Love Your Local Market event returns to Stockton High Street in May

A special outdoor market bringing fun for all of the family returns to Stockton High Street on Saturday 18 May.

Stockton's Love Your Local Market event takes place between 10am and 2.30pm, marking the national Love Your Local Market fortnight campaign that celebrates all that is great about the industry. 

Kicking off at 10am on the High Street as part of Stockton Market, the iconic Queen of the North, the event gets 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 over 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.

Centrally located in the heart of Stockton High Street, Stockton's award-winning market is one of the largest outdoor markets in the country, with over 100 single stall units and up to 50 traders every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The Council also runs Billingham Market on a Monday and Friday, and Thornaby Market on a Thursday. All of the Borough's markets have been highlighted for bucking national retail and industry trends, with increased traders numbers and a host of opportunities for young business owners.

Nigel Cooke, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing at Stockton-on-Tees Borough 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.

"As well as Stockton, we have terrific markets held in Billingham on Mondays and Fridays and Thornaby's market is open every Thursday - they're both well worth a visit!"

Find out more about the Love Your Local Market event on the Enjoy Tees Valley website.