If you’re in the market for handmade jewellery, homewares, one-off items of fashion and affordable art – the National Festival Making is just the place for you. The free two-day event, sponsored by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, is set to return in June and will once again boast its very own Maker’s Market.

Set in King George’s Hall, visitors will be able to snap up everything from custard cream cushions to black pepper candles and ‘rock and roll’ jewellery made from old guitar strings. More than 50 indie traders will be displaying their wares as well as hosting special workshops – including demonstrations on block and screen printing, willow weaving and yupo paper painting.

Lauren Zawadzki, Co-Director of The National Festival of Making, said:
The Maker’s Market is a popular port of call for festival visitors, who come to Blackburn in growing numbers from around the country to search out one-off making experiences as well as something special to take home at the end of the weekend.

There’s an emphasis on bringing specifically handmade products and specialist skills to wider attention, as well as recognising and supporting the spirit and hard work of independent, small businesses and the 2019 line-up is no different. Festival organisers have teamed up with market curators, Hopeful and Glorious to attract many of the UK’s most exciting independent makers to showcase their products over June 15 and 16. Top names include Manchester’s InkFlo Store, Posner and Posner, String Effects, The Mountain and Me, Uzma Padia, Cushii and The Old Man and Magpie.

Heather Chapman-Fox of Hopeful and Glorious, said: The 2019 National Festival of Making Maker’s Market has been one of the most exciting to assemble out of all of the three years to date, with so many high-quality, attention-grabbing artists and designers taking up the opportunity of meeting the festival’s enthusiastic visitors.

It’s a genuine two-way exchange, not only of beautiful, handmade products, but of curiosity, knowledge and conversation between traders and visitors of all ages and backgrounds. More than 40,000 people turned out in 2018 to the Festival with more than 10,000 of those taking part in workshop sessions right across the town centre.

The event, now in its third year, scooped Best Non-Music Festival at the UK Festival Awards as well as Visit Lancashire’s Large Event of the Year.
For more information, visit: FestivalofMaking.co.uk