Stockport’s free Mad Hatter food event set for 20 June

Stockport Market Place will host a free Mad Hatter’s Street Tea Party on Saturday 20 June, launching the new Saturday Snack Down food festival series.

The event is being billed as the first in a monthly run of food-themed Saturday events at the Market Place from June to October. It is open to all ages, with entertainment, food and surprises planned for the day. No booking is required.

Date, venue and entry details

The event will take over Stockport Market Place, the historic town-centre setting that sits around one of Greater Manchester’s longest-running markets. The Market is home to more than 50 independent traders and has more than 750 years of trading history.

Mad Hatter theme starts a monthly food series

Saturday Snack Down is a new free monthly food-themed event programme, running from June to October. The first edition, on 20 June, will turn the Market Place into a Mad Hatter’s Street Tea Party.

Stockport Council said the day will include entertainment, food and surprises designed to bring people of all ages into the town centre. The source notice does not give a start time, stage schedule, stall list or accessibility arrangements.

The launch adds another regular event to a Market Place calendar that already includes Foodie Friday, Makers Market, STOCK Party, Armed Forces Day celebrations and Stockport Pride. A separate Stockport Vintage Spectacular is also listed for Sunday 12 July, with the Victorian Market Hall due to host vintage fashion, vinyl, jewellery, homeware, collectables, live swing music, retro entertainment, free vintage bus rides, close-up magic and pop-up experiences.

Why Stockport Market is drawing more events

The new Saturday Snack Down series comes during a wider revival of Stockport Market and the surrounding town centre. According to the council’s notice, nearby Merseyway welcomed more than 10 million visits in 2025, while independent businesses have continued to invest in the area.

Over the past 12 months, the market has welcomed Stockport Provisions and The Pet Grocer, while artist Kate O’Brien has expanded into a larger stall. The Brick Prof, a specialist LEGO stall, opened in March 2026 and focuses on retired and hard-to-find LEGO sets. Lou’s Café has also taken over the long-established John O’Mara’s café unit in the Market Hall.

Cllr Micheala Meikle, Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Skills, said the market’s success showed what could happen when local character, independent businesses and visitors came together in the town centre.

Andy Pidgen, Operations Director at Market Place (Europe) Ltd, said the summer programme was intended to give people more reasons to spend time in the Market Place, discover local businesses and enjoy food and entertainment.

What to know before going

Visitors can attend the Mad Hatter’s Street Tea Party without booking and without paying for entry. The confirmed location is Stockport Market Place, Market Place, Stockport.

The source notice confirms the event date, free entry, all-ages audience, food theme and entertainment, but it does not list a start time, end time, transport advice or accessibility details. The first Saturday Snack Down event is scheduled for Saturday 20 June 2026 at Stockport Market Place.

Source: Stockport Council

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Source check Source trail

This preview uses the event details stated in Stockport Council’s published notice and flags missing practical details where they were not provided.

Checks

• Confirmed the event name as Saturday Snack Down: Mad Hatter’s Street Tea Party.
• Checked the stated date as Saturday 20 June 2026.
• Confirmed the venue as Stockport Market Place, Market Place, Stockport.
• Confirmed free entry and no booking required from the event brief.

Stockport Council Check wider coverage

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Stockport Council

Scope

Stockport

Updated

2026-06-09 19:51

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Article contextPeople & topics3#7

Micheala MeikleAndy PidgenKate O’Brien

#Food Festival#Greater Manchester events#Mad Hatter’s Street Tea Party#Market Place Europe Ltd#Saturday Snack Down#Stockport Market#Stockport Market Place

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