QVM Hawker 88 Night Market
Each week of this year's night market celebrates a different Asian region — with food stalls, live entertainment and eating competitions.
Overview
Queen Vic Market manages to fill just about every Wednesday night of the year with a huge food, music and shopping party, be it the Summer Night Market, the Winter Night Market or the Hawker 88 Night Market. But the latter isn't a rinse-and-repeat kind of situation like the others. Each night is unique, embracing a different Asian-inspired theme.
During 2024's autumn iteration, running from Wednesday, April 10–Wednesday, May 8, you'll find yourself immersed in a heap of other cultures and cuisines as you feast your way through a lineup of street food stalls, with live entertainment, local artisans and eating competitions rounding out the festivities.
The first Wednesday spreads its love across Asia in general, so every region gets a go. There'll be a stack of cultural performances such as colourful lion dances, plus a dumpling-eating competition. If you have a mate who goes ham at bottomless yum cha, consider signing them up for this one.
This will be followed by a Southeast Asia night where the divisively fragrant durian is in the spotlight. For those who love the fruit, there'll even be a durian-eating competition. Malay dancers and martial arts demos will also be on the cards.
The following week, K-pop dancers will take over the QVM sheds and laneways, alongside a Japanese band and some taiko drumming.
Those heading over for Island Night get the chance to participate in yet another eating contest, this time tasked with downing as many skewers as possible. Plus, there'll also be a beer pong championship, with them facing off the next week for the title.
The five-week night market culminates in the Full Moon Festival on Wednesday, May 8, as DJs spin tracks and a live Filipino band gets people dancing. It's going to be one massive party to end this year's Hawker 88 Night Market.