Mullumbimby Community Markets June 2026

June's Mullumbimby Community Markets was our first market after returning from Japan.

Only returning from Japan less than 24 hours before, we came home filled to the brim with new ideas and motivation. We are big on our values around bringing Japan's best salt, rice and nori (seaweed) to blend with the local produce of the Byron region, so after journeying around to prefectures known for nori (seaweed) and pottery used onigiri like Shiga and Saga, we had many new additions that we were excited to put in front of people.

1. The monthly Mullumbimby community market#

Mullumbimby Community Markets at Brunswick Valley Historical Park.

The Mullumbimby Community Markets (also known as the Mullum markets) are held monthly at Summers Park within Mullumbimby, and the setting gives the morning a different pace from some of the busier coastal markets. It feels leafy, spacious and relaxed, with stalls tucked between the park, the path and the open grass.

It is the market that also has the most local feel for marketgoers and stallholders alike. Lined up along the streets include locals selling their crafts and each month we are lucky enough to see a lot of familiar faces.

The Mullum markets mix food, coffee, clothes, crafts, plants, music, families and people slowly doing their Saturday lap.

We love Mullumbimby because of the pace of the town. It is always a delight to chat with the locals and those coming to visit the town and (hopefully) we can one day even call Mullumbimby home!

2. Pocket Rice back at Mullum#

Our stall location for the day's market was perched between the beautiful horticulture markets and unique craft stalls.

Coming back to a local market after being away always makes the familiar details stand out again: the early setup, the regular faces, the small conversations before the morning gets busy, and the feeling of easing back into the rhythm of service.

We were all smiles when preparing our first onigiris for the Mullumbimby community.

If you are ever about or looking for a local morning trip, then be sure to come say hello to us on every third Saturday morning of the month here at the market!

The remainder of the blog highlights some photos and stalls from our walk around the market before the market started!

3. Ibu Bali and Black Crest Coffee#

Ibu Bali and Black Crest Coffee keeping the food and coffee side of the market moving.

Ibu Bali and Black Crest Coffee were both set up near the morning flow of people arriving. Both are familiar market names across different towns in the Northern Rivers circuit.

Made runs Ibu Bali has always been a really great friend to us and support of Pocket Rice. She also recently just updated her market tent (check out the awesome new print)! Made serves gluten free and vegan friendly Balinese food and can always be seen sharing. You can find Made's latest on Instagram and Facebook.

Black Crest Coffee is a local coffee provider based in Brunswick Heads. They always brings out plenty of seating and tables for friends and family to relax and catch up at the markets.

4. Yaman and Authentic Thai#

Yaman and Authentic Thai side by side in the food section.

Yaman and Authentic Thai add other market food options to the Mullum market line-up.

Yaman is local to Mullumbimby and bring the flavours of Yemen and the Middle East to our little pocket of the world. You can follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

Authentic Thai is another market resident you will see all over the Byron circuit. Sadly we couldn't find any links to share for you (please let us know if they have them!), but we highly recommend trying them out if you love Thai food as much as we do!

5. Utopia Coffee and Mullum Food Company#

Utopia Coffee and Mullum Food Company adding more local flavour to the morning.

Utopia Coffee and Mullum Food Company were positioned in the park near the live music and seating.

We normally bounce between Utopia Coffee and the other coffee stalls to share our love around when we need a coffee pick up!

The wonderful staff at Utopia Coffee often come by to grab our onigiri at the markets and you can also find them along the Byron region market circuit.

Mullum Food Company is another local market stall that is always at the market too.

6. Shokudo Neko#

Shokudo Neko - a new Japanese market stall we spotted at Mullum.

We were especially excited to see Shokudo Neko, a new Japanese market stall at Mullum. After coming back from Japan, seeing another Japanese food presence at the market felt like a nice thread between where we had just been and where we had returned to.

It was our first time meeting and they were super lovely! They mentioned they used to work at Federal Doma Cafe, which is arguably the region's most famous Japanese cafe.

There is something encouraging about seeing more Japanese food and culture represented around the Northern Rivers. It makes the local market scene feel broader, warmer and more connected.

We took the photo of their market stall as they were still setting up. We apologise for that because the full setup during the market was beautiful.

Keep an eye out for them. They were selling lovely plates of Japanese food. We are hoping to keep our friendship blossoming in the upcoming months!

7. The market tie-dye clothing stall#

Our friend's tie-dye clothing stall with bright handmade pieces.

As for another Japanese connection, we also stopped by our friend's tie-dye clothing stall. The colours are impossible to miss, and it brings a playful brightness into the walk between food, coffee and craft stalls.

Each item is hand-crafted with love and you can find the stall at most markets around the Northern Rivers circuit.

8. Street views through the market#

The market path filling up as the morning settled in.

Rows of stalls stretching through the park.

The street-view photos capture some of the arts and crafts markets that you can see lining the street. You can see enough ahead to keep wandering, but the rows still have little pockets where people pause, chat and browse.

Our friend Megumi was also there running her Grace of Life Jewellery stall at the market today and is there every month. We ran a highlight on Megumi's stall in our recent guide to the Byron Bay Community Markets that we wrote up!

9. Crafts, clothing and handmade pieces#

Craft and clothing stalls at Mullumbimby Community Markets — Crafts, clothes and handmade details around the market rows.

Handmade craft stall display at Mullumbimby Community Markets — A slower browse through the maker stalls.

Market stall with handmade goods and clothing at Mullumbimby Community Markets — The handmade side of the market has plenty to stop for.

Clothing and craft stall at Mullumbimby Community Markets — Textures, colours and local stall styling throughout the park.

General craft and clothing market stall at Mullumbimby Community Markets — A few more finds from the crafts and clothing stalls.

Beyond the street stalls, Mullum has plenty of other crafts, clothing and handmade pieces to slow down for around the market. These are the stalls where you notice the market changing month to month: new colours, new displays, different makers, and the occasional item you keep thinking about after you leave.

10. Park views#

The park gives the market space to breathe.

A green backdrop for the monthly market.

The market also has stalls lining up through the beautiful greenery of the park. The trees, open grass and historical park setting keep the day from feeling too packed, even when the market is busy.

11. Stalls near us#

Some of the stalls near our Pocket Rice setup.

The neighbouring stall mix changes the feel of every market day.

Finally, on our way back to our stall to start the day we capture some photos of our neighbours for the day. The nearby stalls shape the little corner you spend hours in: who you chat with before opening, who you swap stories with during the quiet patches, and who you end up recommending to customers.

12. The perfect market to come back to#

This June market was exactly what we needed after Japan: local, grounding and full of small reminders that Pocket Rice is part of a wider community of makers, cooks, growers, artists and regular market-goers.

We came back feeling energised, and Mullum gave us a gentle place to bring that energy back into the stall.

Some of our shipments are still on the way from Japan that will give our onigiri stall another boost, so be sure to follow us on Instagram at @pocket_rice_byronbay to see where we are next!