Inaugural Christmas Market Showcases Independent Traders

The inaugural Everything Digbeth Christmas market, a one-day event designed to highlight independent local traders, was hosted on Saturday at the Zellig building on Gibb Street. Zellig, Bread Birmingham, and Digbeth Art Space collaborated to organize the event, which partnered with a homelessness charity. Attendees could enjoy a makers’ market, street food, a Santa’s grotto, performances by a close-up magician, and a local choir. Michelle Irving, the Zellig building manager, stated that the market provided an opportunity to feature the approximately 100 tenants located within the building. She further commented, “We are a little bit tucked away in Digbeth so it’s nice to have everyone around just enjoying Christmas and especially all the independent traders.” Funds generated from a vintage clothes rail collection are designated for SIFA Fireside, a homelessness charity based in Birmingham. Melissa Roche, who serves as the head of fundraising and volunteering, expressed her astonishment at how “well received and attended” the market proved to be. She also noted, “It costs £2m a year to keep the charity open. No easy task.” Roche elaborated, “We’re a very small team of fundraisers consisting of three people so all of the funds raised are very beneficial to keep the doors open for people that are vulnerable in the city.” Marcia Spring, a trader representing Anywhere Wreaths, characterized the market’s attendance as “great” and mentioned her enjoyment of the overall atmosphere. According to the organizers, there is a possibility that the event will return next year for an extended duration. To stay informed, BBC Birmingham is available on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. This material is Copyright 2024 BBC, with all rights reserved. The BBC does not assume responsibility for the content of external websites. Further information on their external linking policy can be found.