The first vegan market of 2021 is finally taking place in Rochdale this weekend.
It’s been a long time coming, but now that restrictions on mass gatherings and events have been lifted earlier this week, the Greater Manchester town will welcome its first market of the year dedicated to plant-based, vegan, ethical and sustainable lifestyles this Saturday.
Organised and hosted by Vegan Market Co – a popular events company known for bringing together a new wave of artisan producers and making vegan innovations accessible to the masses – the Rochdale Vegan Market will take over the town centre’s picturesque retail and leisure destination, Riverside, and feature up to 30 stalls.
There’s set to be a huge variety of vegan street food, artisan savouries, sweet bakes, craft cheeses, handmade cosmetics, ethical clothing and jewellery, arts and crafts, plastic-free goods, and charity stands.
Rochdale Vegan Market is dedicated to plant-based, vegan and sustainable lifestyles / Credit: Vegan Market Co
Ahead of the event this weekend, Lewis Beresford – founder of Vegan Market Co – told the MEN that local and independent businesses are at the heart of what the market is about, adding: “We are so excited to be in Rochdale for the first time.
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“We work hard to find the country’s leading vegan producers – from street food vendors and bakers, to ethical clothing and cosmetic producers.
“We can’t wait to give all of these fantastic producers the platform they deserve and introduce them to the wonderful people of Rochdale.”
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There’s set to be a huge variety of vegan street food, artisan savouries and sweet bakes / Credit: Vegan Market Co
All created by a handpicked selection of “talented, ethical, and sustainable” businesses / Credit: Vegan Market Co
Up to 1,200 visitors are expected at the event this weekend, according to Vegan Market Co.
As well as working hard to connect the growing sustainable, ethical and vegan population with independent, pioneering and eco-focused companies, Vegan Market Co says it’s doing its bit for the climate crisis by “offsetting the carbon footprint from each event”, and planting a tree for every business that takes part.
Rochdale Vegan Market
Saturday 24 July 2021
Riverside Rochdale
10am – 4pm
Featured Image – Vegan Market Co
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Festive food village announced at magical Manchester light trail
Lydia Mastrolonardo
There’s just one month to go until Manchester’s most spectacular festive light trail returns – and they’ve just announced details of the Christmas Village and six new food traders.
Heaton Park will soon light up forNorthern Lights Manchester, and the list of foodies making up this year’s Christmas Village has just been revealed.
With everything from chargrilled souvlaki to handmade pies and hot fruit crumble on the menu, there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Brand new for 2026 is Chicken Hut, serving up the crispiest chicken tenders you’ve ever had, plus Greek Traditional Souvlaki bringing all of those delicious mediterranean flavours, The Lids & Co supplying mouthwatering customisable pies, and The Otley Burger Company, which was recently crowned the UK’s best food truck.
The above savoury offerings will be joined by the returning well-known and loved, The Sausage Factory, serving festive bratwurst, currywurst, and proper local Bury Black Pudding sausage.
If you’re after a sweet treat, they have enlisted Crumble & Custard to supply a range of warming fruit crumbles with creamy custard, while Crepes & Coffee will be providing all of the desserts you could desire, along with gorgeous hot chocolates providing the final nail in the food coma coffin.
If after all that you need a sit down, a pint or a mulled wine, the Bees Knees Tavern is the place to go.
Emma St. Croix, Senior Marketing Manager at From The Fields, said: “There’s something very festive about finishing a trip through Christmases past with a hot crumble and custard.
The linup for Northern Lights’ festive food village has been announcedThe Bees Knees pub will returnYou can warm up here after your walk around the Heaton Park light trail
“Food is a big part of the night out at Northern Lights, and we’re excited to welcome six new traders plus The Sausage Factory and the Bees Knees Tavern from last year.With the Ferris wheel in the Christmas Village and a whole new trail across Heaton Park, there’s plenty to explore this year. We’re just over a month from opening and can’t wait to see everyone back.”
