This Summer

Upcoming Melanin Markets

Melanin Markets SUMMER POP UP

Date: Saturday 30 August 2025

Time: 11am-3pm

Taking place at: Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, Manchester, M14

We’re closing out the summer with a full-venue celebration of culture, creativity, and community!

This free, family-friendly event blends shopping, food, music, and meaningful connection. It’s a joyful gathering rooted in heritage, healing, and homegrown talent. Whether you’re here to support local brands, discover something new, or simply soak up the energy – this is how summer ends: with good vibes and even better company.

There will be a bespoke Sound, Sip & Paint session led by Artist and musician Misha B, read and book your place here.

A soulful end of summer takeover - rooted in culture, free to attend & everyone’s welcome!

What to Expect

From the moment you step through the doors, Melanin Markets takes over the building – each floor bursting with Black brilliance.

Top floor: The Castle Marketplace
Get ready to shop, snack and leave the space smelling like shea butter baby! This buzzing marketplace is packed with incredible Black-owned businesses offering African and Caribbean sweet treats, family-recipe drinks, natural skincare, organic makeup, handcrafted jewellery, art, and soulful lifestyle gems.

Look out for Earthie Organics, launching a brand-new tinted moisturiser, plus exciting newcomers like Tee Tee Bakes, Cake Monster and Deranika Skincare. You can also meet author and mentor Lathan Forrester, whose FC Tyro book series uses football to inspire literacy, resilience and big dreams in young readers.

This is also where the incredibly talented Misha B will host her debut healing experience, MuseumMisha: Sound, Sip & Paint – an immersive session blending art, music and emotion. Booking is essential for this one. Tickets available here.

Middle floor: The Creative Lab
A space for art, wellness and powerful ideas. Pop into Venessa Scott’s Creative Lab Art Café for creative tasters, suitable for the family. Of course you can also shop inspiring original prints and homeware, as well as meet David, founder of AfroSocial, a brilliant network for Black professionals, hosting events in Manchester, London and more. Don’t forget to stop off at Rekindle School stall, an alternative education space leading with radical Black joy and creation, based in Hulme.

Ground floor: The Summer Jam
Expect energy and expression as the ground floor comes alive with summer sounds from Children of Zeus DJ, Gyalex. Discover standout fashion from local Black designers, with looks for both adults and kids, plus a showcase of brilliant organisations from across the city. Fuel up with Caribbean rum punch, sorrel, crispy patties, dumplings and sweet treats that taste like the summer sunshine.

Have a look at some of the businesses and creatives you will meet at Melanin Markets Summer Pop Up! We have been sharing details on our social media platforms:

