Melanin Markets Winter Wonderland at the Royal Exchange
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
This December the halls of the Royal Exchange Theatre will be filled with artisans, crafts people, chefs, artists and producers from across the UK who are coming together to create the Melanin Market Winter Wonderland.
These special editions of the Melanin Markets are a particularly festive feast of Black-owned business and combine the warm feelings of community empowerment with the joy of the festive season. As live music, delicious aromas and good vibes bounce off the historic walls of the Royal Exchange, you’ll find it impossible not to be swept up in the seasonal spirit, whether you’re a solo explorer, heading down to enjoy the atmosphere and eats with a couple of friends, or bringing the whole family.
Stall holders travel from Leeds, Liverpool and London, as well as a strong contingency of Manchester based Black-entrepreneurs. They come together to create a varied, colourful and unexpected collection of lovingly handcrafted items to buy for yourself, or as a totally unique gift for your loved ones at Christmas.
In the dedicated food and drink section you’ll find Manchester locals, expert ginger beverage brewers Root 2 Ginger and the brilliantly experimental fusion food of ARMR. Both these are working on something special just for the event, so be prepared to have your tastebuds wowed. You can also find perfect non-edible gifts for all the family. Experience the love and skill that goes into creating Mélange Dolls, a range of toys that reflect a truly diverse range of global majority ethnicities and mixed-race children.
For those who have a penchant for textiles, visiting the Syaa Collections stall is a must. Their sustainably created accessories are made from West African prints and are a celebration of contemporary and traditional design. There will be no shortage of clothing stalls and in previous years the market’s jewellers have been particularly popular.
You can reserve a free ticket to help the Melanin Markets gauge a rough idea of numbers on the day. The last time the Winter Wonderland came to the Royal Exchange they had over 3000 attendees so it’s worth getting a ticket just to guarantee you can get in. You’ll also be kept up to date with the live musicians playing throughout the event and timings for the afternoon.
