In the market for a festival of music food and drink?

A TWO-DAY festival centred around the award-winning Altrincham Market will take place for the first time this year, showcasing the best of the area’s food, drink and music scene.

The music stages around the market will run from noon until 9pm with DJ sets from BBC 6music star Mary-Ann Hobbs, Inspiral Carpets’ Clint Boon, The Smiths’ Mike Joyce and Hacienda legend Dave Haslam.

Taking place over the weekend of September 23 and 24, the event will also host ‘in conversation’ pieces in Altrincham town hall on the Sunday, with a line-up including renowned designer Peter Saville and market operations co-founder Nick Johnson.

The festival will culminate in the ‘HarFest Parade’ which will be led by raucous brass band Mr Wilson’s Second Liners. The acclaimed chef Aiden Byrne of Manchester House will follow with a HarFest Supper in Market House, which will be priced at around £60-£70 will all the proceeds going to two charities: Warrington’s Brainwave and Didsbury’s Reverse Rett.

Alt.HarFest is the collaborative effort of local businesses, Ground Control, The Music Place and Alty Market, all run by people who live locally.

Alt.HarFest will be mostly free (with the exception of charity fundraising events and music workshops), funded without sponsorship or public funding by the people staging the event. Up-to-date information on the programme and ticketed events will be available through the Altrincham Market Facebook page and Twitter feed @altrinchammkt.