As for the trail itself – Heaton Park is to be transformed into a toy box of memories, with 15 brand-new installations, inspired by the toys and traditions that would have topped Christmas wish lists in the past.
Whether you fancy a trip down memory lane or you just fancy a wintery trip out, one thing is for certain, this is one Christmas experience you don’t want to miss out on.
First, visitors will have the opportunity to wander along the colourful path, as part of the Walkway of Wonder, where bright stained-glass panels glow like windows in an old fairytale. Then back to the sixties you go, down Lava Lamp Lane, where glowing blobs of colour mesmerisingly float across the ground and into the trees – which may even be enough to inspire you to dig out that old lava lamp you once had collecting dust on your shelf.
If you once considered yourself a pro at Scalextric, the Retro Racers installation may bring back some memories, where visitors will be able to send lights shooting around a giant racetrack.
Northern Lights Manchester will return next monthNorthern Lights Manchester is taking over Heaton Park
By this point you may need a bit of warming up – head on past the giant nutcrackers and get cosy by the fire pits beneath the festoon lights, for some marshmallow toasting.
Don’t be alarmed if you see giant candy canes marching along Candy Cane Crossing, like Manchester’s biggest peppermint dream, before you reach O Christmas Tree which would make the perfect spot for a photo.
I’m sure we all remember THE Christmas catalogue – the one many of us spent hours flicking thorough and circling our desired gifts? Well, this year pupils from a local primary school have filled its pages with their own fantastic drawings of classic toys.
Finally, you will find that the Lakehouse winds itself into cuckoo-clock as the trail comes to a close.
It is important to note the route is fully accessible, with dedicated neuro-inclusive evenings when visitor numbers are reduced by 75% and audio levels are lowered throughout.
Event information
Dates: 19 November – 31 December 2026
Location: Heaton Park, Manchester
Opening times:
4:30pm – 8:15pm (19–26 November)
4:15pm – 8:15pm (27 November – 31 December)
Northern Lights Manchester tickets
Unsurprisingly, tickets are selling quickly, with over 100,000 of you expected to attend this year – don’t hang about.
Under 2s go free
Child tickets (3-16 years) from £13.50
Adult tickets from £19.50
Family tickets from £60
Click HERE to book your tickets. Use the code LIGHTS20 for 20% off until 31 October 2026
An Interstellar Live in Concert show is coming to Manchester, with a live orchestra
Daisy Jackson
Arguably the most epic film of all time – with the most epic of soundtracks – is coming to Manchester as a live concert experience.
Interstellar Live will see the Manchester Camerata performing Hans Zimmer’s iconic score on stage, while Christopher Nolan’s Oscar-winning film plays out behind them.
Demand has been so high for the show in London that there’ll be TWO performances at the Co-op Live in Manchester.
The sci-fi epic Interstellar will be presented on the big screen at the arena, accompanied by a live orchestral performance of the score.
Interstellar Live will have both a matinee and an evening performance on 9 May 2027.
The concert will bring together Manchester Camerata, acclaimed conductor Martin Gellner, as well as Roger Sayer, the organist personally selected by Zimmer to perform the original Interstellar soundtrack.
It’s set to be an arena-scale celebration of one of the most acclaimed films and film scores of the 21st century.
Interstellar Live. Credit: Supplied, Suzy Red
The plot follows Academy Award-winner Matthew McConaughey as ex-pilot-turned-farmer Cooper, as he leaves his family and planet Earth to discover whether mankind has a future among the stars.
The film also stars Anne Hathaway, Sir Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain and Casey Affleck.
Interstellar was named one of the top ten movies of 2014 and received five Academy Award nominations including Best Visual Effects, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Score.
Interstellar Live will be at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Sunday 9 May 2027, with a matinee performance from 12.30pm and an evening performance from 6pm.
Tickets go on general sale this Friday 23 October HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd July 2021 
