Get ready Manchester, we're closing out the summer with a full-venue celebration of culture, creativity and community! Melanin Markets is back in our castle, this time with a Summer Pop Up taking over 3 floors of our theatre for one day only. It’ll be a showcase of the best of Manchester’s Black-owned businesses, artists and creators and you don’t want to miss it.

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 coming 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.

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 now.

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.

Culture, Creativity & Community

Melanin Markets isn’t just about shopping, it’s about soul. This space holds sacred joy, creative resistance and cultural pride. You’ll find 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 full of meaning, stories, legacy, not just products.

A Full Circle Moment

This is our first 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 marks how far we've come - and how much further we're going, together.

Free tickets are available now – book yours and save the date.