The Night Market will return to West Wisconsin Avenue this summer, albeit for one night only.
In previous years, the market has been a monthly affair, in season.
Westown Association and NEWaukee will partner on the event, which takes place Wednesday, Aug. 18 from 5 until 10 p.m. on Wisconsin Avenue between 2nd Street and Vel R. Phillips Avenue, as it transitions to Westown's oversight.
As always, the lively, open-air fair will include vendors of all kinds, artists, performers and more.
NEWaukee launched the market in 2014 and it ran every year through 2019. In 2020, it fell victim to the pandemic.
Operation of the market now transfers to Westown Association, which represents the area west of the river.
As the organizer of the Westown Farmer’s Market, River Rhythms weekly music series and the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Westown's staff brings considerable event planning experience.
“We are happy to find a long-term, sustainable strategic partner for the Night Market in Westown,” said NEWaukee co-founder and CEO Angela Damiani in a statement Wednesday.
“Since the pandemic our business model – like many – has shifted, and our team is focused on delivering exceptional custom experiences for our clients and ensuring that the Night Market continues its track record of success.”
The event production partnership is expected to run for “several market seasons,” as the "brand transition(s)," according to the statement.
“The Night Market aligns perfectly with our mission and goals to grow a more creative and diverse neighborhood in Downtown Milwaukee,” said Westown Executive Director Stacie Callies.
“We’re excited to grow this signature event and can’t wait for August 18!”
An Urban Institute study recently noted that, “The Night Market’s activities helped reimagine a space once considered unappealing, unsafe and inactive...
Funders should recognize the importance of placemaking in this moment of outdoor appreciation and ensure that placemaking is incorporated into efforts to reimagine space.”
“We build community in our Downtown by gathering together,” said John Kissinger, President/CEO/Principal, GRAEF, whose headquarters are located along the market site.
“The Night Market is the perfect event to get us all back together...co-workers, friends, families walking, talking and being together on Wisconsin Avenue. As we welcome our team back to GRAEF’s office at The Avenue we look forward to a new partnership that will surely make the Night Market even better.”
310W, at 310 W. Wisconsin Ave., is a returning sponsor of the market.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
