Belper Celebration
“What`s on in Belper”
Belper Celebration
for
“What`s on in Belper”
Website Designed by R Sanders for Belper Celebration Group
Copyright @ Belper Celebration 2018
MAY 2026
Boom Magazine Belper 24 great local walks for families,dog walkers
and those of us who just don't have legs we used to, find out
more here: http://bit.ly/short-
Hope for Belper
We have a Citizens Advice advisor at the Food & Community Hub Tuesday & Fridays so please get in touch if you need any advice.
Advice sessions are:
Tuesdays 9am-
Tuesdays 12pm -
Fridays 12pm -
We are based at the Baptist Church on Bridge Street. To book an appointment call the free phone adviceline on 0808 278 7954.
Citizens Advice Derbyshire Districts
Friday 1st
THE WORKER’S MAY DAY – BELPER 250
Talk by Adrian Perry of the Derby People’s History Group. The summer of 1842 was a time of widespread distress and with mounting industrial unrest across the country the Chartist Movement called a General Strike. The people of the Belper area responded on Monday 22 August at 8.00am with ‘a large mob several thousand strong’ gathering on Holbrook Moor and despite the efforts of hussars and dragoons to prevent it 700 of them marched on to Derby.
Venue: No.28, Market Place, Belper – Time: 7pm
Cost: Free entry, donations welcome. Just turn up.
Saturday 2nd
DERWENT RIVER CRUISE AND CELEBRATION – BELPER 250
A River Cruise for adults and family groups. From the beautiful River Gardens, either take part in a race upstream and back (3 miles) or take a leisurely cruise with fellow paddlers, upstream as far as Ambergate, returning to socialise and 
enjoy displays and music back at the River Gardens. Or just come to watch, and take a look at the activities – information stalls, dance and acoustic music – celebrating the river and its importance to Belper.
Venue: Belper River Gardens.
Time: Paddle participants arrival from 10am. Everyone else 12pm – 5pm
Cost: Paddle participants £5 to enter a craft. Your own ‘river worthy’ self-
Booking: Details to follow soon.
Sunday 3rd
BELPER ARTS TRAIL – BELPER 250
There will be a Belper 250 theme for the Arts Trail this year. More details to follow.
Monday 4th
BELPER ARTS TRAIL – BELPER 250
There will be a Belper 250 theme for the Arts Trail this year. More details to follow.
Tuesday 5th
Wednesday 6th
Thursday 7th
BELPER 250 QUIZ – BELPER 250
Quiz run by Belper Rotary in collaboration with the British Legion club. The quiz will focus on the facts, myths, and characters relating to the past 250 years, since the first Strutt cotton mill opened in Belper.
Venue: British Legion Club, Strutt Street, Belper – Time: 7pm
Cost: £3.00 per person. There will be a chip butty supper in the break.
Booking: Information to follow.
Friday 8th
BELPER STORIES – BELPER 250
Adrian Farmer talks about some of Belper’s stories from the past 250 years, going through a series of themes: people and animals, battles and celebrations, small moments and big events.
Venue: Belper Unitarian Chapel, Field Row, Belper – Time: 7pm
Cost: Free to enter, but do please bring a donation to support the chapel.
Refreshments available in the interval.
Booking: No need to book, just turn up.
Saturday 9th
Belper Farmers Markets are held on the 2nd Saturday
of every month on the Market Place
from 8.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
There is free parking in the adjacent Coppice Car Park.
Café and crafts at No.28. Free entry.
Wiith
TONY STACE
playing live at The Congregational Church
Church Walk, Green Lane, Belper
Classic Rock Revival
St Peter's Church, Belper, Belper, DE56 1EZ
Saturday 9th May 2026
Classic Rock Tribute Band performing classic rock from the 60's, 70's & 80's
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/st-
PRESERVING BELPER’S INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE
A project coordinated by Belper Historical Society (BHS), aiming to engage with communities in and around Belper 
who may have relatives who worked in the many Belper factories and have treasures hidden away in cupboards and dusty attics. Volunteer BHS ‘curators’ will help to collect, organise and preserve factory-
Once catalogued and digitised, original materials will be offered to the Derbyshire Record Office for long term storage. Donated artefacts will be added to the secure BHS store, to be used in future research and exhibitions.
