Here's yet another of our brilliant boat builders, a regular in the parade, Rory Harrison. His 'Derwent Racer' model celebrates the British Truck Racing Championship, which is one of the biggest motorsport categories in the UK, with machines weighing in at more than five tonnes. If you have tickets to the final *s o l d - o u t* long weekend of the 2025 Illuminations this coming Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you will see this and the other 13 boats on the river from around 7pm 🤩 A reminder to kee

Here's another brilliant boat building team - and a first appearance in the spectacular parade this year for Matlock Bath Holy Trinity Church. Their 'Sound of Music' themed model celebrates the 60th anniversary of the film of the musical starring Julie Andrews. If you have tickets to the final *s o l d - o u t* long weekend of the 2025 Illuminations this coming Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you will see this and the other 13 boats on the river from around 7pm 🤩 A reminder to keep checking the boo

If you have tickets for this evening's Illuminations look out for giant bubbles 🫧 courtesy of the brilliant Paris Bubbles Entertainment as you enter the grounds (gates open at 5.30pm). A reminder that while this evening's Illuminations haven't yet *s o l d - o u t* our best advice is to book online in advance to save cash and avoid disappointment. We have *lots* of great stuff planned, not least the return of our 'Frozen' singalong with Anna and Elsa characters. Plus we have circus skills and o

Continuing our celebration of this year's record breaking parade of illuminated boats as we approach the end of the 2025 Matlock Bath Illuminations this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday... Incredibly, the man behind 'You're Going to Need a Bigger Boat' - David Gregory - is taking part in the parade for a 54th year. David is our longest serving boat builder. His 2025 model features a shark chasing Quint's boat from the 'Jaws' film. Peter Benchley's best-selling novel, which inspired Steven Spie

Dr Patricia Bath pioneered a laser that fought blindness and injustice. | The History Archives

Matlock Bath Illuminations. | British History