Ding dong merrily on high, in Levy the bells are ringing
Levenshulme Market has survived the c-word, been crowned the Best Small Outdoor Market of 2020, and stayed committed to supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, all whilst staying humble and thriving in one of our fave ‘burbs. Now that all things turkey and twinkly lights are incoming, it has also announced a packed Christmas calendar filled with markets, mixtapes and three-minute portraits.
With three festive weekend markets running throughout December, Levenshulme Market offers the perfect community-based alternative to the chaos of corporate Christmas tat. Designed to big-up your favourite locals, the markets will run on Saturday 4 December and Saturday 11 December from 10am-4pm, with a final night market taking place from 5 til 9pm on Friday 17 December.
I made you a Christmas Mixtape
Andy Burnham swerved spending his 2020 Xmas hosting secret lockdown soirees and instead made Levy Markets a mixtape filled with his favourite timeless tunes and Xmas belters. Said to “encompass choice indie cuts and classic Christmas cheese”, Burnham’s bangers were then played at the Levy markets throughout December as well as being made available for people to listen to at home, and have now inspired the likes of Hacienda legend Dave Haslam to make his very own for 2021.
Levy Markets’ answer to Desert Island Discs will be played as the soundtrack to each of its three volunteer-led Xmas events. Dave Haslam's is the first to grace the market airwaves with the two subsequent mixtape makers announced in the run-up to each market.
Draw me like one of your Manc girls
Back by popular demand, the Three Minute Portraits project is also returning this year with a number of local artists sketching quick portraits of market-goers for just three quid per pic. Playing host to local artists such as Laurie Pink and Lisa Payne of House of Payne, the project allows customers to cop a quick sketch of themselves, their children, their pets etc. to frame and hang in pride of place.
Gifts, food, and all the good stuff
Each of the December Levy Markets will feature nearly fifty stalls of unique, handmade, and homegrown Christmas prezzies including ceramics, soaps, skincare, and small-batch spirits. The food on offer is also set to be pretty special with Nepalese momos from The Little Yeti (which gained a special shoutout in our best dishes for July 2021), sourdough pizza from Rise, a German sausage swing stall and some West African goodness from Gwafuvegan, as well as loads of other Manc-based vendors.
A Christmas market without copious amounts of hot alcohol would be alost criminal, so Levy has also got you covered with The Levenshulme Market Bar set to serve up beers, wine, cocktails, and the odd mug of hot cider for good measure. If you feel like carrying on the party back at your place, you can also purchase take-home goods from Winter Tarn Dairy, Vinobuono, DevilDog Sauces, and HMPasties.
That’s Entertainment
If home-grown foodstuffs, Hacienda mixtapes, and a portrait of your pooch don’t tick all of your festive boxes, a range of performances from Levenshulme Community Choir and the Manchester University Opera Society should get your cockles appropriately warmed. Games, puzzles and challenges for all ages will also be provided by Around the Box, and a magic mix of tricks and illusions will come courtesy of the Science Buskers.
The Levenshulme Christmas Markets will take place on Saturday 4 December and Saturday 11 December 10-4pm, and Friday 17 December from 5-9pm.
Levenshulme Market, Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3PJ.
Read next: A round-up of Manchester’s Christmas markets 2021
Read again: Top things to do in Manchester for December, Xmas and New Year 2021
Don't miss out
Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email.
