Local producers of food and drink, art, crafts and jewellery are being urged to sign up for the last remaining slots at this year’s festive Curated in the Quad Christmas market at Aberdeen’s Marischal College.
Following the success of last year’s Curated Aberdeen Market in the Bon Accord Centre, the Curated in the Quad Market is returning for 2021, organised by Charlie House in partnership with Aberdeen Inspired.
With almost 70 businesses already signed up, many of the spaces have already been booked up but a few are still available, including the opening weekend of November 19-21 and the following weekend of November 26-28.
The hugely open-air market will open on Friday, November 19 and applications from potential stallholders can be submitted up to this Sunday, October 31.
Each weekend in the run up to Christmas will feature a different line-up of new and established brands, who will be selling their wares from cosy wooden cabins.
Shoppers will be able to browse the stalls and pick up unique gifts such as art, crafts, clothing, jewellery and homeware along with gourmet food and drink.
Proceeds will go to Charlie House, a local children's charity that aims to improve the quality of life for babies, children and young people in the north-east of Scotland who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and provide support to their families.
As the city centre Business Improvement District (BID), Aberdeen Inspired is supporting the planned festive events in the city centre.
Chief executive Adrian Watson said: “We are thrilled to be working with Charlie House to bring the ever popular outdoor Curated in the Quad market back this year. As the city centre slowly begins to recover from the past two years, we hope this festive shopping experience will encourage people to come into Aberdeen to soak up the Christmas atmosphere and enjoy our shops, bars and restaurants as well as the festive activities on Broad Street.
“More than ever this year, it’s so important that people shop local and buy their gifts from shops and businesses in the city centre, spending directly in the city with our retailers will make a real difference and support local jobs and livelihoods.
“The Christmas market not only gives small, independent businesses an opportunity to showcase their products to a new audience, but it is raising valuable funds for Charlie House,” he added.
The market will showcase the products and services from around 23 stallholders each weekend, as well as Charlie House’s own charity merchandise stall.
Louise Andrew, chief executive of Charlie House, said: “Charlie House is delighted to be partnering with Aberdeen Inspired as the charity partner of the Curated in the Quad Christmas market. This wonderful opportunity builds on the success of the indoor Curated Market, which has been successfully operating in the Bon Accord Centre since June 2021.
“We are incredibly grateful to be given this opportunity. With thanks to Aberdeen Inspired, the public and stallholders, we can continue to support children and their families right now and work toward our longer-term goal of establishing a specialist support centre right here in Aberdeen.”
Regular Curated market stallholder Danielle Smith from Sweet Toots Cakery has already signed up for the Christmas market.
She said: “Curated have been able to create a great a hub for small business in the centre of Aberdeen, allowing us to showcase our products, reach more customers and expand our businesses whilst helping a local charity.”
Previous outdoor Christmas in the Quad markets were held in 2018 and 2019, attracting thousands of visitors.
Aberdeen City Council culture spokesperson, Marie Boulton said: “This year we are delighted to welcome back the Christmas Market in Marischal College Quad, promising to be bigger and better and complementing our festive events line up which is shaping up to bring some much-needed festive cheer and sparkle to the city.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for local producers and businesses, and I would encourage anyone interested to contact Aberdeen Inspired to discover the opportunities available to them within the unique setting of Marischal Quad. Christmas in the city creates over a month of activity that has something for everyone, but importantly encourages people into the city centre boosting both the retail and leisure economy.
“Collaborative working is vital to the success of events like our festive line-up, and through our Aberdeen 365 Events Programme, partnerships such as the one we have with Aberdeen Inspired demonstrate the commitment of our local and national partners in supporting our vision of development and sustainability of the city.”
The Curated in the Quad Market will run from 12pm to 7pm on Fridays, 11am to 7pm on Saturdays and 11am to 6pm on Sundays, from November 19 until December 19.
For more information, visit https://www.aberdeeninspired.com/festival/aberdeen-christmas-market/christmas-in-the-quad-important-information
To sign up for a stall, contact Curated@charliehouse.org.uk