Founded in 2008, Suffolk Market Events is a family business that runs a number of high quality farmers’ markets, food festivals and contemporary craft markets across Suffolk.
Suffolk is one of the most scenic areas of the UK, home to beautiful villages and quaint old towns with fascinating histories. Swathes of rural farmland and rolling verdant countryside make it ideal for walking and hiking, but it also has a big draw for commuters too, so gets good footfall and tourism.
Championing local markets and small businesses, Suffolk Market Events plan various markets throughout the year, so you can be sure to find scrumptious food, delicious drinks and a host of friendly stallholders at the markets we’ve featured below. They are each in great settings too, ideal to plan a full day out or just visit briefly if you wish.
This rural, innovative and forward-thinking organisation is set to host some brilliant events in 2022. Often with free entry, free parking, and they’re dog-friendly too – read on to find out more!
Farmers Markets and foodie havens
Who doesn’t love a Farmers Market? From fresh bread to homemade jams, the best cuts of meat and excellent drinks, there’s always great food and fresh produce to be found at Suffolk Market Events’ markets. Just thinking about these markets makes our mouths water! Be sure to try…
Colchester Farmers Market
A truly local market, you’ll find over 25 artisan producers filling the piazza with wonderful smells and mesmerising tastes, including fresh Essex honey, delicious tray bakes and brownies, homemade pies and local cheeses. It’s not all ’naughty’ foods either – you can find fresh apple juice made from locally-grown apples, locally grown meat and veg, healthy snacks and energy balls too. There is also local gin provided by Matopos and craft beer from the Roughacre Brewery.
Although this is a traditional Farmers Market you can also find locally made crafts, including hand block printed cards, bags and baby gros, beautiful handmade candles and locally made soaps.
Colchester Farmers Market is FRA certified, held on the first Friday of every month in the heart of Colchester. Click here for more details.
BRAND NEW FOR 2022 – Ipswich Artisan & Producers Market
Three brand new markets are being held this year, on the Cornhill in the centre of Ipswich.
Ipswich Artisan & Producers Market combines the best local artisan produce from the farmers market with great local craft and art, celebrating local food and drink too. Imagine luscious smelling soaps, handcrafted jewellery, artisan goods and all the food you can eat!
Ipswich Vegan Market
Another foodie delight on the Cornhill in Ipswich, Ipswich Vegan Market offers something for everyone, whether you live the vegan lifestyle or not. From delicious food to lovely crafts, there’s plenty to treat yourself or to shop for gifts. Entry is free and dogs are very welcome!
Click here for full market details.
Felixstowe Artisan & Producers Market
Another delightful Ipswich market, the Suffolk Coast is home to Felixstowe Artisan & Producers Market – and there are some real treats in store!
From freshly caught fish to locally made fudge, this beach-side market offers delicious food and drink of all kinds. Located outside (but still under a large roof!), next to the brand new Beach Street at Manning’s, it’s in the ideal location.
Click here for full market details.
Suffolk Farmers Market
Held in The Cattle Sheds at Trinity Park, Ipswich, this venue offers huge, timber beamed sheds full of stallholders with the most delicious local produce on offer. With food, drink and crafts to discover, there are over 50 stallholders at the thriving Suffolk Farmers Market.
Lavenham Farmers Market
Picture the scene – black and white timber cottages, a backdrop of rolling green fields, the smell of freshly baked bread and cakes lingering in the air.
Lavenham is a picturesque village with a 15th century church and quaint sets of half-timbered medieval cottages – a splendid setting for a Farmers Market.
In fact, Lavenham Farmers Market is the official winner of ’The Best Farmers Markets in the UK in 2022’ (FRA Awards) – so it’s definitely worth visiting this year! This market has won many other awards over the years, and last year it was named one of the best food markets in the UK by The Times (Sept 2021).
Everything that is sold at this market comes from within a thirty-mile radius, with many traders living in Lavenham and others travelling in from the neighbouring towns and villages of Boxford, Sudbury and Ipswich. It truly is a local market, with local produce made by local people.
The fresh produce on offer includes Suffolk pork, lamb, red poll Suffolk beef, local eggs, home-produced jams, homemade chutneys, local Suffolk honey, regional cheeses and so much more. Doesn’t it sound mouth-watering?!
Click here to find out more. It really is a market not to be missed!
Sudbury Farmers Market
Does a range of chilli jams take your fancy? Tasty sausages and venison sit alongside home reared beef and pork, with fruit vinegars, marshmallows and even an Indian Banquet featuring in this feast for the senses.
Candles, crafts and beauty products accompany fresh organic vegetables, regional cheeses and handmade pies, with so much tasty food on offer at this gorgeous market.
Sudbury Farmers Market is a real foodie haven, and the market town of Sudbury itself is a wonderful place to discover. Sudbury is the birthplace of Gainsborough and the heart of Britain’s silk industrial heritage, so why not make a weekend of it?
Taste of Sudbury Food and Drink Festival
Melford Hall is the new home of this food festival, which you’ll find jam-packed with local food and drink stalls, as well as a Cookery Demonstration Marquee showcasing some of the best Suffolk chefs around.
This food festival showcases the very best producers, restaurants, chefs and food in Suffolk, with thousands of people coming each year to sample the top quality food and drink and watch the incredible chef demonstrations. Click here to find out more.
Bury St Edmunds Farmers Market
Yet another award-winning market, Bury was named as one the Best Farmers Markets in the UK by The Daily Telegraph (Oct 2021). In the last 5 years it’s gone from strength to strength, showcasing over 30 stallholders in the heart of Bury.
Discover freshly baked local bread, regional honey, homemade pies and savoury treats, delicious cakes and fudge, Suffolk pork and lamb, fresh fruit and vegetables, vegan snacks, fresh and smoked fish and seafood, sauces and chutneys, craft ales, locally distilled gins and vodkas, local eggs and so much more!
There are also a handful of craft stalls with makers offering locally made candles, homemade goat’s milk soaps and suchlike.
Click here for the market details.
Craft Markets
Saturday Craft Markets, Clare
Find out more about the Craft Markets in Clare, a pretty market town on the north bank of the River Stour. In 2010, Clare won the Village of the Year award, and in 2011 it won the Anglia in Bloom award for Best Large Village. Its long history as an award-winning village makes it a great setting for this wholesome craft market.
Filling Clare town hall with crafty delights, this Saturday market has a host of stallholders offering beautifully handmade goods. You really do get to Meet the Maker too, with a range of local stallholders offering their wares.
Amongst the many handmade offerings, discover original artwork and prints, beautiful ceramics, contemporary silver jewellery, metal and woodwork, handmade soaps, beauty and body products, cushions, bags, bunting, handmade candles and funky macrame.
Entry is free of charge and the Pop Up Cafe will be open too, serving delicious foods such as freshly baked cakes, scones and coffee.
Visiting Suffolk
We hope you enjoy discovering Suffolk and all of the fabulous food, drink, crafts and artisan stallholders that the area has to offer. If you’re spending time in Suffolk, click here to discover other markets in the area. Happy shopping!
You can also click here for the official Visit Suffolk website, to plan your visit to the area.