If you were at our last event at Contact Theatre, you would have bumped into some of the @thebigtinyuk panto cast, who were also mingling, shopping and snacking! They were giving special discounts out for their show which will be @contactmcr in Dece
These 2 beautiful Queens were captured with their @craftspirationjewellery purchases at our Summer Pop Up! 📸 @simone.trumpet
Mother & Son ❤️ It doesn't matter what venue we are at, any time @bodynsoulseamoss are with us, somehow there's always a picture of the venue staff grabbing their seamoss soup, seamoss gel, patties... they can't resist! This is another pic that
Pure joy and beauty 🤎✨ Captured by @simone.trumpet at Melanin Markets Summer Pop Up 30 Aug @contactmcr . . . . . . . #MelaninMarkets #ManchesterMarkets
Every time we look at this image, our hearts sing 🙌🏾 Shoutout to @iysha_cosmetics for creating a vegan makeup that celebrates our tones, and to @simone.trumpet for capturing this magical moment at our last event. A picture really does speak a tho
That’s a wrap on Melanin Markets Summer Pop Up! An absolutely wonderful day. Thank you to every single person involved. We smashed it & I truly feel so grateful to say that as we hit 4 years of MM we came full circle & filled the castle
We’ll be welcoming @joolzery to our Summer Pop Up tomorrow! Handmade with love, Joolzery creates striking jewellery from recycled copper, sterling silver and ethically sourced healing crystals. Each piece blends style with the energies of semi
📢📢📍 Driver friends Dilworth street car park is your go to! Scroll for info & spread the word (IG are enemies of progress because they dont even allow us to add Buju Banton - Driver as the music 🙄) Melanin Markets Summer Pop Up TOMORROW 11
Saturdays = soup, it’s just the rules. Shaun from @bodynsoulseamoss just phoned us & told us he’s pulling up tomorrow with his famous seamoss soup! If you've tried it you know it hits differently, sounds a bit mad, but tastes so so go
We’ve had some of Manchester’s finest DJs grace the decks at Melanin Markets over the years, and this time we’re excited to welcome our friend and powerhouse, @gyal3x she’ll be bringing nothing but vibes this Saturday 🎶 💛 O
Lavelle owner of 'Yours Natruly' are joining is from London this Saturday for our summer pop up! He's been running his brand for 8 years, bringing healing crystals to support the mind, body and soul. From confidence and clarity to sleep support and
✨ This Saturday our friends at @craftspirationjewellery are bringing jewellery and accessories that speak life, love and affirmation into your life - perfect for adults and little ones! Shop, connect & vibe for FREE at: 📍 Contact Theatre, Oxfor
We’re putting together a Clothing Hub for our Summer Pop Up which is THIS SATURDAY! It will be a space to explore adults and kidswear all in one place ✨ One brand you’ll spot in there is @baby.bambinos — a colourful, fun and joyous
Spotted on the big screen outside of Contact theatre 🤩 10 days to go 📢 Melanin Markets Summer Pop Up 🎉 - Sat 30 Aug | 11am–3pm | @contactmcr - Free Entry to the event to shop, celebrate and wind down from a busy summer. Everyone’s
Smells like jewellery making, junk journaling and pure joy 🌸 This month Melanin Markets becomes home to a very special @creativelabsalford pop up — a space where art meets community, and imagination runs free. 📅 Sat 30 Aug | 11am–3pm |
Krystal owner of @thecakemonsterfamily joins us for our summer pop up at the end of this month! Krystal's passion for baking began at a young age and has blossomed into a thriving business. As the apparent 'third cake monster' in her family, she's a
@getwaistedwithbiddy provides premium shapewear for everyday and postpartum, crafted to sculpt and smooth your silhouette, helping you feel your best in any outfit. We're pleased to have them with us for our next event! Browse their range at the end
HERE YOU GO! The official guide for our next event 🎉 Our summer pop up runs from 11am–3pm and free tickets are linked in our bio, or you can just turn up. ✨ Sound, Sip & Paint with Misha is the only session that requires booking (only 10
We’re so pleased to share something truly special with you - the wonderful @iammisha_b is bringing a beautiful, soul-nourishing experience you won’t find anywhere else! MuseumMisha: Sound, Sip & Paint 🎨✨ Swipe for details then hit t
24 days to go! After the carnival turn ups and the buzz of festivals and summer holidays, join us for our soulful, joy-filled end of summer pop up! We can’t wait to see your wonderful faces again 🫶🏾 Melanin Markets Summer Pop-Up, 📍 Contact

Culture, Creativity & Community

Melanin Markets isn’t just about shopping – it’s about soul. This space holds sacred joy, creative resistance, and cultural pride. Expect artwork that honours scripture and reclaims identity, wellness rooted in ancestral healing, and fashion that carries heritage in every thread. From affirmation mugs and healing crystals to children’s books changing lives – the marketplace is filled with meaning, stories, and legacy.

A Full Circle Moment

This is the first Melanin Markets event at Contact Theatre since 2022 – a homecoming to the venue where Melanin Markets began in 2021. From humble beginnings to city-wide celebrations, this moment reflects how far we’ve come – and how much further we’ll go, together.

Watch one of our videos from a previous markets we held at Contact here!