Night Market: Next stop is Northwest Philadelphia

Next week’s Night Market in Mt. Airy will be about showcasing Philadelphia area food vendors. 

The Mt. Airy Night Market is scheduled for one-week from today on August 4 from 6-10 p.m. on Germantown Ave. between Sedgwick St. and Mt. Airy Ave. The Rain date is August 11.

 

What is a night market?

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Night market’s are popular in Asia and are exactly what you might think they are, a street fair full of food vendors.

Food trucks and local restaurant booths will line the street next Thursday night. 

The event is produced by The Food Trust, a non-profit organization that advocates for healthy eating and works to make nutritious foods more accessible to families.

It has held two previous night markets: East Passyunk in October 2010 and University City in June 2011.

 

Why Philly?

The idea behind the Philly version of the night markets is to expose people to different foods.  

“The big overarching goal behind the market is to introduce people to all kinds of ethnic and regional foods,” said April White, Food Trust communications manager.

“It’s really a great chance to see a part of the city or to celebrate your own neighborhood,” she added.

 

Mt. Airy vendors

Some of the restaurants coming to the Mt. Airy Night Market include Earth Bread + Brewery, McMenamins and Avenida—all of which will sell beer, sangria and other beverages at the event. Weavers Way, a food co-op, will also participate.

 

The music

There will be music too. The three bands that are schedule to provide entertainment are: UCC Royal Brass Band, Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble and Doc Gibbs and his band.

 

Vendy winners

Although the list continues to evolve and is not final, White says the two Philadelphia Vendy award winners will also be there.

The Gigi & Big R’s soul food truck took home the Vendy Cup, Saturday, July 9 for the best food truck in Philadelphia. It serves soul food and Caribbean staples such as fried fish, green beans, sweet yams, and jerk chicken.

Sweetbox Cupcakes won the best dessert food truck for its moist red velvet, dulce de leche and espresso hazelnut cupcakes.

The Vendy Awards is an annual street food cook-off that made its first appearance in Philadelphia this year at the Piazza at Schmidt’s.

 

More night markets

The Food Trust plans to host three more night markets throughout the city.

The Food Trust received a grant from the William Penn Foundation to operate the night market. Next week’s Night Market is being sponsored locally by Mt. Airy USA, Valley Green Bank, and Lutheran Theological Seminary, 

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal