Festus Market: A Festive Celebration of Culture & Community
On Sunday 14 December, Festus Market brought the festive spirit to life with a joyful all-day celebration of African Caribbean and Black British culture. Running from 12:00 - 5:00 PM, the market welcomed visitors to browse, create, connect, and soak up the vibes, no ticket required, just good energy.
From handcrafted jewellery and clothing to homemade cosmetics and stationery, stall holders offered a brilliant range of thoughtful festive gifts. Families got stuck into craft-making activities, while the free badge-making workshop added an extra sparkle to the day. Up to 250 people came through our doors throughout the day. With delicious curry goat and chickpea plantain curry on offer, story sharing warmed the room, and a carefully curated soundtrack kept spirits high throughout.
The event was hosted by the iconic duo Dr Edson (aka Mr Festus himself) and DJ Bandyt, whose humour and impeccable musical taste tied the whole day together. Stall holders were invited to the mic to share their stories and showcase their work, creating a powerful sense of connection and visibility for local makers.
We also welcomed first-time stallholders, including Roy, who showcased and sold his work with the support of his family.
A raffle raised funds in support of Jamaica Hurricane Relief, with generous prize donations from traders and supporters.
“It was just a wonderful and heartwarming day,” said Parys Gardener, artist and stall holder. “It was lovely to share festive cultural traditions and bring a community of local makers together. Festus is for everyone and I can’t wait till next year!”
Reflecting on the day, Dr Edson Burton shared: “Fortune shone on Festus as the rain held off and the sun came out. Inside Trinity Centre, the tropical vibes were strong with stalls, music, activities, and an inspiring intergenerational mix of traders and visitors. Big up everyone who made it special. Till next year.”
And with that, Festus signs off, already counting down to the next one.
