By Morf Morford
Tacoma Daily Index

Maybe it’s just me, but I love the one of a kind, pop-up place that emerges in unlikely places and take a shape half-improvisational and half-entrepreneurial.

By definition, these events often come and go almost without a trace, sometimes leaving a tradition or some kind of residual memory of a business vision’s first – and sometimes last – breath.

Tacoma’s Night Market is one of these.

You can find the Tacoma Night Market on the third Saturday of each month, the next is March 16th, 5-10pm at Alma Mater (1322 Fawcett Avenue, Tacoma).

The event is all ages and free. You can expect to encounter around 50 artists and makers, food, music and drinks.

And in Gig Harbor, you can find the night market  at the 7 Seas Brewery 3006 Judson Street,  4-10 pm. April 13th is the next event. Except for the April event, it is the first Saturday of the month, so put May 4th, June 1st, July 6th and August 3rd on your schedule. These  all ages and free, with live music, food, beer and cider.

And if your night market philosophy is like mine, the bigger the better.

You can find the largest night market in North America just north of here in Richmond, B.C.

It has become an international attraction, attracting over 1 million visitors each year.

Founded in 2000 by entrepreneur Raymond Cheung, the Richmond Night Market has grown from modest beginnings to an astounding not-to-be-missed market every weekend from 7pm to midnight, May to October.

You can see more on the Richmond Night Market here – http://richmondnightmarket.com/.

Night markets originated in Asia, primarily in areas where the temperature (and humidity) in the evening was far more suitable than the daytime.

That may not be the case for those of us in the Pacific Northwest, but there is something about night markets that brings out the unlikely and unexpected.

My experience is that night markets are a combination of party and farmers’ market. Each one will be different depending on the mood, season and energy.

I encourage you to try them. You just might find yourself hooked.