Two free Christmas markets at Ramsbottom Civic Hall: Bleakholt's on Saturday 14 November, the Makers Market on Sunday 29 November. Bridge Street date to come.

Two Christmas markets in Ramsbottom have confirmed 2026 dates, both in the Civic Hall on Market Place and both free to enter: Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary’s Christmas Market on Saturday 14 November and the Christmas Makers Market on Sunday 29 November. The bigger street market on Bridge Street, run by a volunteer group, has not published a date yet. Bury town itself has no Christmas market announced; its main December event is the lights switch-on at The Rock.

The quick answer

  • Bleakholt Christmas Market: Saturday 14 November, 10am to 3pm, Ramsbottom Civic Hall, BL0 9AJ, free.
  • Christmas Makers Market: Sunday 29 November, 11am to 4pm, Ramsbottom Civic Hall, free.
  • Bridge Street Christmas market: no 2026 date published. Watch this page.

Bleakholt Christmas Market, Saturday 14 November

The animal sanctuary at Edenfield announced its 2026 market on 10 September: Ramsbottom Civic Hall, 10am to 3pm, free admission. Expect mulled wine and mince pies, gift stalls including a rare teddy bear collection, handmade crafts, candles and wax melts, seasonal treats and Christmas boxes for pets. Santa Paws is there for dogs, with treats, a present and a keepsake photo, so the market is dog-friendly. Takings go to the sanctuary’s animal care. It is the same Saturday as the East Lancashire Railway’s diesel multiple unit weekend, so the trains will be busy.

Christmas Makers Market, Sunday 29 November

Bury Council’s Civic Hall events page lists the Christmas Makers Market for Sunday 29 November, 11am to 4pm. It is the festive edition of the regular Ramsbottom Makers Market: independent stalls with handmade goods, artisan food and gifts, run by local councillor Clare Cummins. The autumn edition is on Sunday 25 October, 11am to 3.30pm, if you want an earlier look. There is a wreath-making workshop in the hall the evening before, Saturday 28 November at 7pm, and the Santa Specials start at Bury Bolton Street on the same weekend, 28 and 29 November.

Twilight Folklore Evening Market, Friday 13 November

An evening market in the Civic Hall, 6pm to 9pm, billed as “independent makers, folklore, old tales, curious things and just a touch of magic”, the night before Bleakholt’s market. Details are on Visit Ramsbottom.

The Bridge Street Christmas market

Ramsbottom’s best-known Christmas market is the one that closes Bridge Street to traffic for stalls, food, a brass band and Father Christmas, with a food and craft market inside the Civic Hall on the same weekend. It is organised by a volunteer group, Ramsbottom Christmas Markets, which announces the date only on its Facebook and Instagram pages, and it has published nothing for 2026 yet. The Civic Hall’s own diary shows no December market booked either. When the date is announced, this page will carry it along with the road closure.

Santa in Ramsbottom

Ramsbottom Rotary’s Santa visits around the town’s streets are pencilled in for 27 November to 24 December, with the Rotary saying the dates are approximate and will be confirmed nearer the time. Santa on a train is at the East Lancashire Railway on twelve dates from 28 November.

Bury Market at Christmas

Bury Market has no Christmas market of its own. Its opening times page gives the outdoor market on Wednesday and Friday 9am to 4.30pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm, the fish and meat hall Monday to Saturday, and says the market “does not open on Bank Holiday Mondays or on Christmas Day and Boxing Day”. The indoor Market Hall remains closed because of RAAC concrete, with its traders moved to the outdoor market, Princess Parade and the Mill Gate Centre. Any extra December trading days will be added here if the market announces them.

Getting there and parking

Ramsbottom is on the East Lancashire Railway from Bury Bolton Street and on the 472 and 474 buses from Bury Interchange. Parking in the town is on our parking page, and any closures on the A56 or Bridge Street will be on the roadworks page. Bonfire Night at Ramsbottom Cricket Club is the weekend before Bleakholt’s market: see our fireworks page.

What is still to be confirmed

The Bridge Street market date and road closure, and the Rotary Santa route. Both are normally announced in October or early November.