Appleton Downtown, Inc. (ADI) is excited to bring a brand-new event to Downtown Appleton to kick off the summer season. Light the Night Market presented by Fox Communities Credit Union will transform Downtown Appleton into an open-air market on Friday, May 19 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Performances by local artists and entertainers, local vendors, cultural performances, food trucks, hands-on activities, and more will fill College Ave with excitement and fun from Superior Street to Morrison Street in addition to Houdini Plaza. Other than the purchase of food and drinks, this event is completely free for the community to enjoy.
Jennifer Stephany, Executive Director at Appleton Downtown, Inc. is ready to kick off the summer in Downtown Appleton with this brand-new event, “Light the Night Market will showcase the Downtown businesses as well as the creative economy of the Fox Cities through vendor booths, live music in partnership with Mile of Music and a lot of performers and cultural activities. As the sun goes down the fun heats up!”
There are many unique features to this event and attendees will find a new element of surprise at every turn. Like most of ADI’s events, music will be one of the key features at Light the Night Market, as well as entertainment. In partnership with Mile of Music, the Houdini Plaza stage will feature a variety of Mile of Music artists including a popular local band, The Astronomers, who will be the stage headliner. More musical performances can be found on our side stages throughout the night including local performers Adam Lee and Lilie who have been at other ADI events in the past.
Light the Night Market will have various performers throughout the event including aerial dancers, fire performers and the viral TikTok sensation, spirit walkers. There will also be interactive performances great for kids including winged fairies who performed at Light Up Appleton in 2022 and 2021 and a bubble show with Rondini the magician.
Local vendors will also be lining the Avenue with their booths all lit up ready to sell their handmade products. Attendees will find vendors from the Downtown Appleton Farm Market, Octoberfest and more. Downtown retailers and restaurants will also come out onto the street to sell their products. Food from a handful of local food trucks will be available for purchase at the event and drinks from Stone Arch Brewpub.
Another important part of the event is the representation of cultural organizations from around the area. ADI is partnering with organizations including the Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Assocation (NEWCA), indUS of the Fox Valley, HAP (Hmong American Partnership) and more. NEWCA will have dragon dancers and other cultural dance performances to help bring immersive cultural experiences to the event. The other cultural organizations will have interactive activities and information to help educate the community on their missions.
Attendees will have the chance to enjoy hands-on activities throughout the event including an axe throwing mobile trailer and yard games with Appleton Axe, an RC track with HobbyTown and a variety of art projects including glow in the dark activities. Mischief and Magic will offer glow-in-the-dark face paint at the Fox Communities Credit Union booth.
Attendees will be sure to find a variety of fun features they can enjoy at Light the Night Market. More features to the event will be added leading up to May 19. Visit our website or our Facebook page to check them out.
ADI is a non-profit advocacy source for the businesses and merchants of Downtown Appleton, presenting the Downtown Appleton Farm Market and many other events. For more information about ADI and/or a complete listing of upcoming Downtown happenings, visit ADI’s website, www.appletondowntown.org, or check them out on Facebook at the Appleton Downtown or Downtown Appleton Farm Market Fan Pages.
