Night Market returns

The beloved South Melbourne Night Market returned on January 10 and will run right through until February 28. Now in its 11th year, the 2019 South Melbourne Night Market will be bigger and better than ever, with more road closures around the market to allow for an increasing number of visitors, including more seating and even more food options. Open every Thursday night until February 28, this year’s market will feature 18 food trucks, four food marquees and six food carts, with many of the market’s regular food traders also open. As well as dozens of foods options, visitors will be entertained by two bands each night, hosted across two stages, featuring an exciting line-up of local and international musicians bringing indie, RnB, folk, pop, rock and Latin to the much-loved twilight market. And if sampling the street food and enjoying live music isn’t enough, there is plenty of shopping to be done too. Many of the market’s popular stallholders will be selling their unique fashion, homewares and artisan goods under the stars, alongside pop-up stallholders, featuring some of Melbourne’s most exciting, emerging designers and artisans. Port Phillip Mayor Dick Gross said the increased size of this year’s night market reflected the growing popularity of the summer twilight event. “From humble beginnings just over a decade ago, the South Melbourne Night Market has grown into a must-do Melbourne event, with locals and visitors from interstate and overseas coming to the market at twilight to stroll the historic streets and market laneways, enjoying world-class food, music and shopping,” he said. “To cater for the growing popularity of the event, this year we’ve closed off more streets to ensure there is plenty of room for all traders and entertainment and plenty of seating for visitors. We believe the 2019 South Melbourne Night Market will be the best yet.” One of the newest features of this year’s market night market will be the new Aptus Oyster Bar and Seafood Grill, which will operate a Soul & Seafood session each Thursday night, serving freshly shucked oysters alongside a huge range of delicious, fresh seafood. Cecil St restaurants will also be open for business, where you’ll find award-winning paella at Simply Spanish, traditional gozleme at Koy and delicious dumplings from Bambu and much more. The talented line-up of local bands and musicians playing in February include: February 7: Brian El Dorado and the Tuesday People (funk, soul, swingy blues). February 14: Special love-themed entertainment for Valentines Day – stay tuned! February 21: Red See Blue (Middle Eastern Jazz) The market runs every Thursday until February 28 from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. Southmelbournenightmarket.com.au