Tapton Lock Festival FAQs
Tapton Lock Festival FAQs
All Junction Arts staff and volunteers will be wearing green ‘Junction Arts’ T-shirts with a large white star on the front.
On Saturday, 5th September, 11am – 4pm. It will take place by the canal, near the Tapton Lock Visitor Centre on Lockoford Lane, S41 7JB.
The Tapton Lock Festival takes place by the Chesterfield Canal, the address is Lockoford Lane, Chesterfield, S41 7JB. It is approximately 1.5 miles from Chesterfield town centre.
BY CAR & PARKING
There is limited parking at the Tapton Lock site however, there are a number of parking options that are just a short walk to the site.
FREE PARKING: Tapton Park Innovation Centre parking here is free with a considerable number of spaces. A short 20 minute walk down through the park, along Brimington Road and then the towpath gets you to the site.
PAID PARKING: Brewers Fayre
You can park at the Lock Keeper Brewers Fayre , but you will need to pay, access to the festival is a short walk from here.
You can also book spaces at Tesco and Sainsburys car parks in advance, both are a short walk to the festival site. There is an underpass to get from Tesco to Tapton Lock.
See www.yourparkingspace.co.uk as you need to book your parking in advance.
DISABLED PARKING
There are a number of disabled parking spaces available on Lockoford Lane, and Mercedes-Benz of Chesterfield have kindly provided some disabled spaces in their customer parking area (please only park where you see the signs).
From the train station, walk to Brimington Road and along this road for a fair distance until you see a sign for the Trans Pennine Trail on your left, take the trail to Tapton Lock, this is a 20-25 minute walk in total.
If you’re walking from Lockoford Road / Tesco / Casa Hotel area, there is an underpass which you can access near the Casa Hotel to cross Rother Way safely.
There are lots of options to cycle to Tapton Lock on quiet roads and dedicated cycle paths as follows:
North: From the North the towpath runs from Staveley to the site.
South: From the South the route runs through the Avenue Country Park then alongside Derby Road past the skate park, along to the train station and then the short ride along Brimington Road before heading down to the towpath onto Tapton Lock.
West: From the West the cycle lane down Chatsworth Road runs through Somersall Park, Walton Dam and along Goytside before picking up the path behind Queen’s Park to the skate park as above.
There are bike racks at Tapton Lock Visitor Centre.
BY BUS*
Service 43 & 44 (Stagecoach): These routes run between Chesterfield, Dronfield, and Sheffield. They stop along Lockoford Lane (near the football stadium/Sainsbury’s), making them the most direct option. They operate consistently on both Saturdays and Sundays.
Service 50 & 50A (Stagecoach): Running between Chesterfield, Eckington, and Sheffield, these buses also serve the Lockoford Lane stop. They run regularly throughout the weekend.
Service 90 (Stagecoach): This route connects Chesterfield to Staveley and Creswell, stopping right near Tapton Lock and the adjacent Sainsbury’s. It runs a reliable service on Saturdays, though Sunday timetables are more restricted.
Service X17 (Stagecoach Gold): A prominent express route connecting Matlock, Chesterfield, and Sheffield. It stops nearby at Whittington Moor (near the Football Stadium), which is roughly a 3-to-5 minute walk from Tapton Lock. It runs frequently across both Saturdays and Sundays
Tapton Lock is approximately 1.5 miles from Chesterfield Train Station and will take approximately 25-30 minutes to walk.
From the train station, walk to Brimington Road and along this road for a fair distance until you see a sign for the Trans Pennine Trail on your left, take the trail to Tapton Lock, this is a 20-25 minute walk in total.
The best place for a taxi to drop off is the entrance to Tapton Lock, across the road from Tapton Lock Visitor Centre.
The festival is free to attend; there’s no need to book, just turn up! However, we recommend you book for the free 40 minute canoe sessions on the day, you can do this at the Canoe Club gazebo at the top of the festival site or at the far end of the site where the Canoe Club will also have a set up.
The Canoe Club are also offering free have-a-go sessions on Sunday 6 September.
We recommend you book for the free 40 minute canoe sessions on the day, you can do this at the Canoe Club gazebo at the top of the festival site or at the far end of the site where the Canoe Club will also have a set up.
The Canoe Club will also be offering free have-a-go sessions on Sunday 6th September.
All the other festival activities operate on a first-come, first-served basis, please be aware demand is often very high and there can be queues. Have a look at what’s on, on the main event page and check our socials for updates!
