There’s a brand new artisan market event that’s gearing up to arrive in Ashton-under-Lyne in only a matter of weeks.
The Market Co – an established operator already well-known across Greater Manchester for hosting other market events in Urmston and Haigh Woodland Park, as well as in Wilmslow, Northwich and Chesterfield – will host its first, highly-anticipated Ashton Artisan Market at Market Square later this month.
It’s hoped that the markets will breathe new life into Ashton town centre as it emerges and bounces back from the effects of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The event is set to take place on the last Saturday of every month.
Nearly 100 of the “very finest artisan market traders” will be lining the square to offer a high-quality range of authentic goods with an emphasis on all that is “local, ethical and original”, so whether you’re after something for tea, a gift for a friend, a treat for someone special or simply stocking up on essentials that you can’t get anywhere else, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for.
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“There’s nothing else like what we do in the area at the moment,” said Denise Valente, Director at The Market Co.
“We are encouraging traders from Tameside to get involved, as well as some from our other markets [and] we are trying to keep things as local as possible”.
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So, what can we expect then?
According to The Market Co website, the Ashton Artisan Market is set to be a “magnificent spectacle” that gives visitors an opportunity to browse stalls, taste the culinary treats, talk to artists, vintage dealers and designer-makers, or sample some the hot authentic street food whilst being entertained by local musicians.
Denise continued: “All the products have to meet our quality criteria and everything has to be handmade by the artisan that is selling it, whether that’s scones and bread, or jewellery and arts.
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“We are also going to bring in some really exciting street food and local musicians, and it should be a really nice atmosphere and a good addition to the events taking place in Tameside as we move out of lockdown”.
Denise – who has been running artisan markets for the past 10 years – also admits that there was a real enthusiasm from Tameside Council to launch the event in Ashton, and she believes that it will give the town centre a much-needed boost.
“High streets need people to return to them,” she added.
“Especially after the pandemic when people are going to be wary, so we need to give them a good reason to come”.
“All the traders will have masks and there are extensive sanitary regulations they have to adhere to, we also encourage full social distancing for traders and customers, and for the public to wear face masks [too]
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“We will also have free-standing hand sanitiser stations.
“We want people to feel comfortable to come to the event and for traders to feel safe”.
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The first Ashton Artisan Market will take place on Saturday 24th April, with the event continuing to run on the last Saturday of every month throughout 2021.
The event will run from 10am – 4pm.
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You can find more information about traders, location, and COVID safety measures here.
Featured Image – The Market Co / Aberrant Perspectives
What's On
Rochdale’s incredible fire festival will bring blazing sculptures and fiery displays to town this month
Daisy Jackson
Rochdale will be filled with dazzling pyrotechnic displays later this month when the Ignite Fire Festival returns to town.
The spectacular free event will see the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town Hall – which reopened to the public earlier this year – transformed with fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations.
The smash hit event debuted last year, attracting more than 10,500 people, and this year’s will be even bigger with three nights of magical family entertainment.
And the festival will culminate on the Sunday with the Rochdale Christmas lights switch-on.
Ignite Fire Festival comes from Walk the Plank, the outdoor arts specialists behind some of the UK’s biggest and best outdoor arts events, who have called upon artists and pyro technicians to create the many installations on show.
Between 5pm and 8pm each night, visitors will be able to walk past fire-based sculptures like goblets of fire, a daisy chain of flaming flowers, a fire bird with blazing eyes, and smaller birds circling a flaming nest – to name just a few.
There’ll also be sculptures that twist, flap and erupt with balls of fire, and ‘In The Balance’ will be a festival highlight, where rotating globes of flame seemingly defy the laws of physics.
Ignite Fire Festival is back in Rochdale this month. Credit: Supplied
Each evening, a fire drawing designed and made by local residents will be ignited alongside flaming hot performances from some of the UK’s top talent including Flame Oz – a thrilling fire dancing and juggling show.
There’ll also be performances from Liverpool’s Bring the Fire Project, local favourites Skylight Circus Arts, and street theatre and interactive arts group Travelling Light Circus.
