Welcome
The Organising Committee would like to welcome you all to the Eckington Summer Festival, with hopes that this year’s event will surpass even the great successes of years gone by.
In this programme, you will find information on the bands and other entertainment we have in store for you, plus details of the groups involved in the organisation of the festival. There is also a run down of the performances you can expect in our arena and on stage.
Today is for the community. The event is organised by local people whose only aim is to provide a fun, free event for you to enjoy. Any money raised today will simply go back into making next year’s event even bigger, and even better!
Get Involved!
We’d love to see you posting on social media about your favourite parts of the event. Whether you’re on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, please tag us in your posts and pictures.
Guide
We have a vast array of caterers to satisfy your tastebuds. We have burgers & sausages, Jamaican food, pizza, donuts, and much more! We also have two fully licensed bars to quench your thirst (and maybe get you dancing).
There are loads of stalls in attendance today also. There isn’t enough space to list them all out, but believe us, there’s pretty much everything you could ever want! We’ve got jewellery and gems, toys and sweets, and even a stall selling doggie treats! Why not take yourself on a stroll around our field to explore the many wonderful vendors we have for your perusal.
There’s children’s fairground rides & funfair games, along with some superb live entertainment and music acts (more information on them to follow). We also have axe throwing, body zorbing, a petting zoo, birds of prey, and a ‘Have A Go’ dog agility arena.
Entertainment Schedule
| 12:05-12:30 | Hathersage Brass Band | Main Stage |
| 12:30-13:00 | Stepping Out Dance School | Main Arena |
| 13:00-13:30 | Hathersage Brass Band | Main Stage |
| 13:30-14:15 | Dog Competitions | Main Arena |
| 14:15-14:45 | Jessica Steele’s Superstars | Main Stage & Arena |
| 14:45-15:15 | Markfield Park | Main Stage |
| 15:15-15:45 | Steve Delaney and the Rockits | Main Stage |
| 15:45-16:15 | Stepping Out Dance School | Main Arena |
| 16:15-17:00 | Steve Delaney and the Rockits | Main Stage |
The Committee
As you can imagine, the organisation of this event takes months of planning & scrutinising. The Eckington Summer Festival committee is made up of a handful of local volunteers, working hard behind the scenes both in the lead up to the event, and throughout the day also.
The committee members will be patrolling the event today trying to be as helpful as possible. They’re wearing hi-vis vests so should be easily recognisable. If you need anything at all, seek one of us out and we’ll do our best to help.
We’re always looking for more chefs to make the 2024 broth even better! If you’re interested in getting involved, just get in touch by email eckingtonfestival@gmail.com, or via the contact form on our website http://www.eckingtonfestival.co.uk/contact.
Dog Competitions
We have 6 wonderful categories for the dog competition this year, plus (of course) our best in show. Do you think that your dog is the most handsome boy you’ve ever seen? Think she’s got the waggiest tail in the world (or at least in Eckington)? Well here’s your chance to prove it.
The competitions begin at 1.30pm. All you have to do is head over to our sign-up tent and fill in a card. It’s £2.00 to enter the competition and our best in show will win a £50 voucher to spend at Raw4All in Brimington.
If you have any questions at all, just ask the lovely people in the sign-up tent, or any of our other committee members.
The categories for the dog competitions are as follows:
- Best Waggy Tail
- Best Child Handler
- Best Handsome Dog
- Best Pretty Bitch
- Best Rescue
- Best 6 Legs
- BEST IN SHOW
Your Entertainment
Steve Delaney and the Rockits
A wonderful band led by a front man previously of the legendary rock & roll band, the Sharp Cuts. Performing a variety of covers from through the years. Steve has performed at our events pre-covid, but now returns with his band to wow us once again.
Hathersage Brass Band
Hathersage Band is a non-contesting brass band based in Marsh Lane, with members ranging from young players who are still at school, right through to those who have retired. Returning on the back of wonderful feedback after their performance at last year’s event.
Markfield Park
A Leicester-based acoustic duo, comprising of two Yorkshire lads who are playing at our event for the first time.
Stepping Out Dance School
This group offers a variety of dance and fitness classes for all ages and abilities, and is based in Beighton and Killamarsh. Classes include disco freestyle, street dance, pom dance, zumba, and boogie bounce. Stepping out are very proud to provide the official dancers and cheerleaders for the Sheffield Steelers Ice Hockey team. If you would like to join in the fun, visit Michelle at their stall, or ring 07977 388617.
Jessica Steele’s Superstars
Former Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, and member of Team Will.I.Am on the Voice, Jessica Steele set up her group 5 years ago, and has since nurtured many young aspiring singers and performers. Based in Killamarsh and Clowne, they will be attending with a variety of young performers who hope to showcase their talents on the live stage.
Thank You To Those Involved
A huge number of people and groups are involved in the organisation of today’s event, in many different ways. We feel that it is only right to thank them for their contributions – be it time, money, or something else.
Our sponsors – the event requires large sums of money to run, most of which is gained via a selection of grants, provided by the likes of the Parish Council, Derbyshire County Council, and others. Without their support, we would struggle to make today happen
Eckington Development Company – the donation from our umbrella company is used to hire the equipment for the stage and performance area.
Eckington Town Team – this local group give up their time to help with various jobs on the day, and man their own stall promoting their projects too.
Shepherd Distribution – the trailer-come-stage that our acts perform on and in front of is generously loaned for the day. A large part of what makes our event.
North East Derbyshire District Council – for loan of the various bins (and new to this year, recycling bins) you will see around the site, helping the clear-up operation at the end of the day.
Eckington Junior School – the adjacent school are lease holders of the land you stand on, and kindly give us the use of the field. Without this, we literally wouldn’t be here!
Eckington Boys & Belles JFC – the local junior football club assists in many ways with the logistical side of setting up, setting down, and access to and from the field. This, coupled with their loan of various pieces of equipment, and for ensuring the grass is nicely cut!
The Friendship Hall, Green Lawns Centre, and The Eckington Business Centre – we have borrowed tables and chairs from our friends in local groups and community halls, to ensure that there is plenty of seating and places to eat and drink whilst you’re with us today.
All of the local schools and shops/businesses – our promotional material does the rounds in the community with help from our friends in schools and businesses.
The neighbours – inevitably, we make rather a lot of noise and cause some traffic disruption with out event; we’d like to thank the local neighbours for their patience.
All attendees – stallholders, acts, caterers, etc – these people make the event what it is today. We do hope we see you again in future years.
All volunteers and the organising committee – for their relentless work today and in the days, weeks, and months leading up to today.
Today’s entertainment acts – for thoroughly entertaining us today
Thank you for visiting the Eckington Summer Festival 2023.
We hope that you have had a wonderful day, and that you will join us again next year!
Next year’s event will be held on Saturday, 6th July 2024.
We’d appreciate if you could spare a couple of minutes to leave us some anonymous feedback on our event: