626 Night Market

626 Night Market is a large-scale night market located in the 626 area code region of San Gabriel Valley, northeast of Los Angeles.

Its events are held monthly during the summer each year. Each month's 3-day night market draws an average of 60,000 attendees with more than 200 participating food, merchandise, and craft vendors, as well as art and music attractions.[1][2] The flagship 626 Night Market is held at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia and has since expanded to include the DTLA Night Market held by Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles and the OC Night Market held at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa.[3] The organizers state that it is the largest such market in the United States.[4]

History

Conceived by Jonny Hwang, a businessman born in Taiwan and raised in southern California,[5][6] the market was inspired by the night markets of Asia, especially the Shilin Night Market in Taipei.[7] The inaugural market was held in 2012 and drew an unexpectedly large crowd that clogged the streets of Old Town Pasadena, initially drawing negative criticism from attendees and allegations of mismanagement.[8][9] The market subsequently relocated to Santa Anita Park where it now draws about 160 food vendors as well as performers and retailers.[10] The August 2013 event featured a gigantic glass filled with 320 gallons of black tea, milk, and tapioca pearls, which the organizers dubbed the "world's largest cup of boba tea."[11] In 2014, famous YouTuber Joseph Vincent and many others performed at 626 Night Market.[12]

Since the original 626 Night Market event in 2012, a number of other night markets have emerged in Los Angeles and Orange County, including the KTown Night Market, the Little Saigon Night Market, and the MPK Night Market.[13]

References

  1. "626 Night Market".
  2. "On the 626 Night Market: An Interview with Founder Johnny Hwang". Public Diplomacy Magazine. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  3. Huang, Josie (2 May 2014). "The 626 Night Market branches out beyond the San Gabriel Valley". 89.3 KPCC Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  4. Richard Chang, "Area night markets at head of new trend", Orange County Register, June 24, 2013.
  5. Clarissa Wei, "626 Night Market Founder On Next Steps and Chinese Restaurants", KCET, May 2, 2013.
  6. Liana Aghajanian, "Jonny Hwang: The Man Who Invented 626 Night Market", LA Weekly, May 15, 2013.
  7. Zen Vuong, "626 Night Market and its Taiwan predecessor", Pasadena Star News, November 2, 2013.
  8. Rosanna Xia, "San Gabriel Valley's 626 Night Market returns this weekend", Los Angeles Times, June 7, 2013.
  9. Jennifer Medina, "New Suburban Dream Born of Asia and Southern California", The New York Times, April 29, 2013.
  10. Clarissa Wei, "626 Night Market is back: Grilled skewers, spiraling potatoes and dragon whiskers", Los Angeles Times, June 10, 2013.
  11. Zen Vuong, "626 Night Market introducing larger than life boba cup Saturday", Los Angeles Daily News, August 1, 2013.
  12. Zen Vuong, "626 Night Market is back: Grilled skewers, spiraling potatoes and dragon whiskers", Pasadena Star News, September 11, 2014.
  13. Chang, Richard (4 May 2014). "Food-filled night markets are crossing into the mainstream and headed our way". OC Weekly. Retrieved 10 May 2014.

External links

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