The National Festival of Making: Maker’s Market

Creative Tourist

Visit now

The National Festival of Making: Maker's Market

15-16 June 2019

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Loela
Book now

The UK’s most exciting independent makers gather at King George’s Hall, Blackburn on Sat 15 – Sun 16 June 2019 for The National Festival of Making’s Maker’s Market. Handpicked by expert, maker’s market curators, Hopeful and Glorious, 50 indie traders bring handmade jewellery, homewares, limited run fashion items and affordable art amongst the numerous one-off products all under one roof, for one weekend only. Drawn from across the North West and beyond, visitors can expect hand-poured candles in unusual scents like black pepper, rock and roll jewellery made from retired guitar strings and cushions in the shape of the nation’s favourite biscuits. Supporting entrepreneurship amongst makers and inspiring others, many makers will hosting demonstrations pass on their skills throughout the weekend. Whether learning how to make a lampshade, having a go at screen printing or willow weaving, shoppers may leave with more than they bargained for.

Where to go near The National Festival of Making: Maker’s Market

Blackburn
Music venue
The Exchange, Blackburn

Dating back to 1865 when it opened as one of four exchange halls in the country, The Exchange is an iconic Blackburn venue

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery
Blackburn
Gallery
Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery houses a rich and fascinating collection covering fine art, decorative art, Egyptology, coins, manuscripts, natural history, social history and South Asia.

Lancashire
Restaurant
Scholars Restaurant

This quality bistro offers fine dining at fabulous prices. One of the leading training restaurants, Scholars Restaurant is run by both industry professionals and fantastic Blackburn College students.

Exchange Coffee
Blackburn
Café or Coffee Shop
Exchange Coffee

Serving award winning coffees and a great choice of loose teas, cold drinks and takeaway delights including toasted fruit teacakes, crumpets and toast all of which you can order online through its click and collect service.

Haute Dolci
Blackburn
Restaurant
Haute Dolci

This is dessert heaven served in the most amazing surroundings. A beautiful destination for all manner of sweet treats and the added bonus of a click and collect service. Vanilla Milk cake, Mintberry Mojito or test yourself with a Lick Your Lips – Fudge Brownies, Belgian Milk Chocolate, with Milk Chocolate Curls and Strawberries.

Thira
Blackburn
Restaurant
Thira

Blackburn is synonymous with a great curry and Thira offers exactly that. With a discount available for click and collect, you can call and pre-order from a wide menu of home dining options. Starters include Grilled King Fish , boneless diced lamb sauteed with crushed ginger and shallots or a deep dish of mussels marinated with Kerala spices and deep fried.

woman lighting candles in a church
Blackburn
Place of worship
Blackburn Cathedral

Blackburn Cathedral is one of England’s newest Cathedrals, yet it is one of the country’s oldest places of Christian worship.

Remix Casuals
Blackburn
Shop
Remix Casuals

A long term favourite for skate brands and streetwear with a mini skate ramp in the basement.

Blackburn
Event venue
The Bureau Centre for the Arts

The Bureau is an artist led arts and community centre, providing a versatile and inclusive space for theatre, music, cultural events and community participation.

What's on: Festivals

FestivalsCity Centre
Manchester Day 2025

Enjoy a dusk-til-dawn celebration of the community and exuberance of Manchester.

Free entry
Creatures Comedy Festival
Until
ComedyManchester
Creatures Comedy Festival

Smart, sharp and seriously funny, Creatures Comedy Festival brings stand-up stars, rising talent and Edinburgh previews to Manchester this July.

From £6.00
Until
CinemaManchester
YANK at Cultplex

Thirteen movies to get to know the United States of America. Cultplex presents a season of film exploring America through its own lens.

From £7.50
Until
FestivalsSale
Refract 25 at Waterside

Back for 2025, Trafford’s flagship arts festival returns to Waterside for six days of experiential performance and cultural delight.

NightGarden Festival
Festivals
NightGarden Festival

Somewhere in Trafford, behind an unmarked gate, a former garden centre hosts one of Greater Manchester’s most original festivals.

From £20

Culture Guides

Author portrait
Literature Events in the North

From tongue-twisters to twisty page-turners, we have all kinds of spoken word surprises in the latest literature round-up.

Theatre in Manchester and the North.
Theatre in the North

From outdoor shows to drama in the dark, our theatre guide celebrates genre-pushing work, new writing and contemporary performance.

Blondshell by Hannah Bon.
Music in the North

From Lyra Pramuk’s sacred synths to the sugar rush of YAANG, our latest music picks bring ritual, rebellion and ridiculous levels of fun.

Two women stand next to an orange car.
Cinema in the North

August brings a huge LGBTQ+ film festival, plus a reggae classic and a spotlight on Japanese animation.

Exhibitions in the North

Monumental sculptures, charcoal confessions and a show of two paintings only - all this and more in this month's exhibition picks.