Chesterfield Children's Festival draws thousands of families with free entertainment and activities

Junction Arts organised the fourth festival which was the culmination of a 12-month collaboration with Abercrombie Primary School where year six pupils helped shape the programme. Workshops, discussions and creative sessions enabled children at the Chesterfield school to share ideas on the entertainment and activities they wanted to see included.

One of the highlights of this year’s festival was Chesterfield to the Front, an interactive theatre show and live band experience by national theatre company Crescendorious, created to celebrate everything that makes the town unique.

Also returning by popular demand was Wacky Woody’s Comedy Magic Show, which delivered a mix of impressive tricks and laugh-out-loud moments from a performer known for appearing at some of the UK’s best-loved comedy venues.

A dedicated early years programme offered performances and activities specifically designed for children aged 0–4. This included the return of Marie the Makaton Mouse, Play, Dance, Move workshops featuring music, movement and props, and The Delights, a multi-sensory theatre experience designed to spark imagination and encourage participation.

Alongside the main programme, a wide range of additional activities took place, including family life drawing, face painting and hands-on creative workshops. All activities were free to attend.

This year’s festival was sponsored by Kip McGrath Chesterfield West. The £1,000 funding supported the introduction of a new dedicated craft tent, which hosted a packed programme of free workshops and drop-in activities across the weekend, including badge-making, pottery and “make your own football shirt” sessions.

Jemma Burton, project manager at Junction Arts, said: ”This year’s festival felt truly special. Co-creating the event with local children brought fresh ideas and energy, helping ensure it continues to reflect what young people want and enjoy. Also, thanks to the support of our sponsor, Kip McGrath, we were able to offer even more hands-on activities in the new craft tent, giving families more opportunities to get involved and be creative.

“It was wonderful to see so many families coming together to enjoy the weekend, and we’re incredibly grateful to the talented artists who filled Queen’s Park with such joy and imagination. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our dedicated volunteers and supporters — their continued support is what allows us to keep the festival free and accessible for everyone.”

The festival partnered with Accessoloo to provide mobile accessible toilets and changing facilities, ensuring disabled children and adults could attend comfortably. British Sign Language interpreters were also available throughout the weekend.