OPEN AIR IN THE SQUARE IS PART OF A 12-WEEK PROGRAMME TO BRING VIBRANCY AND COMMUNITY BACK TO NEWPORT TOWN CENTRE. 

Activities will be varied and interesting – from sea shanty singing to traditional butter making, circus performance and vintage motorbike displays - something to engage people who are already in town but also to encourage tourist visits.

These exciting events are part of the Newport High Street Heritage Action Zone programme, funded and delivered by a partnership of Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, Historic England and Isle of Wight Council.

Each market has a theme, see below for what's on over the coming weeks:

• Plant Market - Saturday 4th September - outdoor plant market, farming heritage display and market stalls.
• Medieval Market - Saturday 11th September - discover how the streets of Newport were part of bustling trading town full of livestock, produce and wares for sale in our Medieval Market. 
• Newport and the Festival - Saturday 18th September - a celebration of the history of the Isle of Wight festival with market stalls and an exhibition of historic photos. Market stalls, music and more! 
• Vintage and Classic Motorcycles - Saturday 25th September - this annual event is run by the Isle of Wight Vintage motorcycle club and brings a bit of vrooom to the St Thomas Square with some beautiful bikes and three wheelers at least 25 years old.  There will be some exciting market stalls alongside the Newport Minster to add to the activities going on. 

About High Streets Heritage Action Zones

The High Streets Heritage Action Zones is a £95 million government-funded programme led by Historic England, designed to secure lasting improvements and help breathe new life into our historic high streets for the communities and businesses that use them. Historic England is working with local people and partners to unlock the rich heritage on these high streets, through repair and improvement works as well as arts and cultural programmes, making them more attractive to residents, businesses, tourists and investors.

About Historic England

We are Historic England the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we’ve come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories these places tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all.