Wolverhampton gets a free Bilston Market day on July 11

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-06-29 19:25 Updated: 13:33 3 min read

Fresh colorful heirloom tomatoes, basil, kale, and root vegetables displayed at a market stall.

Bilston Market’s new outdoor home will get its first big public celebration on Saturday 11 July, with a free family event running from 10am to 3pm at Bilston outdoor market in Wolverhampton.

The Bilston Market Official Opening Celebration will be hosted by Dicky Dodd, with celebrity chef Glynn Purnell appearing as special guest for cooking demonstrations. Entry is free, and the programme is aimed at families looking for free family fun, market regulars and anyone who wants to see the redeveloped site after more than £8 million of investment.

The event follows the return of traders to the new-look market site from Thursday 2 July, when stalls are due to open for business from 8am under a purpose-built canopy.

Cooking demonstrations, performances and family activities

The 11 July celebration will be the first use of the market’s new flexible events space. City of Wolverhampton Council says the line-up includes cooking demonstrations by Glynn Purnell, K-Pop performances, a circus show and demonstration, Caribbean dance performances, craft workshops and a dragon walkabout character.

There will also be sandpits, a colouring area, face painters, balloon modelling, singers and a mini food festival. Free market goodybags will be available while stocks last.

For readers planning the day, the core details are simple:

Detail	Information
Event	Bilston Market Official Opening Celebration
Date	Saturday 11 July
Time	10am to 3pm
Venue	Bilston outdoor market, Wolverhampton
Entry	Free
Audience	Family friendly

The celebration is separate from the first trading day in the new market, which begins on Thursday 2 July. Normal Bilston Market opening times are Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8am to 4pm.

What has changed at Bilston outdoor market

The redeveloped market was formally handed back to City of Wolverhampton Council by contractor Speller Metcalfe last week after completion of the works.

The new outdoor market includes a purpose-built canopy intended to offer better protection in poor weather, along with easier access, upgraded toilets, enhanced stalls, new signage, public areas and a taxi drop-off. The council says the investment has been funded through a combination of Government and council money.

The changes are designed to bring traders back into a more permanent, modern site after the redevelopment works. Julie Emery of JD Produce, a fruit and veg trader at Bilston outdoor market, said she had enjoyed the time on the high street but was excited to move into the new market.

She said the market was looking great and that traders were hearing positive comments from members of the public who were keen to visit when they returned to the original outdoor site.

A wider Bilston investment programme

Council leader Stephen Simkins described Thursday 2 July as a milestone day for Bilston as traders prepare to welcome customers into the new market for the first time.

Councillor Qaiser Azeem, the council’s Cabinet Member for Resident Services, said the new facility had been created for traders to thrive and provide a community shopping experience.

The council has also linked the market project to a wider programme of investment in Bilston, including Black Country Route public realm improvements, the High Street Link scheme, a £20 million Pride in Place programme being developed with local residents, and construction of a new Health and Wellbeing facility next to the leisure centre.

Readers looking for the earlier event listing can also see the local guide to the free Bilston Market opening in Wolverhampton.

Practical details before you go

Bilston Market’s official opening celebration takes place on Saturday 11 July, from 10am to 3pm, at Bilston outdoor market. Entry is free.

The source confirms a taxi drop-off, easier access and upgraded toilets as part of the redevelopment. It does not list a full venue address or any booking requirement for the celebration.

Source: City of Wolverhampton Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This preview is based on the City of Wolverhampton Council notice for the new Bilston outdoor market and its official opening celebration.

Checks

Confirmed the event date as Saturday 11 July and the time as 10am to 3pm.
Checked that the venue is Bilston outdoor market in Wolverhampton.
Confirmed that entry is free and the event is family friendly.
Separated the first trading day on Thursday 2 July from the celebration event on Saturday...

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