| 626 Night Market | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location(s) | Santa Anita Park inArcadia, California;OC Fair & Event Center inCosta Mesa, California;Alameda County Fair inPleasanton, California |
| Established | 2012 |
| Website | 626nightmarket |
626 Night Market is a regularnight market located in the626 area code region ofSan Gabriel Valley, northeast ofLos Angeles. As of 2022 it is the largest night market in the United States.
The event is held multiple times a year from May through September. Each 3-day night market event draws up to 100,000 attendees[1] with more than 250 participating food, merchandise, and craft vendors, as well as art and music.[2][3] The market is held atSanta Anita Park inArcadia.[4] It is the largest night market in the United States.[1][5]
The events are known for their large selection ofInstagram-friendly foods, ranging from traditional night market snacks found in Asia such asstinky tofu and meat skewers tofusion cuisine such aspho tacos and ramen burgers.[6][7] Vendors are local artisans and aspiring chefs plus entrepreneurs who already own a restaurant, retail store or food truck, or those who are launching a new product or brand ortest-marketing a new concept.[1][8]
Conceived by Jonny C. Hwang, a businessman born in Taiwan and raised in southern California,[9][10] the market was inspired by the night markets of Asia, especially theShilin Night Market inTaipei.[11] The inaugural market was held in 2012 and drew an unexpectedly large crowd that clogged the streets ofOld Town Pasadena, initially drawing negative criticism from attendees and allegations of mismanagement.[12][13] The market subsequently relocated toSanta Anita Park.[14]
626 Night Market established OC Night Market at theOC Fair & Event Center inCosta Mesa.[4] DTLA Night Market was held for a limited run next toStaples Center in Downtown Los Angeles in the same year.[15] In 2018, 626 launched NorCal Night Market at theAlameda County Fairgrounds inPleasanton.[4][16][17] As of 2020, all events were renamed to 626 Night Market, with OC Night Market rebranded as 626 Night Market/OC and NorCal Night Market as 626 Night Market/Bay Area.[18] In 2022 626 launched in Santa Monica.[19] The various locations do not overlap dates.[20]
Since the first 626 Night Market event in 2012, a number of other night markets have emerged in Los Angeles and Orange County, including theKTOWN Night Market, the Little Saigon Night Market and the MPK Night Market.[21]