Chesterfield Market will be hosting two fantastic free family events in August.
Emergency Services Day is on Saturday 15 August from 10am to 4pm and will feature hands‑on activities, demonstrations, and plenty to discover for all ages.
The following weekend on Saturday 22 August, the town centre will be transported to Africa as Chesterfield On Safari with animatronic and puppet animals takes place from 11am to 3pm.
Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “These are two great events in the middle of the summer holidays that will provide fantastic free days out for families in Chesterfield. With our revitalisation works we knew it was important that we make the best use of these spaces to host the type of events that people really want to come along to – I hope to see lots of people spending time together in the market this summer.”
Derbyshire Fire and Recure Service, Chesterfield PCSO Team, St John’s Ambulance, the British Red Cross, the RNLI, and Derbyshire 4×4 response will all be attending Emergency Services Day with representatives to speak with along with demonstrations.
Activities include CPR demonstrations and instruction with mannequins, along with bandaging and learning general first aid skills from St John’s Ambulance.
The National Emergency Services Museum will also be attending to bring along some historic vehicles visitors to get pictures with and uniforms for children to try on.
Chesterfield On Safari will see New Square host a selection of animated animals including gorillas, chimps, orangutans, hippos, rhinos and a lion. There will be two large animal shows at 11.45am and 1.30pm with walkabout shows throughout the rest of the day.
There will also be free animal themed face painting during the event and a safari themed trail around the Main Square market stalls.
There are lots of other great events happening in Chesterfield Market this summer including the Great Chesterfield Feast on 1 and 2 August and Peddler Market on 29 and 30 August.
These events are part of Chesterfield Borough Council’s events programme which is partially funded through the Government’s Pride in Place programme.
Laura Jo Owen, who runs a business in the town centre and sits on the Town Board, said: “As a board we decided it was crucial that we provided funding for the town’s events programme over the next two years because our engagement work showed that hosting more events in the town centre was a high priority for lots of local people. I look forward to seeing lots of people coming into the town to create memories together at these events.”
Pride in Place will see almost £20 million invested in the town over the next decade. All decisions about how this funding will be spent is determined by the independent Chesterfield Town Board and is being shaped by local people through engagement.
To find out more about all the events taking place in the Market this summer visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/events
ENDS
Media enquiries: Please contact Robin Mears at Chesterfield Borough Council on robin.mears@chesterfield.gov.uk
Notes to editors:
Please find attached labelled images for Chesterfield On Safari and Emergency Services Day.
1. The Pride in Place programme is a national initiative funded by the UK Government that provides long-term investment to communities across the UK, helping them shape their own future and improve the places they live.
2. It aims to empower local people, strengthen neighbourhoods, and create thriving places that people can be proud of, and that feel vibrant, safe and welcoming.
3. Chesterfield is one of the towns selected to participate in the Pride in Place programme – meaning that the town eligible to receive £19.5 million in investment over ten years (running from 2026 to 2036).
4. The independent Chesterfield Town Board, working with Chesterfield Borough Council, is responsible for overseeing a 10-year regeneration plan for the area. This plan sets out the activity that will be carried out to achieve the three strategic objectives of this updated programme:
- Thriving places
- Stronger communities
- Taking back control
5. Based on the results of consultation with local people, the Board has drawn up the following priorities to guide the development of projects to invest in:
Cohesion
- Enabling spaces and places for people to meet, dwell and engage
- Events and activities that encourage greater social mixing
- Building social capital
- Creating opportunities for volunteering
Health and wellbeing
- Bringing more services into the town centre
- Co-location of services
- Supporting community-level health provision
Safety and security
- Prevention and diversion
- Enforcement and visible presence
- Addressing anti-social behaviour
Regeneration, high streets and heritage
- Tackle empty units
- Enhance our heritage and cultural offer
- Take a strategic approach to diversifying the town centre offer
- Encourage and enable town centre living
- Events and animation
- Enhanced experience and public realm
Transport
- Connections to the centre
- Active and sustainable travel
- Improved experiences through welcome and wayfinding
- Bus improvements
6. Find out more about the Chesterfield Town Board at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/chesterfield-town-board