Visitors should look out for Drum Machine, a 20-strong drumming collective, The Fire Man Dave performing a live fire show with fire eating and juggling, and Astro Aliens, a trio of cosmic beings that will entertain all ages.
The incredible event, sponsored by car supermarket The Trade Centre UK, is set to take place between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 November.
Ignite Fire Festival takes place in the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town HallThere’ll be performers as well as pyrotechnic sculptures. Credit; SuppliedIgnite Fire Festival is back for a second year. Credit: Supplied
After exploring the gardens, you’ll be able to pick up hot food, mulled wine and other seasonal drinks served each night.
On Sunday, Father Christmas will be in town to switch on the Christmas lights at 5.30pm in front of the town hall.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Last year’s Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas Light’s Switch On was a fantastic event and an instant hit with audiences from across Greater Manchester.
“It’s an exciting and unique event and the perfect addition to our big switch-on, providing family entertainment across the weekend.”
Mark Bailey, founder and owner of sponsor Trade Centre UK added: “Our partnership with Ignite Fire Festival and the Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch On is a fantastic opportunity to give back to a community that has welcomed us so warmly.
“At Trade Centre UK, we believe in more than just selling cars; we believe in being part of the fabric of the local area. Supporting events like this, which bring people together to celebrate in the heart of Rochdale, aligns perfectly with our core values of community and connection.”
The event is free, and no tickets are required. Ignite is organised by Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op, a ‘Creative People and Places’ programme, funded by Arts Council England.
Find out more and plan your visit to Ignite Fire Festival HERE.
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 18 – 24 November 2024
Emily Sergeant
Who’s ready for another week filled with festivities?
The most wonderful time of the year is fast approaching, so as you can imagine, there’s absolutely no shortage of Christmas-themed activities for the whole family to be getting up to across Greater Manchester throughout this week.
Finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though?
We’ve chosen a few of the best bits for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide, so here’s some of our recommendations.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2024
Manchester City Centre
Monday 18 November – Sunday 22 December
Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 / Credit: Manchester City Council | Flickr
Manchester Christmas Markets are now back open for 2024.
The iconic annual event is an absolute staple in Manchester’s festive events calendar, and always draws in thousands of visitors from all across the globe – with hundreds of stalls across several sites all lining the streets of our city centre.
Visitors are able to tuck into a wide range of festive foods and drinks, and shop for Christmas gifts from countless independent traders.
Find out everything you need to know about Manchester Christmas Markets 2024 here.
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Skate Manchester 2024
Cathedral Gardens
Monday 18 November – onwards
Skate Manchester 2024 / Credit: Matt Eachus (via Supplied)
What’s a festive season in the city without Skate Manchester?
Back once again for 2024, Skate Manchester is festive staple, and this year, skaters can glide across a gleaming ice path and spin around a dazzling seven-metre Christmas tree taking centre stage in the middle of the rink.
Families, friends, and festive fun seekers will be able to enjoy the sights and sounds of Christmas whatever the weather has in store for our city this year too, as although the rink will be outdoors in the heart of Cathedral Gardens, the ice is fully covered.
Bar Hütte’s legendary karaoke cabins are back in Manchester once again.
Bringing Alpine vibes, cosy furnishings, twinkling lights, live music sessions, and flowing drinks to two city centre locations from this Thursday onwards, dozens of cosy private hüttes neatly-positioned under twinkling lights are now open down at both Kampus and Great Northern Square.
There’s also a handful of other events on the lineup throughout the festive season, including live music and DJs, wreath making workshops, and movie nights.
A brand-new festive light trail has arrived in Greater Manchester for the winter, transforming the hidden Wilderspool Woods at the Trafford Centre into a twinkling wonderland.
The 4.5-acre event running until early 2025 has brought dozens of jaw-dropping light and interactive illuminations to the woods, filling paths and treetops with festive magic, from giant overhead shooting stars to huge illuminated presents.
