It’s the most wonderful time of the year – and we’ve got a real selection box of events and markets to match.
Before that, though, we’ve got a sparkling November lineup to get you off to a cracking start with your shopping. But, more than that, Independent Street’s special Christmas events are the perfect way to start feeling the Christmas spirit.
Now, if you’ve enjoyed an Independent Street event already, you’ll know we’re different. Our traders are predominantly about handmade, artisan, fair-trade or vintage goods, though we do accept a few stalls like deli, carefully curated fashion brands and home interiors – it’s all about the balance, for the benefit of our visitors AND our traders. We try not to overlap traders much either – so no two stalls should be showcasing the same things. Nobody enjoys same old, same old at markets or fayres, and we want all our artisans to shine.
Christmas Time; Mistletoe and Wine…
So, wrap up warm – yes, let’s see those matching bobble hat, scarf and mitten ensembles – and step into Christmas or come walking in a winter wonderland. Possibly a ride in a one-horse open sleigh would be a bit much – though if we can sort it, we’ll certainly consider it! Start your Christmas right at our carefully curated and painstakingly planned events throughout Cheshire, Lancashire and Manchester. Browse around delectable artisan foods and drinks, locally sourced produce, totally original crafts, handmade treasures, and unique artwork to find all the inspiration you need for your Christmas presents.
Christmas is magical. Lights and decorations, Christmas trees, beautifully wrapped gifts or stockings, songs, traditional carols, mulled wine or snowballs. Come December, Christmas spirit is sprinkled everywhere, like glitter!
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
At any Independent Street event, you can immerse yourself in the welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. However, our special Christmas events take that further, with the Christmas spirit scattered liberally. Merrily while away a few hours enjoying everything we have to offer: an Independent Street market is no ubiquitous craft fair or generic school fair type thing. Independent Street is so much more than just shopping, too – this is a belter of a day out – for everyone. Santa’s little helpers (yep, that’s us) work very hard to ensure that.
So, let’s start early, and open the metaphorical doors of the Independent Street Advent calendar. Every single door will reveal a tempting array of treats (and a heavenly host of talented traders) for you:
Warrington: Christmas Artisan Markets, 23rd and 24th November
We all start feeling a little bit festive towards the end of November, don’t we? In fact, that’s when it’s ok to start playing Christmas music. Go on, what’s your first and favourite tune of the season? Band Aid? Wham? Or one of those all-time classic 70s bangers? Join us for the Warrington Christmas Weekend on the 23rd and November 24th. The Saturday will run from 10 am until 7pm, and you can enjoy all the Sunday has to offer from 11am until 5pm. We’re proud to be the chosen Artisan Market provider of Warrington Bid and Warrington Council for their Christmas Winter Wonderland!
So, come walking in a (Warrington) Winter Wonderland and experience not just the captivating Christmas markets but also a whole programme of activities, entertainment and workshops.
Congleton: Christmas Light Switch On, November 29th
We’ve collaborated with Congleton Town Council and Congleton Market Quarter to deliver a fantastic, festive event for the town. As well as our artisan market, we’re really bringing the Christmas spirit. There’ll be a magical Santas Grotto, live music and all sorts of entertainment across TWO stages! There’ll be lots more, including a Christmassy parade, plus steel and brass bands. And let’s be honest, there’s nothing quite as Christmassy as a brass band playing carols. Oh, Come All Ye Faithful…
We can’t wait to see Congleton transformed into a winter wonderland for the festive season….We can almost smell the mulled wine!
Frodsham: Christmas Market, November 30th
We’re as full of Christmas cheer as granny’s eggnog to have teamed up with the fabulous Christmas in Frodsham team. We’ll bring artisan stalls and boxes and boxes of Christmas cheer to Main Street, and the tantalising street food arena to the Brio Leisure Centre Car Park.
Get Christmas started in style: as well as our artisan stalls there’ll be TWO main stages, a proper parade – with road closure in place, community lantern making, Santa’s grotto, snow globe, talented choirs, live music performances, and a few surprises, too. Christmas surprises are the BEST!
Chorlton Green: Artisan Market November 30th
This lovely, intimate community market of around 20 hand-picked traders is regularly held on the last Saturday of the month, from 11am – 5pm.
Settled handily on the road, just in front of the Horse & Jockey Pub and punctuated by the pretty trees lining Chorlton Green. Come and discover our delightful hidden gem of a market – Cholton’s best-kept secret – in the heart of the Beech Road community. Although not a specific Christmas event, there are sure to be lots of lovely treats to choose from and gifts to kick-start your Christmas shopping.
