What’s on Derby: Assemble Festival 2024 kicks off half-term after two-year break

Make the most of half-term by celebrating with the whole family at Assemble: Derby’s Making Festival.

A full day will be dedicated to invention, creativity and resourcefulness at the Museum of Making on Saturday October 26, 2024. 

The popular family-friendly event brings together over 60 artists, makers, engineers, crafters and tinkerers from varied disciplines to showcase their skills.

People will be invited to have a go at various forms of making too.

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Makers this year include organisations such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ImechE), Nottingham University’s Cobot Maker Space and Rolls-Royce.

Produced by Derby Museums, Assemble is a dynamic day-long festival highlighting the region’s rich history of creativity and manufacturing taking place at the Museum of Making.

The site is widely regarded as the place of the world’s first factory which is part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

The last Assemble event in 2022 saw audiences of over 3,000 in attendance and featured more than 50 makers. 

Back for 2024, demonstrations will unfold over three floors of the Museum of Making as well as a specially installed marquee.

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Covering a wide range of disciplines from ceramics and embroidery to laser-cutting, letterpress printing, robotics and millinery, there will be something for everyone. 

What’s on Derby half-term - Assemble Festival 2024

People of all ages can discover all sorts of fun, hands-on activities including coding, clay-modelling, woodworking, sewing, puppetry, building, printing and more. 

Assemble provides an affordable and inspiring day out for families and aims to inspire Derby’s future makers.

This year’s festival welcomes back several crowd-favourite spectacle makers and introduces new experiences for visitors to enjoy.

On arrival at Cathedral Green, family favourite Ian Russell – better known as the Bigbubbleman – will greet visitors with his joyous clouds of giant bubbles. 

Taking inspiration from the River Derwent and the Museum of Making, PlayLAND LIVE by multi-award-winning artist John Whall offers an immersive experience made using video game based artwork. 

Visitors will be able to interact with the artwork using accessible buttons and make their own real-world kite to be digitally scanned and exhibited in PlayLAND.

Samantha Hudson aka ‘Sam Carnival’ is most well known for her dazzling Carnival outfits and will be showcasing new costumes created for the 2025 Carnival season. 

Back by popular demand, Johnny White will be bringing his large scale kinetic art sculptures to Assemble and multi-disciplinary artist Tim Neath is inviting families to take part in a giant one-day challenge to recreate the city of Derby out of recycled cardboard.

Throughout the day, makers will offer ‘have-a-go’ workshops, which participants can sign up to on the day. 

Assemble 2024 has been made possible thanks to a new partnership with Vaillant who is the exclusive sponsor of the much-loved festival for the next three years.

Vaillant’s support underscores their commitment to celebrating local manufacturing heritage and promoting a more sustainable future.

The boiler and heat pump manufacturer will be bringing their demonstration van to Assemble for visitors to find out more about the low carbon heating options available.

Visitors can also explore Vaillant’s new initiatives in education and skills development for the region and for future generations.

Dan Webber, Events Programmer at Derby Museums said: “Assemble is the largest event in Derby Museums calendar and a great example of the Museum of Making’s ethos. 

“We cannot wait to welcome back both our maker community and the public and we are incredibly grateful to Valliant for their support which will enable us to bring Assemble to Derby for 2024 and a further two years.” 

Silversmith and Sculptor Claire Zwozny-Bestwick, better known as CRZyBest, is taking part in Assemble, they said: “I really enjoy being involved in Assemble, it’s such a different experience from any other event on my calendar and offers the prospect of interaction as well as sales.

“It’s fantastic to see the joy on faces of all ages and the intrigue at the variety of making going on.

“Visitors to my stand will have the chance to explore making their own tiny sculpture, take one of my tiny dogs home for free and also the opportunity to buy their own kit, to make their own metal clay creations!”

Samantha Hudson, aka ‘Sam Carnival’, was invited to be a Spectacle Maker at this year’s Assemble, they added: "I am honoured to be invited to take part in this year's Assemble and to support fellow artists in their craft. 

“It is wonderful to be encouraged and to inspire the next generation of up-and-coming artists".

Assemble 2024 is suitable for all ages and takes place on Saturday October 26, from 11am till 4pm, at the Museum of Making at Derby Silk Mill. 

Tickets are free to under 16s and £5 per ticket for adults, with advanced booking recommended. 

For more information and tickets visit by clicking here.