Love Your Local Market event returns to Stockton High Street

Stockton’s Love Your Local Market event takes place between 10am and 2.30pm, as part of the national Love Your Local Market fortnight campaign.

The event will get underway with a free arts, crafts and face painting stall and a family market trail where everyone gets a prize.

Costumed duck-themed characters will be up and down the High Street to entertain children and hand out market trail cards with the theme being to guess the name of the duck by collecting letters across the traders’ stalls. Goodie bags and market vouchers can be won and spent across the wide range of market stalls.

The Love Your Local Market campaign is hosted by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA). Now in its 13th year, the campaign has gained global recognition and is celebrated in more than 24 countries.

The event encourages special market events, promotions and offers over a fortnight, allowing more people to explore what their local market has to offer.

Stockton’s award-winning market is one of the largest outdoor markets in the country, with more than 100 single stall units and up to 50 traders every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Nigel Cooke, Cabinet member for regeneration and housing at Stockton Council, said: "We know just how high of a regard all of our local markets are held in by residents across the borough and the Love Your Local Market event gives us all a chance to come out and celebrate a great family day at Stockton's traditional market.

"The borough's markets have a rich history going back over 700 years and they really help to bring town centres to life as bustling hives of activity and trading."