Festé is back!

The Colour of Time by Artonik image ©Artonik

Tue 9 May 2017

Derby Festé is back this September, where you'll be able to enjoy the very best of different cultures in a two-day outdoor entertainment spectacular.

It's been a highlight in the city’s calendar for the past 11 years and this year’s festival will be held on Friday September 29 and Saturday September 30 with the theme of fusing Western and Eastern cultures in the most spectacular fashion!

You might have noticed that Festé is slightly later this year - this is to enable it to coincide with the climax of the Navratri Festival, a nine-day Hindu festival, which is celebrated across the world, finishes on Friday September 29 and is even more significant this year as it coincides with the 70th anniversary celebrations of India’s independence.

Derby Festé will open on Friday night at Bass’ Recreation Ground which will be transformed into ‘Circus World’ from late afternoon. This will be a ticketed event with a range of contemporary circus acts from across Europe and you'll also able to enjoy an array of food and drink from around the world in a food village. 

The excitement will then build up to the showcase, which will be a show-stopping aerial performance of ‘The Altitude Show’ by European artists Gorilla Circus.

The popular free programme of street entertainment across the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter with dance, street theatre, comedy and contemporary circus acts performing throughout the day at various locations will be on Saturday.

In the afternoon the focus will be on South Asian style cultural celebrations with the ‘Colour of Time’ procession. ‘Colour of Time’ will be a rainbow eruption of coloured powder and dance, which has been choreographed by French company Artonik and involves students from the University of Derby and Derby College. The parade is inspired by the traditional Holi festival celebrated in India where people throw gulal powder in the air to show joy and celebrate unity and diversity. Dancers and musicians will move through the city centre in a parade towards Cathedral Green where you can join the finale - painting the sky with an explosion of Gulal powder.

Later in the Market Place, dancers will lead the traditional Garba dance which is performed as part of the Navratri Festival and originates from the state of Gujarat in India. Many traditional Garbas are performed around a lit lamp or a picture or statue of the Goddess Shakti. Festé’s will use ornate decoration and lighting suspended high over the Market Place. A team of dance artists will be visiting schools and different community groups in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham in the run up to Derby Festé to teach them the simple dance steps so they can encourage you to join in on the night. The Festé Garba is a celebration of Derby and is for everyone to enjoy! The evening will be filled with live music, performance and dancing surrounded by the sights, sounds and delicious smells of the Derby Night Market.

The Night Market, organised by Sheena Holland was a popular addition to the Festé calendar last year and will again feature a wide range of arts, crafts and vintage stalls, as well as food and drink stalls.

Derby Festé 2017 is produced and presented by Derby LIVE, Déda, QUAD and Derby Theatre in association with the Without Walls Associate Touring Network, Artcore and Baby People. It is funded by Arts Council England and Derby City Council, with sponsorship from Cathedral Quarter, Intu Derby, Derby Riverlights, Park Farm Shopping Centre and the University of Derby.

Find out more on the Derby Festé website.