The Festival of Leisure is returning to Maurice Lea Memorial Park in Swadlincote on 20 and 21 June 2026, offering residents a free weekend of live music, theatre, and family entertainment. Organised by South Derbyshire District Council, the two-day event runs from 11:30am to 5pm each day and is billed as the largest free festival in the area.
The park will host live music across three stages, including the dedicated Grass Roots Stage, which provides a platform for emerging artists. Visitors can also expect a range of interactive performances, such as the comedy show anything but tennis and theatre productions like Seed and toast. For families, the event will feature funfair rides, an inflatable zone, and a mini train, along with various walkabout performers.
The festival includes a Shop Local, Love Local feature, which showcases stalls from small businesses alongside a Makers Tent for local artists and craftspeople. These attractions are expected to draw large crowds, with the event historically attracting up to 10,000 visitors.
The festival takes place at Maurice Lea Memorial Park, a space that holds Green Flag status, the international benchmark for well-managed public parks. The venue was gifted to the district in 1930 by entrepreneur Herbert Lea to honour his son, Maurice, who died during the First World War. The site later underwent a major restoration in 2005 supported by a Heritage Lottery grant.
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