There are so many great reasons to get out and about to events in Derby and the surrounding area over the course of 2017. Whatever your tastes there is something for you. Check out the diary, and look forward to some exciting events in Derby.

Music and Comedy

Perhaps you want a good laugh, something to stimulate your funny bone? Acts coming to Derby Theatre in 2017 include: Ross Noble, Stewart Lee, Jasper Carrot and Tim Brooke-Taylor.

If that’s not enough, Derby has its own inaugural comedy festival coming up in May, with comedy legend Lee Hurst, the no nonsense comedian: one man and a mic, kicking it all off from the 5th at Derby Guildhall Theatre.

Then there is music. For one of the best annual festivals of music, not only in Derbyshire but nationally, you have to check out Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering 2017. The headliners will be perennial favourites Madness, who will round out the celebrations at this tenth anniversary celebration. Thursday, May 25, to Sunday, May 28, 2017, at Catton Hall.

If a film is your idea of a good night out then don’t forget that the QUAD Summer Nights Outdoor Film Festival will return in 2017, bringing the best in contemporary and classic films in various beautiful heritage locations such as Kedleston Hall and Hardwich Hall.

Toast of the Year

If sampling the latest in boutique beer and real ale is your thing then be sure to check out the coming festivities. If you need to warm up in February then, from 15th – 18th, there is the Derby CAMRA Winter Ale Festival in the beautiful and historic surroundings of Derby Roundhouse, showcasing the best from the large variety of Derby micro-breweries. And then there is the summer Beer Festival from 5 – 9 July 2017, where there will be an impressive range of over 200 draught drinks: all the varieties you can think of, and them some. Enjoy the atmosphere and the live music too.

Refined Pursuits

There are other events in Derby if a more cerebral and laid back night out is called for don’t forget to book up for an audience with the supremely popular TV scientist Professor Brian Cox, in which the world’s foremost scientific communicator will take you on a trip through space and time.

And for the cultured theatre goers amongst us Derby Theatre has a fulsome year of engaging productions to stimulate and entice. From well know favourites such as Educating Rita in February and Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey in April to more challenging offerings such as Betrayal by Lekan Lawal in March.

This list just gives a flavour of what events in Derby to expect in 2017, which is shaping up to be a really packed year for those of us who want to get out and about and have a fun time in our wonderful and exciting city.

Markeaton Park Fair

What is it: Come one, come all! Markeaton Park will be buzzing this month with all the fun of the fair – including traditional fairground rides, games and prize stalls. Entrance to the park is FREE and as well as tons of attractions, there’ll also be hot food and drink on offer.

Where is it: Markeaton Park, Kedleston Road

When is it: Thursday 7th August to Sunday 19th August, opens at 1pm daily.

What you can expect: A lively atmosphere and tons of fun for absolutely everybody. Perfect for getting to know each other for the first time. Find out more here.

Hydrangea Garden Open Day

What is it: A guided tour in the sunshine through the UK’s largest national garden of Hydrangea (that’s a kind of flower, incase you didn’t already know). There’ll also be plenty of other specimens to behold and lots of natural, picturesque locations to enjoy.

Where is it: Terrace Café, Darley Park, Farnworth

When is it: Sunday 10th August, 10am to 4pm

What you can expect: As well as a guided tour, there’ll also be a talk given by curator Peter Smith. So expect an informative and relaxing day, with some beautiful scenery and a few stops at the coffee shop. Find out more here.

Ladies That Lunch

What is it: MixingOut member Julie is organising a a lunchtime get-together for female members only. There’ll be friendly chat, light lunch and perhaps a few cocktails too.

Where is it: Zest, 16D George Street, Friar Gate, Cathedral Quarter

When is it: Saturday 23rd August, 1:30pm

What you can expect: Good company, good food and great conversation. It’s ladies only remember, so no holds barred! Want to get involved? Sign up here.

The Darley Park Concert

What is it: The annual Darley Park Concert returns for another magnificent evening of live orchestral music, rounded off by an exhilarating fireworks display. There’s also a selection of special picnic hampers on offer so you can really make a day of it!

Where is it: Darley Park, Farnworth

When is it: Sunday 31st August, from 6pm onwards.

