THE CREATIVE and crafty delights of the community will thrill a wider audience as The Saddleworth Creative Network takes part in the Spring Festival of Markets in Manchester.
Running from Saturday, May 31 to Sunday, June 1, the event will see stallholders selling their handmade food, crafts and gifts in St Ann’s Square from 10am to 5.30pm.
And, working in conjunction with Manchester Markets, The Saddleworth Creative Network is taking along a select group of local regular stall holders to showcase their wares.
The network started on a small scale in 2011 but now holds popular and successful quarterly events at the Uppermill Civic Hall and is spreading its wings to join the festival in Manchester.
Claire Hilton, owner at Saddleworth Creative Network, said: “This will bring the delights of Saddleworth’s creative and craft community to a wider audience and hopefully bring a fresh boost of new visitors to the area.
“The SCN has built a superb reputation among the creative and craft community in and around Saddleworth for supporting local craft and creative people working from home.
“There are many creative people already out there in the villages and my aim in running the SCN is to bring all these together in a great big happy creative family, through support and networking online, as well as through the regular craft fairs.”
The Saddleworth Creative Network also has a host of events planned for the summer months, including a ‘Be Creative Bank Holiday Bonanza’ on May 3-5 at the Uppermill Civic Hall from 10am-4pm.
This will be followed by a Gift and Craft Summer Festival on July 5-6 and a ‘Vintage Inspired’ Gift and Craft Fair on Sunday, August 10 at Uppermill Civic Hall.
With the emphasis on making, doing, getting creative and having a go, there will be a huge amount of craft and gift stalls, as well as activities for children to enjoy.
And you can tuck in at the area’s first Food and Drink festival which will be hosted by the Network on October 4-5.
To find out more about the group whether you are a trader, crafter or a customer visit their website at www.creativenetwork-saddleworth.co.uk or join the Facebook group ‘Saddleworth Creative Network’ to be keep up to date with events coming up.
