BEFORE AUTUMN grips the city, St Ann's Square is to follow-up its first spring markets with an eighteen-day summer markets festival this September.
"Featuring an array of vintage fashion, delicious artisan food products and a packed programme of music the square will be the perfect place to enjoy the final days of the summer."
Running from Wednesday 3 to Sunday 21 September the Summer Festival of Markets will feature free live music performances, a vintage tea garden, a pavement café and bar.
The focal point of the square will be The Orangery, a marquee which will house a bar and a variety of tabletop stalls from small local businesses showcasing a selection of bespoke handmade products.
St Ann's Square
Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Councillor for Culture and Leisure said: “This September the Summer Festival of Markets will bring a lively, vibrant atmosphere to St Ann’s Square.
“Featuring an array of vintage fashion, delicious artisan food products and a packed programme of music the square will be the perfect place to enjoy the final days of the summer.
“With such a wide variety of events and stalls it will definitely be worth more than one visit to see what’s changed and enjoy the charms of The Orangery, vintage tea gardens or the pavement café bar .”
The festival’s markets will change across the three week duration:
Wednesday 3 to Monday 8 September: Artists, designers and craft specialist will be offering visitors to St Ann’s Square the chance to pick up unique gifts at the Arts and Crafts Markets.
Wednesday 3 September:The Orangery will be taken over by local charity Emmaus Mossley, who offer a home and work to previously homeless and unemployed people. The charity will be selling a selection of furniture, books and bric-a-brac.
Monday 8 to Wednesday 10 September: The Rinascente Gallery, a Stockport based charity who provide supported accommodation and work opportunities to people with broken lives and long-term unemployment issues, will exhibit their bespoke renovated furniture.
Tuesday 9 to Saturday 14 September: Some of the North West’s best food producers will come together creating a traditional open air market for the Artisans and Produce Market.
Tuesday 15 to Sunday 21 September: Vintage Fashion Week will also take place in St Ann’s Square. It's to feature vintage and designer markets along with fashion shows in The Orangery and a kilo sale (where savy-shoppers can buy clothes by weight).
Markets across the festival period will be open from 10am to 5.30pm. Bars, with live entertainment, will be open until 9pm. See Manchester City Council website for more details.
