Bowlee Car Boot Sale and Market – one of the most popular in Greater Manchester, attracting thousands of visitors every week, returns for the new season on Sunday, 5 April 2026.
Organised by Rochdale Borough Council, the 2026 season at Bowlee Community Park in Middleton begins with an Easter bank holiday double on Sunday, 5 April 2026 and Monday, 6 April 2026 and then runs on Sundays and bank holiday Mondays right through until 11 October 2026 (excluding Sunday, 3 May 2026).
Sellers do not need to pre-book, and for the 8th year in a row prices have been frozen at £15 for cars, £20 for small vans/people carriers/4X4s and £25 for large vans and above. For buyers, there are parking spaces for more than 1,200 cars at £2.50 per vehicle.
Bowlee Car Boot Sale and Market is returning for its 16th year.
‘One of the busiest ever’
The event, now in its 16th year, takes a break on Sunday, 3 May 2026 to make way for Tour de Manc – the annual Greater Manchester charity bike ride that sets off from Bowlee Park with the choice of a 60-kilometre, 100-kilometre, 165-kilometre mile or 201-kilometre ride.
Up to 31 sales will take place this year and on 2 of the sales, parking for buyers will be reduced to £1. In response to customer feedback, if bad weather is forecast, a decision will be announced by 3pm the day before the sale, instead of the previous 6pm.
The event is one of the most popular in Greater Manchester, attracting thousands of visitors every week.
Councillor Tricia Ayrton, cabinet member for climate change and environment, said:
“I am pleased this great event is returning to Bowlee Community Park for another year. We have an amazing following at Bowlee and last year was one of the busiest ever. Bargain hunters can dig out great deals and one-off items, and of course you can sell your own things too. People are a lot more conscious about recycling and re-selling now, so car boot sales are a great way of extending the life of items and reducing waste.”
- View all the new dates and more details about the events
- Bowlee Community Park is off Heywood Old Road (A6045), Middleton M24 4SB with easy access from the M60 (junction 19). Find Bowlee Community Park on Google Maps