Easter International Market

Five-day open-air market comes to Carlisle

(Date of issue: Monday, 18 April 2011)

Carlisle is set to host a five-day International open-air market this Easter.

Stalls selling a fantastic range of products from around the world will be open from this Thursday (21 April) right through to 5pm on Easter Monday. The market will be based within the city centre pedestrianised area.

Stalls will be open on: Thursday - Saturday, 9am to 6pm; Easter Sunday 10am to 4pm and Easter Monday, 9am to 5pm.

The market brings goods from as far afield as Ecuador, Russia and Kenya. Traders are encouraged to sell ethically, fairly traded and ecologically sourced products.

It is one of the ‘greenest’ events of its kind in the UK having recently established some amazing waste management recycling figures, achieving 42% recycling of all waste coming from the event. In addition most of the packaging used in serving customers is either, biodegradable, recyclable or reusable.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic shopping experience which also offers customers the opportunity to taste and sample most of the foods on sale and learn to cook using ingredients they may not use regularly.

The international market has now expanded and includes traders from outside of Europe. Traders from as far afield as the Thailand, China, India, Russia, South Africa and even Ecuador will be joining their European counterparts from France, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Spain, Poland, Greece and Finland to bring the Global Village Market to the heart of Carlisle.

The event will include:

  • Traditional Finnish and Lapish knitwear, a range of Lappish crafts and deerskins.
  • Chinese and Thai products including crafts, gifts, jewellery and floral arrangements as well as some mouth watering Thai foods.
  • Indian Chef Bansil will be cooking up some of his spicy curries along with some of the best samosas you will ever taste and continuing the spicy theme, all the way from the Seychelles, a fantastic stall selling a variety of hot foods to sample.
  • Exotic meats and burgers from South Africa including Crocodile, Impala, Wild Boar and Ostrich.
  • From the Middle East there will be baklava and Mid Eastern sweet cakes, plus a great selection of dried fruits and nuts.
  • A Kenyan stall selling a fantastic range of wooden artefacts, carvings and furniture produced in a village just outside of Nairobi.
  • South American crafts and gifts all the way from Ecuador.
  • The Flying Dutchman - plant seller Dirk van de Wardt - with his wonderful array of shrubs, plants, trees and bulbs at prices you have to see to believe.
  • Also from Holland, is Henri, with some great Dutch cheeses, waffles, cakes and liquorice as well as those famous mini Dutch pancakes with lashings of cream and a fantastic assortments of toppings.
  • From France, there will be a great selection of cheeses, olives, sun dried tomatoes, anchovies, a fantastic selection of dried sausage, and one of the best traditional French Patisseries from Brittany you will ever see. Watch the pastry chef making and baking those mouth watering French tarts each day plus there will be the traditional French crepes and galettes. Also from France there is a new fashion stall with a great range of pashminas, hats and scarves alongside a stall offering a selection of handmade mirrors.
  • The German contingent will include the fantastic Karl Heinz with his traditional schwenkegrille where you can sample some bratwurst and a beer too.
  • From Belgium there will be macaroons baked regularly throughout the day, and the Gingerbread House stacked with belgian chocolates, designer cakes smothered in Belgian chocolate and traditional sweets and fudge.
  • George the Greek - George from Pila in Thessaloniki - will bring his unique Greek Deli where you can find some of the best Greek breads, taramasalata, humous, olives and stuffed vine leaves (dolmades).
  • Gaspare from Italy with his delicious Italian soft nougat and biscotti.
  • Jimmy Beans will be back with one of the biggest selection of flavoured coffee beans, which he will grind to your liking and his large selection of different and exotic loose leaf teas.
  • From Poland there will be a very traditional Polish street bar and Polish amber jewellery – watch out for the oldest green amber.

There is something for all the family and with the bar you can sit and enjoy a relaxing drink in between browsing for that something different and tasting your way around the world. Ask to try some of the foods before you buy. All in all it will be an extremely diverse and interesting shopping experience well worth the visit.


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