626 Night Market facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 626 Night Market |
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| Location(s) | Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California; OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California; Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, California |
| Established | 2012 |
The 626 Night Market is a super popular outdoor event, like a big party that happens at night! It's located in the San Gabriel Valley area, near Los Angeles. This market is famous for its amazing food, cool crafts, and fun entertainment. It's actually the biggest night market in the whole United States!
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What is the 626 Night Market Like?
The 626 Night Market happens several times each year. These events usually take place from May to September. Each market lasts for three days.
Fun Activities and Food
A single 626 Night Market event can attract up to 100,000 visitors! There are more than 250 different sellers. You can find food, cool merchandise, and handmade crafts. There's also live art and music to enjoy. The main market is held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.
The market is famous for its huge variety of foods. Many of these foods are "Instagram-friendly." This means they look really cool and are fun to share pictures of online! You can find traditional Asian snacks like meat skewers. There are also unique "fusion" foods. Fusion food mixes different types of cooking. For example, you might find pho tacos or ramen burgers.
Who Are the Vendors?
The people who sell things at the market are very creative. Some are local artists or chefs who are just starting out. Others are business owners who already have restaurants or food trucks. Some vendors even use the market to try out new products or ideas. It's a great place for them to see what people like!
History of the 626 Night Market
The idea for the 626 Night Market came from a businessman named Jonny C. Hwang. He was born in Taiwan and grew up in Southern California. He was inspired by the amazing night markets in Asia. One market that really inspired him was the Shilin Night Market in Taipei.
How It Started
The very first 626 Night Market happened in 2012. A huge number of people showed up! It was so many people that the streets of Old Town Pasadena became very crowded. At first, some people were unhappy because of the crowds. After that, the market moved to Santa Anita Park. This new location had much more space for everyone.
Other 626 Night Market Events
The success of the original 626 Night Market led to new events. The organizers started the OC Night Market. This market was held at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. They also had a DTLA Night Market for a short time. This one was in Downtown Los Angeles.
New Names for Markets
In 2018, the 626 team launched the NorCal Night Market. This event took place at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. By 2020, all these events were renamed. The OC Night Market became "626 Night Market/OC." The NorCal Night Market became "626 Night Market/Bay Area." In 2022, a new 626 Night Market started in Santa Monica. The dates for these different locations are always separate, so they don't happen at the same time.
Similar Night Markets
Since the first 626 Night Market in 2012, other similar events have started. You can now find other night markets in Los Angeles and Orange County. Some examples include the KTOWN Night Market, the Little Saigon Night Market, and the MPK Night Market.