Pleasley Canoe Club will be on site all day offering free 40 minute have-a-go sessions with their qualified team.
We recommend you book for the free 40 minute canoe sessions on the day, you can do this at the Canoe Club gazebo at the top of the festival site or at the far end of the site where the Canoe Club will also have a set up.
The Canoe Club will also be offering free have-a-go sessions on Sunday 6th September.
Yes, at the back of the Visitor Centre as well as a mobile Changing Place on site.
You’ll find on site:
- Nomad Coffee
- Frederick’s Ice Cream Van
- Forge Bake House
- Nico’s Wood Fired Pizza
- Asian Association (taking donations for food)
Yes you can, and there will also be lots of food options at the festival. You can also bring your own cups for refills from our food and drinks vendors.
Terrain, Surfaces & Ground Conditions
The festival takes place on a stretch of land to the left (or north-west) of the Chesterfield Canal, in between the canal and the River Rother. You access the site directly from Lockoford Lane; please be aware that the path from the road is quite steep before it levels off into the main site. The festival site is separated from the canal by a series of bushes and trees; however, it is very close to the canal itself.
The main festival area is on grass with a hardstanding path running through the middle of the site offering a route for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and buggies however, you will need to go on to the grass to access festival activities. The grass is generally firm and well‑maintained, though it may become soft or muddy in wet weather. The length of the festival site is approximately 250 metres long from the site entrance to the end of the site.
All key activity areas are within a short walking distance of each other. These include:
- Mobile Changing Place – on the right-hand side of the site as you travel from the entrance, it is approximately 150 metres from the entrance.
- First Aid – just after the festival marquee on the left-hand side of the site as you travel from the entrance, it is at the end of the festival site.
- Mobile Climbing Wall – on the right-hand side of the site as you travel from the entrance, approximately 140 metres from the entrance.
- Junction Arts 50 Stories Exhibition – on the left-hand side of the site as you travel from the entrance, approximately 120 metres from the entrance.
- Commissioned Artists – on the right-hand side just after the climbing wall.
- Festival Marquee – at the end of the site on the left-hand side, approximately 250 metres from the entrance.
- Junction Arts Gazebo – main information and lost children point, located on the left hand side next to the circus skills and close to the festival marquee.
- Circus Skills – in-between the marquee and JA gazebo.
- Canoe Club – on the canal side.
- Face Painting at the Tapton Lock Visitor Centre.
- Food Trucks – at the end of the festival site on the right-hand side.
The Children’s Festival takes place in a public space, and dogs are welcome; however, we ask that they stay on a lead. We will have a water bowl at the Junction Arts gazebo.
Changing Places
- There will be a Mobile Changing Place on the park festival site.
- There is another Changing Place at the Market Hall, Market Place, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1AR
Opening Times: 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Saturday
Contains a hoist, bench and extra space for children and adults who need help using toilet facilities.
Accessible Toilets
- There is an accessible toilet at Tapton Lock Visitor Centre.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is welcome at the Festival site and Tapton Lock Visitor Centre
Baby Changing Facilities
Available at Tapton Lock Visitor Centre
For those that would like access to a quiet space and a break from the crowds:
For an indoor quiet space – as this is an outdoor event, you would need to go into the town centre for an indoor quiet space, where we would direct you towards Chesterfield Library, New Beetwell St, Chesterfield S40 1QN. However, please note this is 1.5 miles away.
For an outdoor quiet space – we recommend walking along the canal path away from the festival site until you find a quieter spot.
Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the festival. We recommend that when you arrive at the festival, you familiarise your family with the lost child point, which is situated at the Junction Arts gazebo. We are also advising parents to collect a wristband from a Junction Arts team member for your child and write a mobile phone number on it, so that a parent/carer can be contacted if your child is lost.
Yes, unless it is predicted to be heavy rain or storms all day. We have some cover from the rain, but most activities are outdoors, so please dress appropriately, bring waterproofs and umbrellas. The ground may already be wet even if it doesn’t rain on the day.
All information provided has been done so through desktop research and in good faith, please do check with individual venues and service providers to make sure the services listed are still provided.
Please note all information provided is correct at the time of writing, but may be subject to change. Junction Arts is committed to making the festival as inclusive and welcoming as possible. We know this may not meet every need just yet, but we’re listening, learning, and working each year to break down more barriers to participation.