New Event Sponsor Announced for Chesterfield Children’s Festival
New Event Sponsor Announced for Chesterfield Children’s Festival
Local tuition experts, Kip McGrath Chesterfield West, have been announced as the headline sponsor for this year’s Chesterfield Children’s Festival, helping to expand the much-loved free family event with the introduction of a brand-new craft tent and an even wider programme of hands-on creative activities.
Organised by local charity Junction Arts, the Chesterfield Children’s Festival will return to Queen’s Park for its fourth year on 18–19 July. Since launching in 2023, the festival has grown into a highlight of the town’s cultural calendar, celebrating the joy of childhood through imagination, play and creativity. Designed for children aged 0–16, the event attracts thousands of families each year with its vibrant mix of activities, performances and experiences.
This year’s festival is set to be the biggest yet, thanks to a generous £1,000 sponsorship from Kip McGrath Chesterfield West. The funding will introduce a new dedicated craft tent, offering a packed programme of free workshops and drop-in activities across the weekend, including cyanotype printing, badge making, pottery and make your own football shirt workshops.
Alongside the new craft offer, visitors can enjoy an exciting line-up of entertainment, including Kids to the Front, an interactive theatre and live band experience, Wacky Woody’s Comedy Magic Show, and a dedicated early years programme tailored for children aged 0–4. Family life drawing sessions and face painting will also be available, with all activities free to attend and no booking required.
Accessibility remains a key priority for organisers. The festival will include accessible toilets and changing facilities, as well as British Sign Language interpreters to ensure more families can enjoy the event.
Kip McGrath Chesterfield West, run by local family team Andy and Lorna Bell, provides specialist tuition in English and maths for primary, secondary and post-16 students. Deeply rooted in the community, the centre works closely with schools, offers alternative provision and delivers after-school support to help young people build confidence and achieve their potential.
Lorna Bell, Director at Kip McGrath Chesterfield West, said: “Supporting children’s development goes far beyond the classroom; play and creativity are just as important in helping young people grow in confidence. When we visited the festival last year, we were blown away by the variety of activities and the fact that everything was completely free for families. We knew straight away that we wanted to be involved in supporting something so special for our community.”
Hannah Bowdler, Development Manager at Junction Arts, added: “Keeping the festival free and accessible for all families is absolutely central to what we do. We never want cost to be a barrier to experiencing arts and culture. Support from Kip McGrath Chesterfield West not only helps us maintain free entry, but also allows us to expand what’s on offer. The new craft tent is a fantastic addition, it means even more opportunities for children to get hands-on, explore their creativity and be inspired.”
The Chesterfield Children’s Festival will take place at Queen’s Park from 10am to 4pm on 18–19 July.
For more information, visit www.junctionarts.org or follow @junctionarts on social media.
Any business that would like to support the Chesterfield Children’s Festival programme and help bring arts and cultural experiences to local children and families, please get in touch with hannah@junctionarts.org