Sunday 5th April
Easter Egg Decorating Competition – Ilfracombe
Join us for a fun, family-friendly Easter Egg Decorating Competition at Ilfracombe Market.
This creative Easter activity is open to all ages and is a great way for children, families, and visitors to get involved in the market atmosphere. Bring your decorated egg along on the day.
Entries will be displayed during the market, with categories for different age groups. It’s all about creativity, colour, and enjoying a relaxed Easter event by the sea.
Ilfracombe Market is dog-friendly and family-friendly, with stalls, treats, and a lively community atmosphere to enjoy while you’re here.
Winners will receive a 1st, 2nd, & 3rd rosette. 1st place gets a £10 gift voucher to spend at Ilfracombe Market — perfect for treating yourself at a future market day.
Competition Timings & Voting
Decorated eggs must be brought to the market and registered by 11:00am.
The winner will be voted for by the local community, with voting taking place during the market.
Winner announcement at 2:00pm at the market and on Facebook.
More details to follow.
Sunday 3rd May 2026
Jack In The Green - Ilfracombe
Join us for the traditional Jack in the Green Ilfracombe celebration — a free, family-friendly spring event full of music, colour, and community spirit.
🌿 Event Details
The Jack in the Green procession starts at Wilder Road, Ilfracombe, departing at 11:00am.
Jack in the Green will dance through Ilfracombe Market at approximately 11:30am, bringing the market alive with music and movement.
🍃 Procession Route
🌿 Wilder Road, Ilfracombe
🌿 High Street
🌿 Fore Street
🌿 Broad Street
🌿 St James Place
🌿 Through the market to the clapping circle
🎶 Maypole Dance & Celebrations
At the Clapping Circle, the celebrations continue with:
🎵 Traditional Maypole dancing
🎶 Live music and performance
🎉 A fun, welcoming atmosphere for all ages
Our fairies will lead the Maypole dance, and visitors are encouraged to join in, dress green, and celebrate the arrival of summer.
ℹ️ Good to Know
🎟️ Free to attend
👨👩👧👦 Family-friendly
🐕 Dog-friendly
💚 Fancy dress encouraged (especially green!)
Jack in the Green is a much-loved Ilfracombe tradition and a highlight of the spring calendar — perfect to enjoy alongside a visit to Ilfracombe Market.
We are heading to the Ship & Pilot pub afterwards for a few little drinks. Feel free to join us.
Monday 1st June
Best Dressed Dog at Ilfracombe Market
We’re keeping things relaxed and fun with our Best Dressed Dog happening throughout the market day.
No parade, no pressure — just dogs enjoying the market in their own time.
• Dress your dog comfortably and creatively
• Stroll through the market as normal
• Please remember to get your photo taken for social media and the clearly market gazebo.
💛 Important: On warm days, full costumes can be too much for your pooch.
Bandanas, collars, hats, wings or a splash of colour are perfect — sometimes less really is more.
🕙 Market open: 10am – 4pm
🏆 Winner announced: 3pm
All dogs welcome 🐕
🏆 Prizes
Judged on comfort, creativity & character
🐕 Best Dressed Dog of the Day
🦴 A small doggy treat & toy
🏅 A rosette
📸 A featured photo on our social media
Judged on comfort, creativity & character 💛 Because happy dogs come first — and sometimes less really is more 🐶✨
Monday 6th July
Loud T-Shirt Competition
We’re celebrating bright, bold, unapologetically loud T-shirts — the kind that scream summer and make people smile 😄
Think Hawaiian prints 🌺, tropical colours 🌈, big patterns, fun designs.
If your T-shirt stands out, you’re in!
📍 Event details
🕘 Market open: 10am – 4pm
👨👩👧👦 Open to adults & children
📸 Photos taken: during market hours
🏆 Winner announced: 3pm
📸 How it works
👕 Wear your loudest T-shirt
📷 Head to the clearly marked gazebo for a quick photo
😎 Enjoy the market and soak up the summer vibes
🌺 What counts as a “loud” T-shirt?
✅ Hawaiian / tropical prints
✅ Bright colours
✅ Big, bold patterns
✅ Fun or eye-catching designs
❌ No fancy dress
❌ No full costumes
🏆 Winner announced on Facebook after the market
🎁 Prize: to be confirmed (local / market prize)
🌞 Why we’re doing it
Just a bit of easy summer fun, great photos, and another reason to enjoy a wander around the market.
Wear it loud. Smile for the camera. Enjoy the day 📸🌴
Market Mainly runs on Monday from the 25th - 17th Aug this year.
We have additional days running, to make up for finishing the season early.
05/02/25 - I will update the website over the course of the next few weeks.
📍 Where to Find Us
Ilfracombe Market
The Promenade, Victoria Pleasure Ground,
Ilfracombe, North Devon EX34 9BG
Look out for the stalls behind the seafront — you can’t miss us!