The Summer Night Market is over, and if your Wednesday nights are feeling strangely empty, don’t worry. The Hawker 88 Night Market is returning to Melbourne. Feel transported to the energetic streets of Asia with sizzling dishes, refreshing cocktails, cultural performances and more at Queen Victoria Market. The market will run every Wednesday night from April 8 to May 6.
Hawker 88 Night Market
Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Asia at Queen Victoria Market. There will be a different theme each night across the five week event, starting with the Pan-Asia Night on April 8.
The open-air sheds will transform into a hawker-style precinct. Walk underneath rows of glowing lanterns, marvel at lucky cat installations, and enjoy both traditional and contemporary entertainment.
Here are the different themes:
- Pan-Asia Night – April 8 – Look forward to lion dances, cultural performances and modern dance.
- Southeast Asia Night – April 18 – Celebrate the flavours and traditions of Malaysia, Indonesia and beyond.
- Rising Sun Night – April 22 – in this Japanese-inspired evening, you can expect taiko drumming, martial arts and cultural showcases.
- Islands of Asia – April 29 – explore different island cultures, from the Philippines to Sri Lanka.
- Yin and Yang Finale – May 6 – the market series will end with an energetic blend of traditional and contemporary performances.
Food and drink
With over 25 new and returning traders, it’s best to arrive hungry. There’s so many different ways to treat yourself, with bowls of steaming laksa, crispy wonton tacos, sizzling satay sets, handmade gyoza, fragrant durian and spicy tteok-bokki. You’ll also find plenty of matcha creations, like matcha affogato, matchamisu and strawberry cloud matcha and hojicha lattes.
Swing by the Lucky Horse Bar for playful drinks, like a Pineapple SakeRita, an Iced Watermelon Sochu or a Lychee Soju Spritz. If you’re looking for something non-alcoholic, try the Lychee Lemonade, or go for a nostalgic Milo Dinosaur.
Things to see and do
Soak in the entertainment, and get in on the action with workshops and games. Think Squid Game-style challenges, beer pong competitions, K-pop Demon Hunters performances, Bollywood dance workshops, Okinawan showcases and even a cosplay parade on the final night.
When you’re not eating or drinking, check out the different retail stalls, make memories with a Korean-style photobooth, create custom keychains, browse vintage Japanese kimonos and more.
There will also be a weekly pop-up from CARDCORE, celebrating trading card culture with sealed products, graded cards and collectables. From weeks two to five, there will also be a rotating display of Japanese-style cars.
Key info:
📅Wednesdays, April 8 to May 6
🕒5pm to 10pm
🎫Free entry
📍 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000
For more information, click here.