Wavy Market set to return to Bury St Edmunds for free two-day independent market in St John’s Street
A makers market in Suffolk will showcase the work of small businesses, artists and independents with food, drink and ‘wavy vibes’ to match.
Wavy Market is set to return with a two-day independent market event based at The Centre in St John’s Street, Bury St Edmunds, on August 31 and September 1.
Organisers Kate Howes, 34, and Gemma Turp, 46, are looking forward to the event’s community atmosphere as visitors explore an array of locally crafted products alongside a selection of food and drink.
Kate said: “It all started in 2021 when I met Jess Walters, who runs Selfish Design, and we got chatting about about how many makers’ markets and art-based markets are not really aimed at the younger demographic here in Suffolk.”
“By all means there’s nothing wrong with the village-style markets we have all grown to love, but we just wanted something a bit more funky to accommodate Suffolk’s cool-streak of makers and target that kind of audience.
“The Centre is a really beautiful space which is a bit hidden away on St John’s Street – it’s really light and it’s got a really nice energy to it.
“It’s just so nice to see the town celebrate local artists, makers and businesses. It’s an amazing and relaxed environment, full of quirky and wavy vibes, which I think offers something a bit different to the town.”
This will be the organisers’ seventh event after the first Wavy Market was hosted by Kate and Jess in December 2021.
The free weekend will feature between 15 to 20 stalls each day. More than 1,200 visitors attended last year.
On the Saturday, the space will be dedicated to an ‘art and makers’ market, featuring a range of traders including jewellers, illustrators, printmakers, designers and ceramicists. Plus, there will be edible artworks from Wood Row Chocolate and The Alabama Biscuit.
The next day, a ‘food and home’ market will be held, showcasing cakes, wine, bao buns, pizzas, unusual ingredients for home cooking, along with coffee and soft drinks.
Both markets open from 10am with Saturday finishing at 4pm and Sunday finishing at 3pm.
The event is dog-friendly, with visitors able to enjoy a pint from Ixworth-based microbrewery Artefact Brewing and ice creams and sorbets from Simply Ice Cream Suffolk on both days.
Though Kate and Gemma work together running a recruitment agency, they are both involved in the Suffolk makers’ community as Kate sells her own jewellery and accessories while Gemma grows and sells house plants in second-hand pots.
“We get to play shop at the weekend,” Gemma said. “It’s such a community that just keeps growing and it’s amazing to support other small businesses.
“There’s plenty of seating all around the venue so we hope people will come along, grab something to eat or a pint and stay for a while.
“It’s lovely to see people taking their time with it, you look up from your stall and see someone who you spoke to two hours ago who is still looking around – I don’t think there are many markets like that in Suffolk.”
To find out more about Wavy Market, click here to view the business’ Instagram page.
In addition to Wavy Market’s event in St John’s Street, the team is also collaborating with Folk Café by hosting ‘Wavy Folk’ at the site in Fornham St Martin on September 15.
