DERBY MARKET HALL TO HOST FREE LARA CROFT DAY FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY
[ 19 October 2026 ]
Derby Market Hall will host a free Lara Croft Day as part of the city's programme of events marking the 30th anniversary of Tomb Raider, Derby City Council has announced. Organised in association with Tomb Raider Derby, the event will feature creative workshops, retro gaming activities and an evening dance party.
Artcore will host archaeology-themed craft workshops from 11am to 2pm, allowing visitors to create and decorate clay artefacts, fossils, amulets and clay tiles. Derby Computer Museum will provide original gaming hardware throughout the day, including PCs from the 1990s and early 2000s, a PlayStation 1 featuring Tomb Raider I, Tomb Raider II and Tomb Raider III, and a PlayStation 2 running Tomb Raider Anniversary. The programme will conclude with Tomb Raver, an evening dance party hosted by DJ Rosco from 5pm to 10pm, featuring music from the 1990s.
The event coincides with preparations to install a statue of Lara Croft at Derby Market Hall following a fundraising campaign. The character was created by Derby-based developer Core Design, which released the original Tomb Raider in 1996. Other anniversary activities in Derby include TR30 - Tomb Raider Day at QUAD, a ticketed event featuring guest panels, autograph sessions and photo opportunities.
Pickford's House is also hosting Lara Croft: 30 Years On - From Derby to Global Icon, an exhibition co-curated with collector Luke Earle. It features original Tomb Raider development materials on loan from former Core Design developers, memorabilia, collectables, interactive activities and themed cosplay days. The exhibition runs until 28 November 2026.
