SeeCalifornia.com

Summertime when the sun goes down there’s a special energy and excitement as families and friends meet up at night markets in California. Some markets have limited summer-only engagements and a few such as the 626 Night Market in Arcadia (shown in photo) meet a few days each year. This particular market serves up special dishes from vendors catering to a local Asian audience. Night markets have helped turn towns around and get people out and about spending money in places that were previously “dead” zones. While some night markets charge a fee the majority are free admission.  Here is a list of night markets.

• One of the longest running night markets is the Thursday night market on Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo. For more than 30 years locals, visitors and college students have stepped out for food, entertainment, gift & souvenir shopping and farm-fresh produce.
• Palm Springs VillageFest is an example of a night market that just makes sense. Summer days in the desert are dangerously hot for some. Evenings are pleasant. That’s when everyone steps out.
• Lindsay, Lemoore and Hanford are examples of cities with night markets that fold during the winter–and that makes sense when temperatures drop.
• Redlands calls their event Market Night instead of Night Market. It is held on Thursdays.