The magnificent grounds of Tatton Park have been transformed into a ‘glittering winter adventure’ for the festive season.
Families will be whisked away into a world of folklore, enchantment, and enthralling performances as they enter the gardens of the stunning Tatton Park in Cheshire for an immersive, festival-like experience known as Yuletide.
Organisers say the captivating event promises to be a “truly magical experience” where folklore stories come to life through storytelling and live music.
The Oast House’s legendary Christmas has returned to Spinningfields for the festive season.
Bound to be popular spot for locals and those who’ve finished a hard day at work during the colder months, The Teepee officially reopened last week and is made up of three tents joined together with a huge open hub, complete with two roaring fires, twinkling fairy lights, faux fur throws.
After proving to be a huge success in 2023, the magical Land of Lights has returned to Gulliver’s World once again, and this year features all-new lanterns inspired by the wonders of nature, leading visitors around a twinkling wonderland filled with light and colour.
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With a WonderWild theme, the breathtaking spectacle over in Warrington has a unique blend of “animal-inspired artistry with a fantastical twist”.
The Grotto at the Trafford Centre / Credit: Supplied
The main man is making our northern city his new home at one of Greater Manchester’s biggest shopping centres this winter time.
Starting in this Saturday and running all the way up until Christmas Eve, Santa is swapping the cold air of the North Pole for the cloudy skies of Manchester, as he starts his annual journey around the world by making a visit to our region.
Not only is Santa travelling with his grotto, he’s also giving visitors the chance to experience the world of the North Pole as he brings the chilly destination to the Trafford Centre.
A brand-new festive hub has arrived in Spinningfields, and you’ll be able to visit a new ice rink, drink cocktails in a snow globe-like rooftop dome, and get merry in a yurt.
Winter Assembly at Courts Club is home to the city’s newest, fully-independent ice rink, On Ice, as well as lots of different food traders serving up winter gyros from Lucky Gyros, festive grilled cheeses, boozy hot chocolate, German BBQ specials, and so much more.
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake / Credit: Lowry | New Adventures
Matthew Bourne’s rule-breaking reinvention of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, Swan Lake, is back on stage in Greater Manchester this week.
This world-renowned production – which is known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a menacing male ensemble – first premiered almost 30 years ago, but it will take flight once more in a major new revival for the next generation, with The Lowry being one of the stops on its major UK tour.
Described as being “thrilling, bold, witty, and emotive”, it’s time to turn tradition on its head, and this is not one to miss.
Rochdale town centre is hosting its very own festive-themed Fire Festival this weekend, and it’s completely free to visit.
Taking place from this Friday leading up to the Christmas lights switch-on on Sunday, Ignite will be transforming the gardens opposite Rochdale Town Hall into a flamed-fuelled spectacular, with three free night-time shows delivering a magical trail of fire, lights, and entertainment for all the family.
There will also be hot food, mulled wine, and other seasonal drinks available to buy.
Christmas Screenings at King Street Townhouse / Credit: KSTH
Elf, Love Actually, and Home Alone are just some of the classic Christmas films hitting the big screen at a hidden cinema in Manchester.
Film fans looking for some wholesome festive fun are being invited to get themselves down to one of Manchester’s most popular hotels, King Street Townhouse, in the run-up to the big day itself, as it’s very-own exclusive cinema will be screening a jam-packed lineup of fan-favourite festive films over the next couple of weeks.
East Lancashire Railway’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas.
Running right through until Christmas Eve, ELR’s ‘Santa Specials’ are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make “enchanted memories” that last a lifetime.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West, and there’s still some tickets left available.
Music of the Movies / Credit: The Bridgewater Hall | Kazuo Ota (via Unsplash)
Call yourself a cinephile? This is your chance to experience the epic and inspirational music from the worlds of TV, film, and fantasy brought to life by a full symphony orchestra and stunning choir at The Bridgewater Hall.
This unmissable concert features some of the greatest movie music of all time, including The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Avatar, and loads more.
Emily Sergeant -
7th April 2021 