A BHS team will attend the monthly Belper Market, to promote the project, offer advice on materials being organised before donation, and collect donated materials. Later market dates for 2026 are 11th April, 9th May, 13th June, 11th July, 8th August, 12th September, 10th October, 14th November and 12th December.
Venue: No.28, Market Place, Belper – Time: 9am – 1pm – Cost: FREE
Sunday 10th
NATIONAL MILLS WEEKEND – BELPER 250
Come along to Strutt’s North Mill as they celebrate National Mills Weekend! Visit www.belpernorthmill.org.uk to find out more.
MAY FEST VICTORIAN TEA PARTY – BELPER 250
Join the Friends of Derby Arboretum for the May Fest Victorian Tea Party. This free event features Victorian costumed characters, Maypole Dancing, music, activities, games, and refreshments celebrating Derby’s diversity. Honouring Joseph Strutt, who gifted the Arboretum to Derby in 1840, the event welcomes families and all communities. No booking required.
Venue: Derby Arboretum Park – Time: 12 noon – 4pm – Cost: Free, no booking required.
Monday 11th
Tuesday 12th
Wednesday 13th
Thursday 14th
PEEK THROUGH A LONG ROW WINDOW – BELPER 250
Belper actress and performer Judith Hibbert returns with a one-
Venue: Belper Unitarian Chapel, Field Row, Belper – Time: 7pm – Cost: Entry by donation.
Booking: Essential. To book a space, email belpertalks.walks@gmail.com with your name and number of places required, and the performance you wish to attend
Friday 15th
Saturday 16th
Saturday 16/5/26 St. Peter's, Belper with the Burton Town Band
PEEK THROUGH A LONG ROW WINDOW – BELPER 250
Belper actress and performer Judith Hibbert returns with a one-
Venue: No. 28 Market Place, Belper – Time: 7pm – Cost: £5 per person.
Booking: Essential. To book a space, email belpertalks.walks@gmail.com with your name and number of places required, and the performance you wish to attend
Sunday 17th
The Belper Jazz Company presents Remi Harris at No.28
Ready for something a little different? We're delighted to welcome phenomenal UK guitarist Remi Harris to an intimate night with the BJC at No 28.
Sunday 17th May 2026
Number 28, Market Place, in Belper
7:00pm til 9:30pm (Performance starts 7:30pm)
Buy Tickets
World of the Workers; Strutt Community Tour -
Overview
The Community, built from 1785 onwards to house the workers in the Strutt family cotton spinning mills is considered to be the oldest surviving textile workers’ community in England – in Belper, the oldest cotton spinning town in the world. It is just a short walk to the mills, a route that the workers would have taken six days a week for their 12-
Investigate the Short Rows, walk up Long Row hearing the stories of the Community and its residents. See for yourself why Long Row is once seen and never forgotten. Why did the Strutt family need to build so many houses? What did the children do? What did their mothers and fathers do? Visit the Unitarian Chapel learning about Jedediah Strutt, the founder of the Strutt family cotton empire and the role that Unitarianism played in the Industrial Revolution. Nailers, framework knitters, cheviners and navvies all feature in the history of the Community. Hear what part they played in the growth of Belper and how the Strutts transformed the lives of their mill workers and the nailing hamlet of Belper into a thriving hub of the emerging cotton textile industry.
Explains the impact of slavery on the Industrial Revolution and in relation to Belper + the development of the Railways.
Includes a visit to the unique Cluster House, courtesy of the present owner.
Please note: some streets in this older part of Belper are steep and uneven, so this walk is not suitable for wheelchairs. The tour lasts about 2 hours.
Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on this walk. Shoes with a good tread/grip are recommended.
2026 dates: 17th May, 23rd August at 2pm.
