Richmond Night Market returns for another year
With more than 100 vendors, the market features various new and unique food options
The Richmond Night Market is open on weekends until Oct. 14. (Brylian Marin)
As the days get longer, the Richmond Night Market has returned to make the shorter nights more enjoyable this summer until Oct. 14. The market is open every Friday and Saturday from 7:00 pm to midnight and every Sunday from 7:00 to 11:00 pm, and is located one block away from TransLink’s Bridgeport Station on River Road.
A mainstay at Richmond for more than 20 years now, the market has continued to grow and features over 100 international food vendors, 600 food options, 110 retail booths, and live performances.
Tickets cost $8.50 for general admission, while children under seven years of age and adults over 60 years can attend for free. Anyone wanting to avoid long lineups can also purchase zoom passes in-person for $40.
Richmond Night Market’s manager, Karen Wan, says promoting cultural exchange and benefiting the local community is an important part of the night market.
While the market has a different theme each year, this year involves celebrating the Year of the Dragon.
“I think it’s going really great because Richmond has … lots of different cultural backgrounds,” Wan says.
“As we grow, the area we have right now is the heart of Richmond, where it’s very close to the SkyTrain station and then our land right now has lots of parking to provide to the visitors.”
Wan says there isn’t a lot of night culture in Metro Vancouver, but the market has received positive feedback.
“It’s a nice area [where] people can [gather] … and enjoy street food in an outdoor environment,” adding that the market also offers job opportunities for people wanting to gain experience.
Wan says her favourite part about the market is how the food is made on site.
“There’s lots of new food to try, such as sushi hot dogs [and] there’s also a very unique Thailand mango sticky rice that is very recommendable as well,” Wan says.
“Even though we’re working there every single day, we still find surprises where you can try lots of new products. The good thing about it, that you [can’t] find in the restaurant, is that you can actually see what people are cooking in front of you and then serve it immediately.”
Wan says with live entertainment such as a carnival area alongside what food to try there, she hopes the Richmond Night Market can continue to grow and attract more people.
“The concept of the night market itself is to bring the local community more attraction, … which I think that every year we have been building up to achieve.”
