These Night Markets Are Lighting Up Cities
As farmers markets and food truck rallies now seemingly pop up everywhere, a new nocturnal trend has recharged the street food scene and illuminated the rich potential hidden in long-forgotten neighborhoods across the US. Inspired by the late-night street markets found in many Asian cities, more and more night markets have taken root stateside to expose a rich, cultural melting pot that has largely simmered unnoticed to US audiences. Here, we take a look at the most popular night markets shedding light on local culture from coast-to-coast.
Image Credit: Convoy District Partnership
The San Diego Night Market is an annual celebration of Asian culture, food and live entertainment in San Diego’s Convoy District, the largest Asian Pacific American neighborhood in San Diego County.
Image Credit: San Diego Night Market
Image Credit: Convoy District Partnership
More than 50 vendors predominately featuring businesses from the Convoy District specializing in Asian-inspired food and goods make up this night market held over a two-day period in the parking lot of an office park. In addition to feasting on everything from Chinese pancakes to Vietnamese garlic noodles, the market features dance and music performances, a laser light show and various carnival games to entertain the estimated 20,000+ attendees.
Image Credit: Field Gems Photography
Image Credit: Field Gems Photography
Image Credit: San Diego Night Market
The Convoy District Partnership produces the San Diego Night Market as way to highlight the burgeoning Convoy District – a 2-square mile triangle bounded by the 805, 52 and 163 freeways filled with hundreds of shops specializing in Asian products and services. Convoy Street is the main commercial artery in this area and is lined with Asian supermakets, tea houses, karoke bars, worship halls and cafes. What’s particularly attractive about the Convoy District is its diverse makeup of Pan Asian businesses – Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese business owners all set up shop alongside one another in this emerging cultural and economic hub.