment at every turn as the trail leads from St Peter’s Cross to Irongate. The trail begins under the Rudolph reindeer arch (complete with his red nose!) at St Peter’s Cross.

In Osnabruck Square, you can sit among twinkling gonks, reindeer, and a polar bear, before heading into Derby Market Hall, walking beneath the towering golden star. You can snap a selfie with the giant teddy bear overlooking the Cathedral Quarter Ice Rink, before walking through the light-up presents on the Market Place. Finally, head towards Derby Cathedral under a shimmering ceiling of light. The trail runs until New Year’s Eve.

After all that walking why not enjoy a festive drink in the cosy tipis of our Nordic Bar and then, when you have had time to rest, take a whizz around the ice rink with family and friends. Afterwards you can enjoy food from a variety of food stalls on the Market Place, including loaded fries, grilled sausages, donuts and crepes. Join us at Derby Market Hall, do some Christmas shopping with our fantastic local independent traders, sample some top-notch street food and enjoy free live music. 

You can find a map of the trail in the Festive Guide below, which will be available from November, and pick up an activity sheet from the ice rink or Nordic bar for little ones to fill in along the way.