Chatsworth Family Festival

Event details

25 - 27 May | 10.30am to 6pm

Included in house and garden, and garden tickets.

This year we are celebrating all things childhood, so we invite you to bring the whole family to our first ever family festival in the garden.

Master gravity-defying circus skills or make your own kite; run for gold in sports day races for all ages; walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs; be transported to far off lands by story time or learn to illustrate your own tale in drawing workshops by authors/illustrators Lydia Monks and Bethan Woollvin, or make the perfect periscope with artist Abigail Reynolds.

Suitable for anyone aged 1 to 101, because who says the wonder of being a child should have an age limit?

All activities are free with spaces allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. On arrival at the garden, head to the booking marquee to reserve your place.

Download and save or print the schedule for the day of your visit here:

SATURDAY SCHEDULE        SUNDAY SCHEDULE        MONDAY SCHEDULE

What's on

Provisional schedule, subject to change. Timings and final details will be published shortly.

Book reading and drawing workshop with Bethan Woollvin - Saturday only

Join children’s book author and illustrator Bethan Woollvin for a beastly workshop focusing on her medieval adventure "I Can Catch a Monster".

Each session features a book reading, an insight into Bethan’s artwork, and an exciting drawing workshop where you’ll learn how to draw Bethan’s ferocious characters. This session will be perfect for budding adventurers who love to draw! 

Periscope and kaleidoscope workshops with artist, Abigail Reynolds - Saturday and Sunday

Artist Abigail Reynolds has created sculptures that are also looking devices and that can be discovered around Chatsworth as part of our Picturing Childhood exhibition. Join her to make your own looking device. 

Periscope Workshops - After a quick look at her artworks in the garden, you will make your own periscope then head out to look for unexpected and displaced views.  

Kaleidoscope Workshops - After a quick look at her artworks in the garden, you will make your own kaleidoscope and collect small objects from the garden to go inside. Your kaleidoscope will transform these natural shapes and colours into incredible patterns.

Storytelling – The Sword in the Stone

The Sword in the Stone by TH White is the inspiration behind the ‘Anthronauts’ artworks by Abigail Reynolds in the house and garden. Join the artist for a reading from her favourite parts of the book, and to discuss how they inspired her Chatsworth commission.

Book signing and draw along with Lydia Monks - Monday only

Lydia Monks is an award-winning, best-selling children’s book author and illustrator best known for her collaborations with Julia Donaldson. Their book, 'What the Ladybird Heard' has sold over 3 million copies worldwide and is currently being adapted into a TV series by Sky. 

Join Lydia for a 'draw along' session inspired by three of her books, the classic 'What the Ladybird Heard'; 'Adoette', a story about the importance of nature and conservation in our cities inspired by the Sheffield tree protests; and her new book with Julia Donaldson, 'The Tooth Fairy and the Crocodile', where Ruth Mary the Tooth Fairy is given the task of collecting the teeth of some jungle animals, including a crocodile.

This new book is not on sale until 6 June, so you'll have the opportunity to be among the first to read it and obtain a pre-publication copy!

Each session will include a book signing.

Community Kite Project Presents: Trapezium Kite Workshops (at the farmyard) - every day

Join CKP and learn how to make your very own beautifully unique Kite, a great kite for people of all abilities and a wonderful flyer. The perfect way to pick up the kite making and flying bug.

In this 80-minute workshop, CKP will supply you with all the materials you will need and guide you step by step on how to design and build your kite whilst giving you a whistle-stop history of kites throughout history and their place in cultures around the world.

You will also have time to artwork your kite making sure you will have a beautiful kite to fly and take home.

The workshop is aimed at 8-12yr olds. Children under 8 will need support from an adult throughout the workshop. 

Note: This workshop will take place at the farmyard. Please book in at the garden to secure your place on a workshop and collect a timed entry ticket. Places on the workshops will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Access to the farmyard and adventure playground is included with all house and garden, and garden tickets.

Into Wilderness Bushcraft - every day

Develop a deeper understanding of nature through bushcraft. The team from Into Wilderness will share the skills perfected by our hunter-gather ancestors, including foraging on a nature walk; shelter building in the woods; primitive archery and woodcarving. There will also be the chance to hear tales of folklore and legend beneath an ancient tree.

Big Top Circus - every day

We'll be offering drop in circus skills workshops for all ages and abilities, every day of the festival. Come and learn how to juggle, hula hoop, spin a diablo, walk a tightwire and more. 

Alongside this, you can make your own poi, learn how to use them and take them home to master. 

We will also have four daily spectacular shows in our mini big top starring a world record breaking juggler, hula hooper, aerialist and contortionist. 

Concerteenies - every day

Take part in interactive workshops and creative storytelling experiences with Concerteenies, a Sheffield-based award-winning producer of musical events and activities for children and their adults.

Pre-historic plant hunter walks - every day

Join the learning team to explore the gardens for prehistoric plants and trees. Look for dinosaur lettuce in the bog garden, search out marine fossils in the rock garden and spot living fossils on the way. Finish off by making your own fossil to take home at the Stickyard.

Art at the Maze - every day

Express your creativity in these relaxed drop in art sessions, staged in our activity tent by the maze. Inspired by nature, become mini artists and create beautiful masterpieces influenced by the garden around you. 

Waterbattles - every day

Grab a super soaker and see how many of your friends and family you can catch! At various intervals throughout the day we will be having a timed waterbattle next to the Cascade. Keep your distance if you don’t want to get wet!

Mini Olympics - every day

Need to burn off excess energy? Join in a series of games and activities designed to get you moving. Can you score the most goals or be the fastest in the race? 

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Stay with us

With so much to see, do, and explore in the Peak District, it's a shame to only come for the day, so why not stay a little longer? Our country cottages, shepherd's huts, hotels, and inns are the perfect base for exploring all that Chatsworth, Derbyshire, and the Peak District have to offer. Find out more.