Night Market Springs To Life

New Haven kicked off the festival season Friday evening with the Spring Night Market. The celebration, hosted by the Town Green Special Services District, began at 5, and for the next five hours with live music, vendors, and service providers activated 9th Square.

Over 100 vendors in all participated — a record, continuing a pattern of steady growth since the event’s 2018 inaugural, according to Town Green Executive Director Win Davis. Upwards of 6,000 people attended Friday night. (Click here to see a list of vendors.)

This family-friendly event is one of my faves because it’s such an eclectic celebration of New Haven and features small businesses and gives space to local entertainers to showcase their talents.

This year my friends and I started strolling Orange Street at 7:30 near the bookmobile at Orange and George. I adore this VW van turned bookstore, where you can grab a book and make a friend. We continued meandering down Orange to taste treats offered by some of the restaurants that line that end of the street. My favorite was the most tender, juicy, and flavorful chicken kebabs. Their lemony goodness melted in my mouth. (Definitely check out Lazeez when you find yourself in Ninth Square.)

We spotted the Asian Market and went in to explore. If you’ve not been there, go. The wide selection of food items will make your mouth water. They sell live fish too. It reminded me of markets in San Francisco and Maui, friendly staff and items you won’t find at places like Stop and Shop. 

As the sun set, the lights flickered on under and around vendor tents imbuing the street with a warm, inviting vibe. Night markets, which started in China in the Tang Dynasty, proliferate in Asian cities and started springing up in Western cities over the past decade or so. Many celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with art, food, and local cultural experiences and act as economic catalysts that stimulate economic corridors. 

As we approached the corner of Orange and Crown, we were met with the smell of kettle corn wafting down the street and a brass band jamming. We tried to nab some kettle corn but, alas, the line snaked down the street and my friends and I lack patience. 

This year’s event was larger than in previous years. One great addition was the CITA park beer garden. We encountered another long line to enter, but as we peeked in we saw folks having a grand time. The CITA folks coordinate Black Wall Street and several other Black-focused events around town. 

The service alley off Orange allowed attendees to learn about local nonprofits. The strongman booth was a big hit — where you heaved a giant mallet over your shoulder to ring a bell. That bell dinged all night. Mayor Justin Elicker mingled in the crowd, chatting and enjoying the fun. 

We loved the range of vendors, from jewelry artisans to toy makers. Then there was the art: live mural making, and people selling photography of the city and handmade screen prints created on the spot. 

The night market allows New Haveners and our neighbors to get out and experience the wealth of diversity among New Haven creatives. You can explore the mix of businesses you can patronize in 9th Square. Check out the calendar of upcoming Night Markets and New Haven festivals here.

Paul Bass contributed to this report.