The Dark Arts Samhain Market

The Dark Arts Samhain Market takes over The Old Cold Store on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, with the market open from 12pm to 5pm each day. It's a weekend for alternative artists and makers, and the Nottingham edition brings together more than 40 Gothic and alternative creators under one roof.

The market was started by Fiona Holmes and Elyssa Fleming as a space where 'alt' artists and creatives can feel seen and supported. It first opened in 2021 at the Long Eaton Art Rooms with twenty makers; since then, the Nottingham edition has grown to over 40, while the Derby iteration has reached fifty, and the market is soon to move to Lincoln. The organisers run it as a nurturing, gothic-friendly environment, with a particular eye for people with anxiety and for new artists. The venue is fully accessible and animal friendly, so dogs and cats are welcome.

The weekend is framed around Samhain, the Gaelic festival marking the start of winter. The organisers put it in their own words: 'the winds are changing and the witches are dusting off their brooms'. It's a good time of year for a market like this, and since it runs across both Saturday and Sunday, you've got two days to work your way through the stalls.

The Old Cold Store is on Queensbridge Road, Nottingham NG2 1NB. Entry is free, and it's open 12pm to 5pm on both days.