A BUZZ is back in the air now that non-essential shops and some hospitality businesses have reopened, but what North-East markets are planned?

Last weekend, the first since Covid rules eased to allow non-essential shops to reopen, saw a host of outdoor markets return to North-East streets. 

Newcastle's famous weekly Quayside market returned with socially distanced stalls and a one-way system, with plans to go ahead now every week.

On a sunny day, there's nothing like grabbing a bit to eat from a local street food vendor and heading to a park with friends.

Some markets provide entertainment too, with themed events often offering fun for the whole family.

Meanwhile, farmer's markets allow you to grab shopping essentials while supporting local businesses. 

Colin Wilkes, managing director of Durham Markets, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be back open. It has been a long there and a half months since Christmas but everyone is delighted to be back. 

"We are hoping now that the general public will start shopping and supporting independent market traders."

Durham Markets not only runs the city's market hall but other outdoor events, like an upcoming nostalgia day. 

"We are really looking forward to that this bank holiday," Mr Wilkes added. "We hope it will give people another reason to come out.

"We want to make sure people have the right environment to be confident to come back. We've had steady footfall over the past week."

Traders will be spread out over the market to enable social distancing, there will be three living history or enactment groups and a World War 2 kitchen. 

We've put together a list of markets happening in the next few months:

Saturday Outdoor Market, Durham, April 24 and every Saturday 

Every Saturday, Market Place is transformed by around 30 small independent traders to offer a traditional and bustling one-air market.

Kicking off last weekend and open from 9am to 4pm, the market has everything from food and drink, clothes, toiletries and make-up and homeware. There is also a range of food vendors and a hot takeaway drinks stall.

Saturday Open Market, Darlington, April 24 and every Saturday 

The outdoor market has been trading on Mondays and Saturdays for hundreds of years, a tradition that still holds true today. There is also a Friday instalment. 

Between 9am and 5pm on these days, the town centre comes alive as traders offer household goods, fabrics, carpets and clothing. 

Quayside Market, Newcastle, April 25 and every Sunday

Newcastle's weekly Sunday market made a return last weekend. It runs from 9am and 4pm on Newcastle Quayside and features independent traders from all over the region selling handcrafted goods and local products.

Low Fell Food Market 2021, Gateshead, May 1 

The Low Fell Food Market is back for 2021 with a few extra bonus dates up until November, kicking off at Saltwell Park on May 5. Organisers the market combines all the best bits of a farmers market with a street food fair and some extra special non-food stalls.

This includes the likes of freshly baked bread, local cheese and artisan scotch eggs to organic skincare homemade dog treats and second-hand books.

Jesmond Food Market, Newcastle, May 1 

This market brings life to Armstrong Bridge, overlooking Jesmond Dene. The emphasis is on fresh, seasonal, local food and it takes place on the first and third Saturday of each month from 10am to 3pm.

Sedgefield Farmer's Market, County Durham, May 2 

Sedgefield Farmer's Market is back on the first Sunday of the month, kicking off in May. The village green is turned into a bustling spot with local food traders from 8.30am to 12.30pm.

Traders will also be taking pre-orders for the day where you can order directly from them in advance, pay online and collect from the market.

Nostalgia Day, Durham, May 3 

Nostalgia Day, at Durham Market Place, is being brought back on May Day. Organisers have planned a living history tableau, the vintage heartbeat bus from the 1940s and displays.

Anyone heading down should expect a vintage and general market with street food stalls, while the Market Hall will also be open from 11am to 4pm.

Durham Food Producers' and Crafters' Markets, May 20, monthly

This monthly event at Market Place is jam-packed with local independent businesses. Organisers say the market is a great source of locally produced fruit and veg, other food and drinks, crafts, gifts, homewares, clothing and photography.

This one might be good for filling the diary, as it has ith monthly dates scheduled until the end of the year.

National Young Traders’ Market 2021, May 31

Marketed as an exciting opportunity for budding entrepreneurs, this event, also at Durham Market Place, allows anyone under 30 to trade for free and demonstrate their products in efforts to find the region's future market talent.

Whether you have experience or not, young traders can feel the buzz of market selling alongside others, gain support and potentially bag themselves a place in the regional final of the NMTF Young Trader 2021 competition.

Uniformed Services Fun Day 2021, June 4

Durham Markets is planning to bring back Uniformed Services Fun Day on the Friday of half term. Everyone is welcome at the free event, which organisers say is a fun way to be inspired by emergency services such as fire services, police, ambulance, blood bike and the Army.