Inclusions – What you'll need🧤 Warm Clothing☂️ Waterproofs
Book tickets – https://www.belpernorthmill.org.uk/calendar/
Monday 18th
BELPER U3A WALKING TREASURE HUNT – BELPER 250
Enjoy searching for special items of interest photographed in central Belper. Numbered photos and a route map, accessible on smart phones or for printing, will be found on https://belper.u3asite.uk/u3a_events/belper-
Venue: Belper Time: As you choose Monday 18th to Sunday 31st May
Tuesday 19th
Wednesday 20th
Thursday 21st
FINDING THE HISTORIC IN THE FOLKLORIC – BELPER 250
Talk
by Chris Lewis-
Venue: Room 107, Strutts Community Centre, Belper – Time: 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm
Cost: Free to members; £5 for visitors. Annual membership available for £15.
Friday 22nd
Saturday 23rd
Discover Belper Channels Walk -
Overview
Most people are surprised to find out how many channels there are in Belper, most of them hidden from view. They illustrate all of Belper’s History. Most of the paths are easy to walk but the steps on some channels are surprisingly steep. Join leader John Morrissey on this 4 mile circular walk which covers the northern areas of historic Belper and circle around to Dam Side and back to the Market Place.
Walking boots or sturdy footwear are recommended.
Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome on this walk.
Unfortunately due to the uneven nature of the walk, it is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
Enjoyed this walk? Look at booking 'More Belper Channels' walk on 3rd October.
Inclusions – What you'll need☂️ Waterproofs 📋 Other -
Book tickets – https://www.belpernorthmill.org.uk/calendar/
PEEK THROUGH A LONG ROW WINDOW – BELPER 250
Belper actress and performer Judith Hibbert returns with a one-
Venue: Room 107, The Strutts Community Centre, Derby Road, Belper – Time: 7pm – Cost: £5 per person.
Booking: Essential. To book a space, email belpertalks.walks@gmail.com with your name and number of places required, and the performance you wish to attend.
Sunday 24th
Monday 25th
Tuesday 26th
Wednesday 27th
Thursday 28th
TWO QUEENS – ELIZABETH I and MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTTS – A DERBYSHIRE TUDOR TALE
A new play by George Gunby, Directed by Rebecca Holmes. During May 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots escaped from Lochleven Castle and made her way to England. Eventually she was imprisoned in Wingfield Manor in the custody of Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury. The Countess is better known as Bess of Hardwick.
Over the next nineteen years, Mary’s life revolved around treachery and intrigue, connivance and plot as she attempted to claim the English throne.
Venue: St Peter’s Church, Belper – Time: 7.30pm, doors open 6.30pm
Cost: Tickets £15 – Booking: At livetickets.org and St. Peter’s Church, Belper
Friday 29th
TWO QUEENS – ELIZABETH I and MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTTS – A DERBYSHIRE TUDOR TALE
A new play by George Gunby, Directed by Rebecca Holmes. During May 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots escaped from Lochleven Castle and made her way to England. Eventually she was imprisoned in Wingfield Manor in the custody of Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury. The Countess is better known as Bess of Hardwick.
Over the next nineteen years, Mary’s life revolved around treachery and intrigue, connivance and plot as she attempted to claim the English throne.
Venue: St Peter’s Church, Belper – Time: 7.30pm, doors open 6.30pm
Cost: Tickets £15 – Booking: At livetickets.org and St. Peter’s Church, Belper
Saturday 30th
Sunday 31st
BELPER FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL – BELPER 250
To be held in the town centre. More details to follow.
BELPER U3A WALKING TREASURE HUNT – BELPER 250
Enjoy searching for special items of interest photographed in central Belper. Numbered photos and a route map, accessible on smart phones or for printing, will be found on https://belper.u3asite.uk/u3a_events/belper-
Venue: Belper Time: As you choose Monday 18th to Sunday 31st May
BELPER IN THE FRAME: THE EDWARDIAN ERA – BELPER 250
Third in a series of six talks by Adrian Farmer, looking at the past 250 years in Belper through historic images. This session concentrates on images from the beginning of the 20th century.
Venue: No.28, Market Place, Belper – Time: 6pm – Cost: Entry £5
Booking: Essential. Refreshments available for a donation. To book, email belpertalks.walks@gmail.com with your name and number of places required.
Pay on the door.
What`s on in Belper in May
Just a few of the things happening in and around Belper
Events in May
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