Barnstaple Pannier Market is set to host its first-ever Summer Arts & Crafts Fair on Sunday 27 July 2025, from 10:00am to 4:00pm, and the date is one to mark in your diary.

This brand-new event will shine a spotlight on the incredible creative talent found across North Devon. The historic market will be transformed for the day into a vibrant showcase of handmade goods, featuring everything from ceramics and textiles to fine art, jewellery, woodwork, and more.

Applications are currently open for independent makers and craftspeople who create original, handcrafted work. Interested traders can apply online via the North Devon Handmade Collective website: www.northdevonhandmadecollective.co.uk. Spaces are limited, and organisers are looking for a diverse mix of high-quality stalls.

As well as browsing and buying beautiful handmade items, visitors can also enjoy live music and performances throughout the day. The event will include an informal performance space, an opportunity for local musicians, buskers, and performers of all levels to get involved. Whether you’re experienced or just starting out, this is your chance to step up and share your sound.

Families can look forward to plenty of interactive fun and creative activities suitable for all ages. A highlight of the day will be the Drawn Together Felting Fun workshop, hosted by North Devon Arts. Running from 11:00am to 4:00pm, this free drop-in event invites visitors to learn how to make felt flowers and contribute to a collaborative textile wall hanging, as part of a wider heritage arts and crafts community project. The workshop is suitable for all ages, though children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Holly Bransby, Market Manager at Barnstaple Pannier Market, said: “We’re excited to launch a brand-new event that celebrates the creativity of our community, not just through craft, but also through music. This is a great chance for makers and performers to reach new audiences in a welcoming and lively setting.”

So whether you’re a shopper, a stallholder, a musician looking to take the stage or keen to get involved in some creative, crafty fun, please save the date and be part of something special at Barnstaple Pannier Market this July.

For general enquiries, contact: holly.bransby@northdevon.gov.uk