20/10/2026
I had a lovely visit at the last market from Ryan at
He's doing a great job at highlighting the work people do in Dunfermline and surrounding areas.
I've been asked so many times who do I work for, many believing its the council, but its my business. I do all the advertising, design the posters, socials, reels, contacting the small businesses, invoices, paperwork, liase with the road closure teams, licensing, do the risk assessments, the layout, book the singers, go to meetings, put leaflets through doors etc and I love it!
I am very lucky to have good friends who give up their time and help out on market and events days. And I am very lucky to work with some incredible people on big events.
Thank you for this lovely write up!
"The original market here in Dunfermline actually took place right here outside Dunfermline Abbey. It's literally perfect, you've got cobbled streets, all these amazing vendors, the Glen is right there, it's the perfect location.
I think that's why it works, if you can make a day of it, bring your family, have a good bite to eat and a walk through the park or the abbey grounds, then up the street to the shops, then people will come.
I actually went to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and studied Events Management as part of my course, I've worked in retail, I was a manager at a jewellers. The Kingsgate was hosting charity events and I wanted to get involved in that, that lead to the small business market in the centre and the Carnegie Trust put on a Picnic in the Park for the Queens jubilee celebrations, so I contacted them to see if we could get stallholders to take part and they agreed, that's how it all began really!
I was approached by Sunil from Fife Council about the Christmas light switch on, we got stalls in place for that as well. From then it became what it is now, I sent so many emails out to vendors and even shops in the area and the response was great. A few shops even started off here, Maria from Marias Bakes and Sharon from Pure Craft. The council were so helpful and now we're in our third year.
I treat every one as my last market, if I don't give it my all, or keep on top of myself, I give myself a hard time. I owe it to every single person here today, vendors, singers and volunteers to show up for them. It's the wait when you open, it's like a show or a performance, there's nobody in the crowd but eventually they wander in and before you know it, it's mobbed! I see the traders, they're all smiling then they'll leave early because they're sold out. It's the best feeling. I go home and I'm buzzing.
It's my full time job now and as well as this, I did the Bruce Festival with Billy and Visit Dunfermline, the food festival as well the Langtoun Market in Kirkcaldy where I'm originally from. I do a cake festival in Perth which I'm hoping to bring here.
I genuinely love this town, I've been in Dunfermline for 12 years and it's home. All the traders are fantastic and some travel far to be here. They love that it's so busy here and when you put something on in Dunfermline, people show up, they support it and I love that about them"
Natasha
Dunfermline City Artisan Market
Have you been to the market? Who's your favourite vendor to visit? Let me know and give Natashas story a wee share. Thank you!
