MPK Night Market Returning to Barnes Park on 9/9/14

LOS ANGELES – Following the success of the MPK Night Market’s grand opening on July 25th, the second event in the series has now been scheduled for Friday, September 19. The inaugural event attracted over 8000 guests, bringing together young adults and families from both the city of Monterey Park and out-of-town for a night of community fun.  The organizers hoped that the festival would help revitalize the city’s nightlife, improve its economy, and entice the area’s younger demographic—and it seems to have worked. Crowds filed into Barnes Park to enjoy the various attractions—including gourmet street food, visual art exhibitions, pop-up shops, and even a Beatles tribute show by Abbey Road.

Upon entering the festival, guests were greeted by the aromas of Brazilian BBQ sandwiches and lobster po’boys, among many other multiethnic street-foods available at the night market. Unique culinary creations like the Sticky Rice burger and Ice Cream Lab’s nitrogen infused ice cream attracted the longest lines of the night, especially popular with foodies and food bloggers. To wash it all down, guests treated themselves to craft sodas and homemade lemonade from vendors like Carb & Nation, while attendees over 21 enjoyed craft beer at the MPK Beer & Wine Garden inside the Barnes Park Amphitheater.

The amphitheater also featured an eclectic lineup of performances, including a live body painting demonstration from Collective Aesthetics and the 626 Bboy Battle. Across the field, the MPK Art Walk showcased talented visual artists with varying styles—including graffiti, chalk art, pop-fusion portraits, and even “Minion Me” caricatures inspired by the film Despicable Me. Some guests also visited the shopping area to purchase more art and vintage clothing from Bloody Gums Collective as well as street wear and other merchandise from popular retailers like Active Ride Shop and Akufunkture. Carnival games, the Farmer’s Market, and the Afterparty at American Legion Post 397 were also popular with the event’s attendees.

Most of the aforementioned attractions will be returning in September along with additional vendors and activities for MPK Night Market guests to enjoy.  Updates on the event’s new vendors and activities, including an outdoor movie screening, are to be released shortly on the MPK Night Market website and Facebook page.

For more information on the MPK Night Market, please visit www.mpknightmarket.com or connect with MPK Night Market on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mpknightmarket