
This Summer
Upcoming Melanin Markets
Melanin Markets SUMMER POP UP
A soulful end of summer takeover - rooted in culture, free to attend & everyone’s welcome!
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.
Free to attend
〰️ Just turn up!
Free to attend 〰️ Just turn up!
What to Expect
From the moment you arrive, you’ll be immersed in a space that celebrates Black excellence on every floor.
Head to the top floor for the Castle Marketplace – a bustling hub of incredible traders offering African and Caribbean sweet treats, drinks made from family recipes, natural and organic make up, skin and hair care, handcrafted jewellery, art, and lifestyle gems. Don’t miss Earthie Organics, launching an exclusive new tinted moisturiser, or exciting newcomers like Tee Tee Bakes, Cake Monster, and Deranika Skincare.
The middle floor is an artistic haven, step into a creative hub where expression and empowerment meet. Enjoy henna by Aaliyah Rose, browse inspiring art by Prints of Praise, 33x, K’created and workshops led by well-known visual artists and musicians – soon to be announced! And as health is wealth you can also access free, confidential sexual health screenings from BHA for Equality
The ground floor will be alive with summer sounds from a local DJ, a fashion hub spotlighting local designers and visionaries, with adult and children’s wear, and a space to connect with brilliant must-see organisations across the city. Meet AfroSocial, a network for Black professionals and entrepreneurs, and Rekindle School, reshaping education through radical curriculums. Don’t forget to stop by and chat with author, mentor and incredibly inspiring Lathan Forrester, whose FC Tyro children’s book series uses football to inspire literacy, resilience, and positive choices.
Some of the traders you will see at the event!
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!