What you can expect: An evening of joyful, lighthearted class (if there is such a thing). It’s a really relaxed, friendly environment and a great event to meet up and have some fun. Find out more here.

With the success of the recent Made in Leeds festival, and the masses of positive feedback we received from our MixingOut members, we’ve thought long and hard about the types of big events everybody would like to see more of in the future – whilst retaining that friendly element of meeting new people and having lots of fun.

The idea with MixingOut, since the very beginning, has always been to deliver something big and exciting. And now that we’ve got over a thousand members across Leeds, Derby and Wakefield – a great mix of friendly girls and guys who really know how to enjoy themselves – it looks as though that time is now.

We’ve got some great ‘activity-based’ events lined up, including many popular requests such as paint balling, go-karting, archery and even hand gliding! In the mean time, we’ll still be running the usual get-togethers and big nights out. So it’ll be a great opportunity to meet up and get to know each other before attending some of our bigger events.

We know how much fun our bigger events can be, so we want as many people as possible to get involved and really enjoy themselves. And getting to know exactly who you’ll be staring down the barrel of a paintball gun beforehand is a major part of that!

If you’ve always wanted to try something a little different, then come along to one of our regular events posted on our events board for a taste of things to come. Alternatively, if you fancy trying something different but feel a little nervous about not knowing what to expect, then come along and get to know everybody. All our members and event organisers are friendly, welcoming people who just want to have fun – just like you!

Al fresco 

With summer just around the corner, you won’t always feel like sitting inside a steamy cafe and bustling restaurant. Gather yourselves outdoors and meet up for something a little cooler and more refreshing.

There’s always plenty of vendors serving lots of different kinds of foods on the go at this time of year. So why not break the monotony of a busy day at work with some outdoor lunch fun!

Take a look around

A feast for the eyes is still a feast, and for those of you who like a discussion during your lunchtime, you’ll have plenty to talk about with all the interesting works on show.

Museums in busy town centres are often surrounded with quaint little cafes, pubs, and eateries – so there’s always a place to sit down afterwards and grab a bite to eat. It’s the perfect way to fill a lazy afternoon when you feel like trying something different but not too vigorous.

Don’t fancy a museum? Not a problem, just substitute it for something that all of you are interested in – a look around the city and your favourite shop maybe. Just be sure to find time to sit down and enjoy yourselves.

Try something new

Don’t like sushi? How would you know unless you’ve already tried it? Japanese? Mexican? Tapas? Busy shopping centres and food courts are nowadays packed with all sorts of interesting places to sit in and try something new.

And it’s not just the kinds of foreign foods you’re already familiar with from your Friday night takeaways, there’s lots of lunchtime menu variety on offer. So why not take a break from the sarnies and jacket potatoes and try something different.

EVENT ALERT: Ladies That Like to Lunch

On Saturday 10th May MixingOut organiser Andie will be hosting a get together at All Bar One in Leeds, for light lunch, girl talk and cocktails. So if you fancy popping along, sign up here.

]]> https://www.mixingout.com/blog/meet-friends-on-your-lunch/feed/ 0 https://www.mixingout.com/blog/merry-way-meeting-new-friends-got-last-week/ https://www.mixingout.com/blog/merry-way-meeting-new-friends-got-last-week/#respond Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:16:46 +0000 http://mixingout.com/blog/?p=78

It was another merry MixingOut get together last week and a great opportunity for meeting new friends. This time at the Christmas market on Millennium Square in the centre of Leeds. So you can imagine just how merry it was; music, cheer, and plenty of Cherry Honey Mead (more about that later).

December is usually a quiet time for MixingOut, what with all the work parties, last minute shopping, and typical family commitments, but the strength of our success over the past few months proved all too much for people to resist and folk just couldn’t wait to get together for a good old Christmas knees up. Yup, it may have been a little quieter (and a helluva lot colder) but we still had a great time!

With its traditional wooden stalls, carousels, and festive greenery festooned in twinkling colourful lights, the Christmas market in the middle of Leeds’ bustling Millennium Square provided the perfect backdrop for our merry meet up. And what better time than Christmas for meeting new friends?

