Overview
Wednesday nights haven't been the same these past two years, without the Queen Victoria Market's usual midweek offering to boost that Hump Day vibe. Thanks to the pandemic, the precinct's much-loved winter night market series was canned two years in a row, with the most recent summer edition also scrapped.
But now, Melbourne, the wait is over, with the glorious news that the QVM Summer Night Market will kick off a huge comeback season this January 2022.
Back to fire up your Wednesday nights from January 5 to April 6 next year, the night market's return marks the precinct's first major nighttime event since April 2020. And yes, it's going to be a big one.
Each week, the Summer Night Market will feature a mouthwatering lineup of food vendors slinging street eats from every corner of the globe. We're talking melty raclette from Frencheese, meaty US-style barbecue fare courtesy of Bigger Than Texas, The Cypriot Kitchen's famed halloumi chips, and all sorts of spherical sweet treats from the doughnut masters at Taki's Balls.
To wash it all down and quench your summer thirst, you'll find no less than five dedicated festival bars, along with drinks stalls from the likes of Antagonist Spirits — did someone say apple-strawberry mojitos?
As always, there'll be a program of live, local tunes to soundtrack your food-focused wanderings, with one stage dedicated to DJ sets and another serving up a primo rotation of acoustic acts.
For a little midweek shopping action, see the diverse range of artisan maker stalls, brimming with an array of handmade gifts, homewares, fashion and more. Over in The Book Nook, you can treat your inner bibliophile to a selection of new and pre-loved books, along with local author chats and stalls filled with second-hand records.
There's even a pop-up space dedicated to serving up future insights from a lineup of leading clairvoyants, fortune tellers and psychics, dubbed The Spirit Zone.
The Queen Victoria Market 2022 Summer Night Market will run from 5–10pm every Wednesday, from January 5–April 6 (excluding January 26). Find it at the Queen Victoria Market, corner of Queen and Therry Streets, Melbourne.