Mansfield District Council’s £100,000 regeneration project to transform Mansfield Market is set to be fully operational from Tuesday, 5th April with a full day of entertainment scheduled for Saturday, 9th April.

The project will see all market stalls moved from Westgate onto the main Market Place and market days to run from Tuesday to Saturday every week, creating time for car boot sales, events and special markets to be held on Sundays in the coming months.

Day one of the new look commences on Tuesday, 5th April with newly-refurbished, adapted or purchased stalls, new canopies, signage and welcoming decorations. There will also be new umbrella-style stalls for entertainment and events.

The highlight of the launch will be on Saturday, 9 April with a day of entertainment, from 11am to 3pm. There will be live music from a gospel choir, a steel pan band and the Maypole Goodtime Band. Live performances by Sarah Adamson’s School of Dance will also take place, all in the new performance area at the front of the Old Town Hall.

Mansfield 103.2 will broadcast live from the Market Place. Presenters will make appearances at intervals throughout the day to discuss the types of products available to buy on the market as well as to enhance the atmosphere by playing favourite top hits and commentating on the day’s events.

In addition, Covent Garden entertainment will make its first appearance on the market with the Levitating Wizard; a static act that sees a Wizard wowing the crowds with his magical levitating powers. They will be joined by the Stilt Walking Chef, a comedy act who will help to give out freebies and informative leaflets about the new market.

For children there will be free face-painting and the chance to meet Scoop the Dog.

As part of the project, the council welcomes new traders to the market by offering rent free stalls to traders who bring products not already found on the site. New traders who qualify for the Business Incubation Scheme pay a two-month deposit and adopt a stall in the Market Place for a year, giving them chance to build their business whilst bringing more choice to Mansfield’s shoppers.

The first business to sign up to the scheme is HS Presents, finalists in the Mansfield 2020 2016 Business Awards, which operates a celebrity appearance company in Mansfield. On Saturday, 9 April they will be on hand to entertain Star Wars fans by offering photo opportunities with a life-sized Storm Trooper.

Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services Coun Stewart Rickersey said: “It has been a busy few months to ensure the changeover goes as smoothly for all as possible. The revamped Mansfield Market will be safe, welcoming and inviting for shoppers and with the new Business Incubation Scheme we intend to bring more variety to Market Place in the weeks and months ahead.

“We look forward to welcoming shoppers to the town over the coming months to take advantage of the fantastic produce and exciting events.”

For more information about what’s on at Mansfield Market visit www.mansfieldmarket.co.uk like on the MyMansfieldUK Facebook page and follow using #MansfieldMarket on Twitter @MDC_News