BLACKBURN Market will hold a rare Sunday opening this month for the town’s Heritage Festival.

As well as the market being open all weekend on September 13 and 14, there will be a selection of sampler stalls next to a pop-up bandstand on the Cathedral green.

This will create a ‘mini Blackburn Market’ with a taste of the specialist food and drink on offer at the real thing under The Mall shopping centre.

It will be the first time the new market hall has opened on a Sunday other than during the Christmas season since it opened in 2011. More than 100 events and activities will take place at 50 venues for Blackburn Heritage Festival weekend, with many happening in and around the market. Customers are invited to take part in free history-themed activities.

Alex Fisher, Lancashire clog dancing expert, will host a line-up of cloggers and live musicians outside the Church Street entrance.

On the Saturday, resident celebrity chef Philippa James will be using stallholders’ home-grown fare to cook some traditional Lancashire recipes in the market’s demonstration kitchen near to Butler’s Cafe.

There will be heritage themed arts and crafts workshops for children in the activity area next to the visitor centre.

A traditional Punch and Judy show takes place in the activity area near to Butler’s Café on the Sunday.

And throughout the weekend there will be a recreation of a Victorian photography studio near to the entrance at the bottom of Church Street for visitors to dress up in costume and take away an old- fashioned portrait.

Exchange Coffee’s Mark Smith will meet visitors at 2pm on the Saturday to explain the history of his coffee business which started at Blackburn Market.

Market commercial manager David Smith said: “With over 100 activities and events happening across the town centre for the festival, this is an ideal opportunity for us to showcase Blackburn Market’s traditional reputation for being a community hub and a great place for families to shop, eat, drink and have fun.”