The Summer Night Markets 2019–2020

Overview

Prepare to cancel all your Wednesday night plans (i.e. laundry and Netflix) because we've got something much, much better. The Queen Victoria Market is bringing back its Summer Night Market for its 22nd season of balmy tomfoolery. This means that after a day of toiling in the diamond mines or hosiery department (whatever your poison) you can cool off with a free evening of international street food, vintage fashion and handcrafted homewares.

This year, the 15-week season, kicking off on November 20, will see more than 130 stalls descend on the starlit market, as well as a rotating weekly lineup of free live tunes and street performers. This season, there'll also be a full-sized beach volleyball court and a pop-up Palm Springs-inspired bar, called Gin Springs, with pink flamingos, cacti, cocktails from the Melbourne Gin Company and cider from Coldstream.

And don't even think about eating at home because it's got 55 food and drink vendors to suit every whim, including Portuguese tarts from Casa Nata, Filipino and Southeast Asian street snacks from Kuya's Simply Pinoy and Israeli pita pockets from Falafel Arayes. You'll also find The Cypriot Kitchen's extensive range of haloumi-heavy dishes (burgers, salads, pitas and souvla), El Rincon's paella and Tasty Suya's African barbecue.

If you swing by on the Summer Night Markets' launch night — November 20 — you'll also be treated to a program of live tunes courtesy of artists from Melbourne Music Week. There'll be 80s acid house from Zeitgest Freedom Energy Exchange, jazz from Sunnyside and plenty of dance floor bangers from Melbourne's own Pjienné.

The Summer Night Market will run every Wednesday night from November 20 to March 11 (excluding December 25 and January 1) from 5–10pm.

Image 1–2: Simon Shiff

Updated November 7, 2019.