Fifth annual festive makers market

B.Arts is hosting its fifth annual festive makers market on Saturday 14 November, from 10am to 4pm at 72 Hartshill Road, Stoke. It's a free day out, and for those of us starting to think about Christmas, it's a good place to find things that aren't from a high street shelf. B.Arts is an artist-led arts and educational charity run by artists, so the whole thing is built around the makers themselves rather than a commercial middleman.

Co-artistic director Kath Stanway says the market brings back around 30 artists and makers, with many returning from last year alongside plenty of new faces. The stalls cover a fair spread of handmade gifts: visual art, textiles, illustration, jewellery, mixed media, cards and clay. If you're looking for something specific, you'll likely find it here, and if you're just browsing, there's enough variety to keep you going for a while. Bread in Common Café and Bar will be serving food and drink throughout the day, including mulled wine, so you can settle in rather than just popping in and out.

There's more to do than just shopping, too. Live music comes from Vibealicious, and the ArtsHill Volunteer Performers will be around as festive walk-about characters. There's a free festive photobooth with a photographer on the day, and a free festive activity run by Siobhan Mcaleer. If you fancy getting your hands dirty, there are making sessions running alongside the market: adults can make stockings from scrap fabric in the morning, and families can make and decorate baubles in the afternoon. Spaces for those are limited, with some pre-bookable and others available on the day, so it's worth checking ahead if you've got your heart set on one.

It's a full day's worth of things to do under one roof, and since it's free to attend, you can spend as much or as little time as you like. The market runs from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 14 November at 72 Hartshill Road, Stoke, and entry is free.