Burnley: Christmas Artisan Market December 7th
With Burnley Council and the Burnley BID, Independent Street can’t WAIT for the Christmas edition of their popular monthly market. Independent Street Markets are the perfect way to shop small and support local for your Christmas gifts – bringing people into discover the small indies in the town, as well as EIGHTY local Lancashire producers showcasing the best food, drink, art and craft, plus street food and live music all to get the Christmas cheer diffusing everywhere and a brilliant, lively atmosphere in the town.
As ever, there will be something for everyone. From entertainment and tasty treats, with unique products and gift shopping – a great way to spend your weekend.
Birchwood: Christmas Artisan Market December 7th
Our regular Birchwood Independent Street market is always a fantastic day of food, drink, art and craft shopping and this one’s sure to have a festive feel.
Bringing small, independent businesses to Birchwood Shopping Centre in Warrington, the Birchwood Artisan Market will host 50 fabulous stallholders. There’ll be talented live musicians adding plenty of atmosphere and entertainment to keep the children busy, too.
Prestbury: Christmas Fair December 8th
Together with the Prestbury Parish Council we can’t wait to bring this beautiful festive event back to the high street.
Come to pretty Prestbury, the quintessential English village, for a feast of Christmas fun and shopping. Already a lovely and leafy, Prestbury will be transformed into a magical, festive wonderland. All your favourite Christmas songs and carols performed by brass bands and church choirs, twinkling lights as far as the eye can see and mulled wine. It’s beginning to look a lot like THE perfect Christmas day out. Discover award-winning food and drink producers, talented crafters and local artists, and enjoy everything this charming village has to offer.
Meander around almost a hundred festive artisan stalls and sample the best of local Cheshire producers and crafters, plus enjoy live music entertainment, a traditional fairground on Bridge Green, bell ringers and much, much more. Step into Christmas, Prestbury-style.
Newcastle-under-Lyme: Winter Fest December 14th
After the rip-roaring success of our first events earlier this year we are so excited to be back with a festive edition! We’ll transform Newcastle’s historic Ironmarket into a jumbo selection box of festive flavours and fragrances, and Christmassy sounds and sights – just a real hive of Christmas activity.
Once again, we’ll be working with Newcastle under Lyme BID and Newcastle Under Lyme Council. Join us for a Christmas Spectacular, our Christmas Night Market packed full of yuletide treats for all. There’ll be free children’s Christmas craft activities, live music, Christmas carols and keep your eyes peeled for a few special surprise visitors…
Chorlton Green: Artisan Market, December 14th
We’re back to Chorlton for another chance to enjoy the regular artisan market with all the best gifts and goodies from our hand-picked traders. Spend an hour or two with us and choose all sorts of lovely treats and treasures, from 11am – 5pm.
Find us right by the Horse & Jockey Pub.
Middleton: Christmas Market, December 15th
We’re bringing the Christmas spirit to the event space by Middleton Gardens, right in the heart of the vibrant shopping community. Working alongside the Middletown Town Centre Management team we can’t wait to unwrap this festive event – and then continue into next year!
Expect the wonderful array of foodies, artisans, crafters and local producers synonymous with Independent Street, as well as live music and craft activities for little ones. Independent Street Christmas events are the perfect way to enjoy your Christmas Shopping AND a superb Christmas day out for the family.
Poynton: Christmas Market, December 15th
Building on the success and popularity of the inaugural Poynton Independent Street market, our festive Christmas Extravaganza promises magic and sparkle for all our visitors – as well as the incredible Karamba Drummers. Bringing the best indie traders, artisans, crafters, food and drink creators THIS is the perfect Poynton opening to the Christmas season proper.
Great Sankey: Christmas Market December 21st
Our year ends with a wonderful Christmas Market in Great Sankey. This event is one of our oldest established markets and showcases 70 of Warrington’s finest Makers, Bakers, Artists and small business producers. December’s event features a Circus Workshop, live music and carol singers to finish off the year in true style. Great Sankey Market was launched over 3 years ago, alongside the Great Sankey Parish Council and each month attracts visitors from far and wide.
Frodsham: Artisan Market December 21st
So, by now, it really IS beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere we go. Our closing Christmas events of the year offer the chance to catch up on shopping – or do it all at one go if you’re a last minuter. Alternatively, you can treat YOURSELF after a busy few weeks and enjoy them as great days out and relax into a merry Christmas!
We Wish You a Merry Christmas, We Wish You a Merry Christmas…
And with that, we wrap up a fantastic year. Remember to shop local and support independent traders wherever you can. It really DOES make a difference – and gives you the chance to gift something really special. That’s what Independent Street events are all about: bringing people into town and village centres, showcasing the shops and businesses there, and shining a spotlight on the little guys, too. Pretty sure that by the 21st of December, we’ll have wished you a merry Christmas in a myriad of different ways so all that’s left is to wish you the happiest New Year. See you in 2025!
