Matlock Bath Illuminations

Our 2025 Illuminations season closed on Sunday to 26 October. We'll be back in September 2026.

Book tickets here in 2026

Look out for a discounted tickets offer from our sponsor the Heights of Abraham when you book Illuminations tickets. Make a day of it in Matlock Bath with a visit to the top attraction with its cable cars and entertainment, followed by an evening at the lights! Details on your e-ticket when you book.

Matlock Bath Illuminations is a fun-packed family event featuring a spectacular parade of illuminated and decorated boats along the River Derwent. The 2025 season opened with a Preview Night on Saturday 6 September, and ran every Saturday and Sunday from 13 September to 26 October, plus Friday 24 October.

During the 8-week season Matlock Bath Venetian Boat Builders' Association decorated themed models with an array of coloured lights. The models were mounted on rowing boats and paraded on the River Derwent each Saturday (from around 7.45pm in September and from around 7pm in October) and Sundays (from around 7.30pm in September and 7pm in October) in Derwent Gardens, giving a unique and illuminous display. The boats can only be viewed on admission into the gardens.

There were fantastic firework displays every Saturday in October, plus Friday 24 October and the final night, Sunday 26 October. The fireworks light up the skies around Matlock Bath in multi-colours. The firework displays began at 8.30pm.

Please note that on Saturdays in particular Matlock Bath can get extremely busy. For travel, timings and ticketing tips, see our FAQs

Both Saturdays and Sundays have themed nights and there's also entertainment including stilt walkers plus the fabulous parade of decorated boats on the River Derwent. Sundays are "family nights", when entertainment starts and finishes earlier, running from 6.00pm-8.30pm to take account of younger visitors having school the following morning.