Garstang greets young traders with open arms
On Saturday 21st February, The Teenage Market was delivered in Garstang for the very first time, transforming Cherestanc Square, outside Booths, into a vibrant showcase of youth-led enterprise, live performance and hands-on creativity.
The event marked an important milestone. It was the fourth event delivered across Wyre as part of the 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund-supported programme of activity and built on the strong foundations established in Poulton and other locations across the borough. Bringing the Teenage Market to Garstang extended that momentum into a new town — and the response from young traders made it clear just how powerful that opportunity was.
💰 £1,500+ Earned — and Confidence Gained
Across the day, young traders generated over £1,500 in sales, with over 400 individual products sold. However, as always with the Teenage Market, the impact extended far beyond income.
12-year-old Ava from Garstang, who was taking part in her very first market, shared how she “Liked the music and the nice people and atmosphere. As it was my first ever craft market I really enjoyed it and the organisers were really nice.”
14-year-old Freddie of Fs 3D Prints, also from Garstang, described the event as “very well organised and a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs like myself” and 11 year-old Martha, another local trader, explained that “everyone was really nice and it was well set up.”
The combination of Cherestanc Square’s central position and Booths’ proximity clearly worked. 13-year-old Paula who made over £200 selling her bakes said, “The location was amazing! Lots of people and convenient with the supermarket so close.”
17-year-old Freya of Tacobeads, who made over £100, also reflected on how the town square setting encouraged curiosity and footfall, “The live music attracted people which led to more sales. It went really well overall and it was a good event that attracted a lot of people.”
For many young people, this event was their first time trading at a market, managing stock independently, handling payments, speaking confidently to customers and seeing their ideas translate directly into income. That blend of enterprise and encouragement is precisely what the Teenage Market is designed to deliver.
🎤 Live Performance and Intergenerational Energy
The square was animated throughout the day by a lively programme of performances. Eleven-year-old Harvey impressed audiences with his confidence and stage presence, and 15 year-old Libby Taylor also delivered a standout vocal performance, drawing shoppers into the square.
In a wonderful demonstration of the event’s community spirit, the Garstang Ukulele Group also performed, creating an intergenerational atmosphere that reflected Garstang’s strong sense of local identity. The mix of young emerging talent alongside established community musicians reinforced what makes the Teenage Market distinctive — it places young people centre stage while bringing the whole community with them.
🎨 Creativity Beyond the Stalls
Alongside trading and performances, visitors were invited to take part in an interactive art zone delivered by ‘Art with Earl’ designed to spark imagination and participation. Young people designed their own decorative hair combs, used stencils to create custom T-shirts and contributed doodles and sketches to shared canvases.
The space encouraged experimentation and collaboration, ensuring that even those not trading or performing could express themselves creatively. It also reinforced the wider aim of the UKSPF-supported programme: not only to support enterprise, but to nurture confidence, skills and belonging in town centre spaces.
A Growing Programme Across Wyre
The Garstang event builds on the successful delivery of Teenage Market activity across Wyre and demonstrates the growing appetite for youth-led placemaking across the borough. As the fourth event in the 2025/26 programme, it signals a strengthening partnership model and increasing visibility for young entrepreneurs in local high streets.