Northampton Market Square Reopening

The countdown is on! In just one week, Northampton will celebrate the highly anticipated grand opening of the newly revitalised Market Square on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October. 

Hosted by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) in partnership with Northampton Forward, Northampton BID and Northampton Town Council, this weekend event promises to bring together the community for a two-day festival of family fun, live entertainment, local food and drink, and cultural experiences.

The Market Square, a historic centrepiece of Northampton, has undergone a stunning transformation to create a vibrant, accessible, and inclusive space for everyone to enjoy. The grand opening event will feature a wide range of activities, performances, and market traders, showcasing the best of Northampton’s local talent, businesses, and heritage.

What’s waiting for you?

The 2-day event promises to be a vibrant display of community spirit, culture, and live entertainment that residents and visitors won’t want to miss. 

ABBA tribute act The Magic of ABBA and Britain’s Got Talent 2024 finalists Northants Sings Out will be the headline acts on the main stage.

There will be something for everyone to enjoy, with illusion shows, face painters, exciting sports activities to try out and captivating heritage and history displays. It is shaping up to be an experience you won’t want to miss!

The Northampton BID Family Zone

If you’re a fun-seeker, then the Northampton BID Family Zone is the place for you. Get ready for a fun, bright, vibrant circus-feeling family zone that will provide hours of fun in abundance.

Keeping the entire family happy on a day out anywhere can be a tough challenge! But we have just the solution. A space that will prove a huge hit with all members of the family from grandparents to tiny tots. 

With face painting, circus workshops, quiet book corner, and lots more to keep you entertained, make sure to visit the Family Zone across the weekend which we have partnered with The Northampton BID to curate alongside WildTribe and Pastiche.

dbfb Interactive Sports Zone

Dive into a world of action! Test your skills with fun challenges, join in on fitness demonstrations, or watch some spectacular performances. It’s the perfect place to get active and celebrate West Northamptonshire's sporting excellence.

The Main Stage   

Lights, camera, action! Featuring Northamptonshire's most sought-after music acts, the Main Stage promises a carefully curated programme of local bands, singers and artists devised alongside some of the most prominent music organisations in West Northants.

Saturday 19 October

BBC Introducing is a nationally recognised music initiative with a local focus. Championing new, up and coming music artists, their cross-genre approach ensures all artists are given a stage to showcase their developing abilities. 

Featuring at all major UK festivals (from Glastonbury to Leeds Festival), the Northants contingent of BBC Introducing is dedicated to creating performance opportunities for as many artists as possible.

Sunday 20 October

The Northampton Music Festival has been a jewel in the local music crown for over 10 years and shows no signs of stopping! Started by a family of prominent West Northants venue owners, NMF has evolved into a cross-venue event.

It is a key date in the gig diary of music acts and an opportunity to highlight the many stages and spaces that promotes live music in the local area.  

From jazz to pop, rock to ska, NMF will curate a day of music on the mainstage that will suit all music appetites.

The Discover Northamptonshire Zone  

The Discover Northamptonshire Zone is your chance to discover what is great about Northamptonshire! Here, you can learn all about the amazing current community initiatives, attractions and spaces across West Northants, the people that make our community so vibrant, and the rich heritage within West Northants.  

Some highlights include:

• The Northampton Museum and Art Gallery’s (NMAG) Handling Collection and Archaeological Dig
• The chance to try out musical instruments with Performing Room
• Latest news and events from local attractions
• NTC Heritage Boards and Snapshots in Time
• N-Live Radio live broadcast

Food, glorious food! 

Don't miss the ultimate feast of flavours with mouthwatering local street food and refreshing drinks - a must for all the foodies

Here is a flavour of what awaits:

• Pizza from Pizzaroo
• American BBQ from the Smoke Pit  
• Taco Truck from Tacos El Pap
• Jerk Chicken from Fud Cuisine
• Drinks bar from V&B

Proudly supported by our amazing sponsors

We’re making this weekend unforgettable thanks to the incredible support of local businesses and community sponsors who have come together to bring Northampton’s heart back to life. It’s a true testament to what we can achieve when we work together.

"We are just one week away from unveiling Northampton’s new Market Square, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this historic moment with our community. The grand opening event will be a fantastic opportunity to bring people together, showcase local talent, and celebrate our town’s rich heritage.

“We invite everyone to join us for a weekend of fun, food, and festivities as we mark the beginning of a new chapter for Northampton Market Square with many amazing activities for everyone to enjoy."Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure at West Northamptonshire Council

In addition to the entertainment, local businesses and market traders will be offering fresh, locally produced goods, handmade crafts, and a range of expert services, providing visitors with a chance to support small businesses and shop local.

This event is proudly sponsored by Veolia, ZONE Developments, Northampton BID, SEGRO, Evolve, Discover Northamptonshire, dbfb Communications, Danaher & Walsh (Civil Engineering) Ltd, Billing Aquadrome, and CS2. Their support has been instrumental in making this grand celebration possible.

Don’t miss out on this incredible weekend! Mark your calendars and be part of the grand opening of Northampton Market Square on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October.

“Veolia is proud of Northampton and is thrilled to be sponsoring the Market Square celebrations. This amazing space at the heart of the community offers so much to the people of Northampton and Veolia is delighted to be part of it.

“As well as helping residents with their waste and recycling while keeping Northampton's streets clean, Veolia supports local not-for-profit organisations, community groups, and individuals that protect and preserve resources in their local area through the Sustainability Fund. Veolia also offers local schools the opportunity to develop a small orchard of fruit trees through their Veolia School Orchards project, not only giving young people a chance to experience the benefits of working with nature but helping to improve local biodiversity.

“Biodiversity is one of the pillars of ecological transformation and that's one of the reasons Veolia is distributing wildflower seeds at the Market Square event, giving everyone who visits a chance to enhance biodiversity in their local area.”Andrew Reidy, General Manager at Veolia

“Only one week to go until The Music Of ABBA takes the stage! Grab your Dancing Queens and come join us for the party of the year as we bring you the hits that you know and love.”James Taylor, Magic of Abba Tribute

For more information and event details, visit the Reopening of Northampton Market Square webpage.