Along with a lively bunch of regulars, we also had a new member come along, who joined MixingOut only hours before, all of whom were greeted by organiser Francy when they arrived. Actually, Francy was a little late because her train was delayed, but everybody found each other just fine and kept themselves entertained until she arrived.

In between browsing the market stalls and music tents, not to mention sampling copious amounts of what basically tasted like whiskey, cherry and honey, everybody got a quick bite to eat and then carried on the festivities in central Leeds.

Hopped up on mead, we decided to stop at a lively pub called ‘Around the World in 80 Beers’, where we could all have a bit of chat, catch up, get to know the new guy, and listen to some live bands. It was brilliant, and everybody had a great time. After about an hour or so, we made our way to a great little bar called ‘The Living Room’ and stayed there until about two in the morning… with the newcomer wobbling slightly with a 6am start!

You’re probably sitting there thinking that Halloween probably isn’t for you, that it’s  something to celebrate only when you’re 12, but you’d be wrong. Dead wrong.

There are plenty of fun and exciting things to do on the spookiest night of the year, whatever your idea of a great time might be. That’s why more and more people are getting together to meet friends every October, embracing the Halloween spirit, and having a devilishly good time while they’re at it.

So don’t get stuck indoors handing out the treats all night. Take a look at some our MixingOut ideas on making this Halloween a night to remember and try them for yourself.

Find out what your local clubs and bars are putting together

Halloween is perhaps the one night of the year you can stagger home like the walking dead and not look out of place – so if you and your friends are up for a really hectic night out, we’d definitely recommend it. There’s always an event going on that draws a lively crowd to the local cub scene, usually with plenty of  drink offers and other fun stuff to take part in. Here’s a few that have caught out attention:

Where: The Victoria Inn, Derby

What’s going on: Halloween Zombiefication

What to expect: The Victoria Inn is famed for their live music and lively crowds, so this October 31^st they’re hosting a big night of spectacular DJ sets, ranging from French House to Garage. Entry is Free and everyone who dresses up receives a Free ‘blood’ shot at the door. They’ll also be massive bottle of Moet Champagne for the best Halloween costume, horror movies being screened at the bar area and other really fun spooky goings on.

Where: Havana Bar, Wakefield

What’s going on: Monster Mash Up

What to expect: Monday 28^th October is going to be a night packed with ghoulish entertainment, live Dj sets and queue jump for everyone in fancy dress. There’s also going to be some amazing drink offers, including a Jagerbombs for £1 and Vodka mixes for £1.50. There are lots of people already expected to be in attendance, and if you confirm now on their Facebook page you and your friends could be in with a chance of winning a bottle of bubbly.

Where: O2 Academy, Leeds

What’s going on: The Voodoo Halloween Showcase

What to expect: Unprecedented Halloween entertainment, expect huge crowds, great music and a lively atmosphere. It’s going to be a very popular event to meet friends, have a drink with your mates and party till the sun comes up.

Fancy trying something a little different?

For those of you who’d rather leave the clubbing until the weekend and your werewolf costume in the closet, there’s still plenty of activities where you can get together, meet people and take part in the Halloween fun. Here are just a few on offer:

Where: Stockeld Park, Leeds

What’s going on: The Magic of Fright Night

What to expect: A mile long ghost walk through the haunted forest at Stockeld Park, full of spooky goings on, interesting facts and tons of other scary surprises along the way. If you and you and your friends are up for something very out there this Halloween, then it’s definitely worth checking out. Be prepared to be scared!

Where: Espresso Bar, Leeds

What’s going on: Halloween Film Night

What to expect: Immerse yourself in a spooky screening of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissor hands at the Espresso Bar, which will transformed into a scary, but stylish haunt for the evening. They’ll also be a trick-or-treat welcome drink for everyone who attends and tasty three course dinner included in the ticket price.

Where: Beaver Works, Leeds

What’s going on: Halloween in Space

What to expect: As well as the standard Halloween party rooms, Beaver Works are also hosting an all-night LaserQuest event for those of you who feel like getting together and taking part in a friendly-come-competitive game  of laser tag. Expect fun and mayhem in equal proportions, and plenty of banter too.

Has this inspired you to head out this Halloween and tear things like a monster? Be sure to check with the MixingOut community for more great ideas to try this Halloween and let us know know what you’re doing.