Calling all residents of the mill communities of Darley Abbey, Belper and Cromford. Would you like to take part in the 2026 Living Advent Calendars?

A living calendar involves specially decorating a window in your property to be illuminated between 4pm and 10.30pm in the evening. The fist window is ‘opened’ on the 1^st of December with a new window lit each day until the 24^th December.

Windows are lit from your opening day, up to and including the 1^st January making a living advent calendar that can be enjoyed by walking around the community and also shared online on our website and on social media.

This year it is 25 years since the Derwent Valley Mills became a World Heritage Site and we’re having living advent calendars in Darley Abbey, Belper and Cromford to celebrate. On the 13^th December there will be a special window as this is the day that the Derwent Valley Mills, Saltaire and New Lanark were all made World Heritage Sites by UNESCO and we’re celebrating together.

Residents, community groups, shops and businesses are all welcome! You can find out more and sign up here.