Assemble: Derby’s Making Festival is set to take place on Saturday 24 October 2026 from 11am to 4pm at the Museum of Making, celebrating the diverse ways people create and solve problems. The festival covers everything from traditional crafts to photography, engineering, and digital technology.
Among the featured participants is Simeon Kai, a 14-year-old paracord artist and wood carver whose creative journey began with a passion for nature and bushcraft. Simeon will demonstrate how to make paracord bracelets and keyrings, sharing how crafting has helped him focus and develop problem-solving skills. He hopes to inspire other young people to engage in hands-on creativity and experience its wellbeing benefits.
Visitors will also have the chance to explore photography with W W Winter, Derby’s oldest photography business established in 1854. The W W Winter team will guide attendees in making their own pinhole cameras, explaining the science behind how light creates images. Simon Vaughan, heritage manager at W W Winter Heritage Trust, highlights the activity as a family-friendly way to understand photography’s fundamentals.
The festival will feature additional attractions including YouTube creators Kids Invent Stuff, the inclusive music group Kakou, and for the first time, a Warhammer painting and making session supported by Warhammer Alliance.
Produced by Derby Museums, Assemble takes place at the Museum of Making, which celebrates Derby’s manufacturing heritage on the site known as the world’s first modern factory, part of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Vaillant, a company with over 90 years of history in Derbyshire, continues its sponsorship of the event for the third year. James Fowler, Vaillant’s Marketing & Strategy Director, said the partnership supports local manufacturing heritage and inspires future makers.
Dan Webber from Derby Museums expressed excitement for the festival’s fifth year, praising the community of makers and volunteers involved. He encouraged families and individuals to attend and participate in the wide range of creative activities on offer.
Tickets are free for under 16s and £5 for adults, with advance booking recommended. More information and tickets are available at https://derbymuseums.org/event/assemble-derbys-making-festival-2026.
