Artisan Christmas Market heads to Humber Street
13/11/2017
A new Christmas market offering artisan stalls, street food, live music and entertainment is launching in Hull’s thriving Fruit Market quarter.
The indoor and outdoor event will run every Saturday and Sunday in the run up to Christmas, starting on Saturday 18th November, and will feature around 25 stalls showcasing high-quality local artwork, photography, crafts and jewellery, in addition to street food vendors, a pop-up bar and a speakeasy stage.
Based along Humber Street, the festive venture – called “Christmas at Humber Street” – is organised by local artists Chris Kidd and Mikey Mathieson who run the successful Creative Lab retail space for artists and designers at Beverley’s Flemingate centre.
Chris said: “We’re very excited to be organising these events every weekend in the run-up to Christmas. The Fruit Market is such a unique and vibrant district and people want to spend their leisure time there.
“We’ll be featuring some very talented local artists, creatives and high-quality vendors selling fantastic artisan produce. We’ll also have some great street food vendors, a prosecco van and some really talented local buskers as well.
“There’ll be lots going on to entertain the whole family – even a snow blizzard machine and roast chestnut stall to give the street a real festive feel. It will be a festive market with an artisan spin – perfect for the bohemian vibe of the Fruit Market.”
The weekend events will also include pottery demonstrations; flash-mob style dance performances; psychic aura readings; face painting; and performances by local musicians.
Chris added: “Humber Street businesses are also getting on board. Mousey Brown’s will be creating festive hair styles at a pop-up hair stand every Sunday and the guys at Yorkshire Brewery are running a pop-up bar. People can also sign up for family ceramics workshops at Studio Eleven. Everyone’s getting involved – it will have a fantastic community feel!”
The indoor element of the market will be based in the double unit at 66-68 Humber Street.
With the market stalls, performance stage and pop-up bar built and decorated by teenagers from the East Riding Voluntary Action Services Volunteen project, Chris and Mikey said they were keen to involve charitable and community organisations from the outset.
Mikey said: “We’ve worked with the teenage volunteers from East Riding Voluntary Action Services a number of times and we’re thrilled to once again be engaging these exceptional young people for these events.
“They’re such a positive and hard-working group and it’s a pleasure to be able to offer further opportunities for these young people to get involved in volunteering and social action work.”
Chris added: “We’re also hosting a number of art activities at the event including a large-scale community art project for all the public to express themselves and get involved.
“We want these events to support community groups in all sorts of different ways as well as the retail and hospitality businesses nearby who will benefit from the increased footfall and trade.”
The event will run alongside the existing monthly Humber Street Market located inside and around Hull’s successful Fruit venue.
Mikey added: “Our events are in addition to the popular and long-running Humber Street Market and they will complement each other, bringing further vibrancy and footfall to the Fruit Market.
“Closer to Christmas we’ll also ramp up the entertainment with stilt walkers and other performers to give the events even more of a festive atmosphere. There’ll be something for everyone.”
The Christmas at Humber Street events are supported by Wykeland Beal, the joint venture company driving forward the regeneration of the Fruit Market, working in partnership with Hull City Council.
David Donkin, Property Director of Wykeland Group, speaking on behalf of Wykeland Beal, said: “We’re really excited about these events, which will bring a uniquely Fruit Market festive spirit to Humber Street in the weekends leading up to Christmas.
“Chris and Mikey have done a great job in bringing together the market and related activities and harnessing the creative community to be part of Christmas at Humber Street.
“People expect the unexpected in the Fruit Market and these events certainly won’t disappoint!”
The Christmas market starts on Saturday 18th November, from 11am to 4.30pm, and runs for six weekends until Christmas.
Stallholders confirmed include Nick Coupland Illustrations; Claire West Art; Hull Truth; The Little Gift Company; Twice Upon A Time; Pete Frankish; Nutmeg Pottery and many more.
Food vendors include Hull Pie; Tony’s BBQ Pit and Grill; Leaves of the World; and Little Somboon Kitchen.
For a full list of confirmed vendors, or to book a stall at one or all of the events, follow @thecreativelabuk on Facebook or download an application form directly at www.thecreativelab.space/xmasmarketapplication
