Cookstown Continental Market is looking good, tasting great!

It's looking good, tasting great!

Cookstown Continental Market will be back in town this weekend.

Over forty traders from all over the world will line the main street for this year's event.

The event is organised by Mid Ulster District Council, in partnership with the Town Centre Forum and delivered by Market Place Europe. It comes after the successful delivery of the town’s recent public realm scheme.

 Foodies will be delighted to know Vanmassenhove will be returning with their tasty macaroons cooked fresh at the market. Also on the menu will be the traditional German Schwenkegrill selling Bratwurst Sausages.

There are plenty of other treats if you have a sweet tooth, with Samson (De St Jorre) serving Spanish Chi Chi, Churos and waffles and Turlo providing delicious Mid Eastern sweet cakes and baklavas, dried fruits and nuts.

It’s not all about food though as Market Place will be bringing a fantastic range of crafts and gifts from a number of countries.

There will also be a selection of Northern Irish traders, as part of NI Year of Food. You can also visit the local produce stalls in ‘The Hub’ on Saturday 3rd.

 Market Place Operations Manager, Chris Hulley is looking forward to returning to Cookstown this September.

 "This will be the third time Market Place has come to Cookstown and we are very excited to come back. Our traders always gain such a warm welcome and it is fantastic to bring the market to Cookstown, offering visitors something new and exciting,” he says.

Don’t forget to keep an eye out on the Council Facebook page Visit Cookstown for details on how to enter the competition to win a £50 voucher to spend at the Continental Market.

The weekly Saturday Market traders will be located along part of William Street and James Street.

As well as the market, there will be lots to entertain shoppers with music on Friday and Saturday evening from 5pm including Manouche Gipsy Jazz Band and Rhythm 4, and Martello Jazz Band.

There will be tasty cooking demonstrations on Saturday from 10.00am with various chefs including Sean Owens, Tullylagan Country House Hotel, and Norah Brown, using the best of local produce.  If you have any budding Junior Masterchefs, then they’ll enjoy the special children’s cookery demonstrations taking place on Sunday from 1.30-4.30pm with Stephen Jeffers from Belfast Cookery School.

 On Saturday from 11am-5pm there is a range of activities for children including workshops.

Sunday afternoon is a day out for all the family from 1pm with a range of performances taking place on stage opening with the new up and coming band The Banjacks. Other performances include The Hub Choir, Donald Canavan Folk Club and Caroline Creggan School of Dance. Alongside this showcasing of local talent there will be children’s entertainment, including face painters, balloon modellers, and Doodlebug workshop.

While at the Continental Market don’t forget to pop into the local shops and support your traders! Any purchase made over £10 in participating stores, customers will be entered into a free prize draw with the chance to win an iphone 6s and one of five £50 shopping vouchers.

The Continental Market will be in Cookstown from: Friday 2nd, 9am – 8pm, Saturday 3rd, 9am – 6pm and Sunday 4th, 1pm – 6pm. Please note that there will be a road closure in operation from 8pm on Thursday 1 September, with the commencement of road opening from 7pm on Sunday 4 September. The road closure will be in place from the Orritor Street/Coagh Street junction to the Burn Road/James Street junction.

Mid-Ulster District Council chairman Trevor Wilson says it's a great day out for the whole family....