Sydney’s Inner West To Host Creative Markets In Local Makers’ Front Yards

On Saturday 17 October, the Inner West is set to transform into one massive yet intimate open-air market! 

As part of the official collaboration between Inner West Council and Sydney Craft Week, the Makers Frontyard Trail is inviting the public to explore the front yards, driveways, and carports of local hobbyists and professional artists as they are transformed into vibrant pop-up stalls and galleries.

Unlike a traditional market, the Makers Frontyard Trail puts creativity directly into the neighbourhoods where makers live and work, giving visitors the chance to meet creatives in their natural habitat, buy unique handmade creations, and experience the creative energy of Sydney’s Inner West first-hand.

“Makers Frontyard Trail is about opening the doors to the incredible creative community that already exists across the Inner West,” says Michelle Kistima-Menser, founder of Makers Frontyard Trail.

“We’re turning everyday spaces into places for creative connection, giving people the opportunity to meet artists and makers, learn about how their handmade work is made and discover something special in their own neighbourhood.”

I’m An Inner-West Resident; Can I Host In My Front Yard?

Inner West residents, whether amateur or professional makers, can register their front yard, driveway, or verandah as a Trail location and invite other makers from further afield to share the space. Makers who don’t have their own suitable location, including those living outside the Inner West, can also participate by being matched with a host.

This shared-space approach is central to the Trail’s community ethos, helping makers connect with one another while creating welcoming spaces for visitors.

“Makers Frontyard Trail is as much about community as it is about making,” says Kistima-Menser. “By sharing spaces, we create new creative connections and give people a reason to slow down, wander their neighbourhood and spend time with the creative people who make it such a vibrant place to live.”

The event builds on a grassroots tradition of supporting local handmade businesses while creating a distinctly neighbourhood-based event — one where the journey between locations is as much a part of the experience as what visitors find when they arrive.

Visitors can explore the Trail, discover participating makers, and plan their day via the official event website.