Future Yard // Winter Market // Saturday 10th Dec
The rise in popularity of independent arts and craft markets has been on the up over the last 10 years, and the most popular are always in the build up to the festive celebrations.
Combining the opportunity to find unique gifts, spending time with family and friends, as well as supporting small businesses.
With 3 amazing independent markets taking place in Birkenhead this Saturday - it’s the perfect day for a Christmas shopping trip! Future Yard will be hosting its first Winter Market from 11am-5pm, alongside established offers at Woodside Ferry Terminal and Birkenhead Market.
Providing the perfect stop gap between the two locations, Future Yard is also offering creative workshops with local artists.
The event has been curated with local maker Sanna King who recently organised the Imaginate fundraising event in aid of Saving Ron's Place. With lots of people looking for more markets this year after the major Winter Arts Market at Liverpool Cathedral moved to an online event, leaving a gap in the Christmas calendar. Seeing there were a number of similar events happening in the Wirral on the same weekend it seemed like a good idea to join up the dots and create a great opportunity to showcase Birkenhead as a destination for a festive family day out. "We're not just filling a hole, we're bridging the gap!
There are two more events within walking distance on the same day. So if people are coming over for one, they may as well make a day of it and visit all three, and we're halfway between the others!" "It's crazy how close we are to Liverpool and somehow still overlooked by people as a destination. It would be great if we could bring back the day trip to its heady heights of when 1000s of people used to cross the Mersey to visit our attractions and seaside resorts, like New Brighton and other local landmarks. And not just during the summer months or bank holidays, but all year round." Sanna has lots of experience of organising markets and pop-up events when she was living in London and working as a maker. Involved with events like the London Design Festival, Thames Festival and markets in Camden and Hackney she found it always worked best to collaborate with other independent businesses and artists.
Collectively together they could widen the reach of their combined events, and give people more to see and do when they come to visit a particular area or neighbourhood. At Future Yard from 11am-5pm, as well as the market stalls in the Live Room, there will also be activities across the venue. With local collectives offering a selection of workshops during the day from willow wands to recycled plastic decorations, and a talk from the founder of Style Swap Social, a non-profit fashion initiative that supports victims of sexual violence through partnerships with RASA Merseyside and The Whitechapel Centre.
Bring an old tote bag to screenprint on or an item of clothing to add some festive flair to at the Customisation Station with Wooly Jewels and Fierce Wife Label, in the Yellow Room.
This Side of the Water hosts their regular weekend market at Woodside Ferry with a selection of vendors inside the terminal. Outside are rows of decorated chalets filled with food, drink and crafts for sale, including a grotto and snowman trail for the kids. At Birkenhead Market, Memory Lane Fair has over 40 traders at their annual Christmas Craft and Gift Fair. Amongst the stalls you will also find Convenience Gallery there gathering your memories.
They are asking you to bring along photos and objects and share your stories for their Uncovering Birkenhead’s Working Class History project. All of these events are within a mile of each other with easy access to public transport via bus, train or ferry, all included in a Day Saveaway ticket from Merseytravel.
For more information please contact: Sanna King sannaking@gmail.com 07813809047 https://futureyard.org/listings/winter-craft-market/ @future_yard @thissideofthewater @memorylanefairs @conveniencegallery