12/11/2025
Belfast Christmas Market Puts Local Young Entrepreneurs Centre Stage
As the eagerly awaited Belfast Christmas Market prepares to open its gates this Saturday at 12 noon, the market operators, Market Place, are focusing on fostering the success of young, local talent.
This year's initiative will see emerging entrepreneurs offered a prime opportunity to showcase their products in front of the more than one million visitors expected to attend the event.
Market Place has collaborated with the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) to donate the space. This partnership will provide nine young entrepreneurs with free trading space within the market.
Specifically, two dedicated chalets have been allocated for this initiative: one will feature the winners of the Northern Ireland regional final of the NMTF Young Traders campaign, while the other will showcase a selection of finalists from this year's competition.
Allan Hartwell, Market Place Managing Director said: "We're incredibly proud to sponsor the NMTF Young Traders Market and support young businesses by giving them a platform at one of Northern Ireland's most visited festive events. We'll be behind the young traders every step of the way and have no doubt that trading at the Belfast Christmas Market will provide a good financial platform on which to grow their business."
From handcrafted jewellery and sustainable babywear to gluten-free macarons and crocheted toys, the young trader chalets promise a vibrant mix of products that reflect both innovation and entrepreneurship.
Joe Harrison, CEO of the NMTF, said: "We're extremely appreciative to have Market Place as sponsors of the NMTF Young Traders Markets. Many of our young traders are already familiar with the market environment, but being part of an event as prominent as the Belfast Christmas Market offers an exciting opportunity to take their businesses to the next level."
This year's featured young traders include Mini Sticher, The Candle Bottle Bank, Sweet as Adia, Dilemna Crafts, Halfpenny Treasures, Earrings By Eimear, Little Creative Crochet, and Clinton Bakes.
Belfast Christmas Market will be open on the 15 November at 12noon.
Opening hours are:
Monday – Wednesday 10am – 8pm
Thursday – Saturday 10am – 10pm
Sunday 12noon – 6pm
This year's initiative will see emerging entrepreneurs offered a prime opportunity to showcase their products in front of the more than one million visitors expected to attend the event.
Market Place has collaborated with the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) to donate the space. This partnership will provide nine young entrepreneurs with free trading space within the market.
Specifically, two dedicated chalets have been allocated for this initiative: one will feature the winners of the Northern Ireland regional final of the NMTF Young Traders campaign, while the other will showcase a selection of finalists from this year's competition.
From handcrafted jewellery and sustainable babywear to gluten-free macarons and crocheted toys, the young trader chalets promise a vibrant mix of products that reflect both innovation and entrepreneurship.
Joe Harrison, CEO of the NMTF, said: "We're extremely appreciative to have Market Place as sponsors of the NMTF Young Traders Markets. Many of our young traders are already familiar with the market environment, but being part of an event as prominent as the Belfast Christmas Market offers an exciting opportunity to take their businesses to the next level."
This year's featured young traders include Mini Sticher, The Candle Bottle Bank, Sweet as Adia, Dilemna Crafts, Halfpenny Treasures, Earrings By Eimear, Little Creative Crochet, and Clinton Bakes.
Belfast Christmas Market will be open on the 15 November at 12noon.
Opening hours are:
Monday – Wednesday 10am – 8pm
Thursday – Saturday 10am – 10pm
Sunday 12noon – 6pm
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.