INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Aug. 23, 2022) – Growing Places Indy & the Be Nimble Foundation is excited to announce the return of the Indy Night Market presented by Tito’s Handmade Vodka on September 23 and 24th. Just in time to welcome the fall season, the 2nd annual Indy Night Market will be an evening with delicious food, live music, and family-friendly activities, all in the heart of downtown Indianapolis.
During the night food festival, attendees can celebrate Indianapolis’ diverse food scene and culture. The Indy Night Market shines a light on the city’s various offerings and supports up-and-coming food entrepreneurs and small businesses, encouraging visitors from the greater Indianapolis area to explore historic neighborhoods.
“We are proud to partner with the Indy Night Market to celebrate local culinary artists and entrepreneurs of Indianapolis,” said Keisha Gray, Executive Director of the City Market. “We believe in Indy’s food culture, and this event provides an exceptional experience for visitors of all walks of life and backgrounds. The celebration of great food and local entrepreneurship is an effort we support.”
In 2021, more than 4,000 visitors attended the previous Indy Night Markets to shop from local chefs, artists, restaurants, and businesses. More than 40 local vendors will participate in the two-day event this year, including It’s on & Poppin Popcorn, Herds, The Vegan Joint, The Botanical Bar, Sip & Share Wines, and more. In addition to welcoming more local vendors and chefs, the Indy Night Market will also feature a Kids Corner with family-friendly activities, performances by live entertainment, and is pet friendly.
“We are excited for the second year of the night market and bring local businesses and community members back together this time at the historic City Market,” said Shalise Lee, Community Impact Director of Growing Places Indy. “Our partnership with local partners, like the City Market, allows us to enhance the local food scene and foster local entrepreneurship through a fun food event that will benefit the Indy community.”
This year, the Indy Night Market will be a two-day event kicking off on Friday, Sept. 23rd, 6 PM-10 PM, and Sat., Sept. 24th from 4 PM-10 PM in the heart of downtown Indianapolis at 222 E Market St, right in front of the Indianapolis City Market.
“Be Nimble Foundation has been focused on equity, inclusion, and entrepreneurship since its inception in 2016,” said Kelli N. Jones, Co-Founder of Be Nimble Foundation. “In 2021, we shared our plan for building more equitable food entrepreneurship through our accelerator Melon Kitchen. By partnering with Growing Placing Indy to create the Indy Night Market, we can also give diverse chefs, restaurateurs, and other entrepreneurs the platform to sell their products both online and in person.”
Interested chefs, restaurants, and food entrepreneurs who want to grow their business further and connect with the community are encouraged to apply.
In 2021, Growing Places Indy and the Be Nimble Foundation launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $15,000, thanks to the donations of 101 patrons. In addition, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority provided a matching grant through its CreatINg Places, a place-based crowdfunding grant program.
The Indy Night Market hopes to inspire Indianapolis residents to make the conscious decision to eat and shop from their local food ecosystem by providing a unique food and culture experience that showcases the importance of making local, fresh food accessible to all families.
Show support and love for Indianapolis’s food scene and community by visiting the Indy Night Market. Follow the Indy Night Market on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated with news about the event. For media inquiries, contact Victoria Beaty at Victoria@growingplacesindy.org.
About Growing Places Indy
Growing Places Indy is a nonprofit organization empowering individuals to cultivate personal, family, and community wellness through urban agriculture since 2009. Today, the organization operates four urban farms across Indianapolis, equaling nearly two acres and two greenhouses in year-round production. Growing Places Indy continues to improve access to fresh local food and mind-body education in Indianapolis through programs such as Plant it Forward, Grow Getters, Young Grow Getters, CSA, and hosting the Indy Winter Farmers Market, to create a healthy and thriving community.
About Be Nimble Foundation
Be Nimble Foundation is a 501(c)(3) social enterprise closing the economic wealth gap in the Black community through access to technology and the innovation economy. Be Nimble’s career training and placement programs up-skill unemployed, under-employed, and career transitioners who are interested in careers in the tech industry. Their entrepreneurship programs support Black tech start-up founders to get them the resources, support, and funding they need to build high-growth, high-scale tech companies. For more information on Be Nimble Foundation and its programs, please visit www.benimbleco.com.
About Indianapolis City Market
The Indianapolis City Market’s history is as rich as the promise of its future. When opened in 1886, the market ushered in a new tradition: an open space for the sale of meats and produce, The Original Gathering Place, if you will. Indianapolis City Market is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a vibrant downtown event destination. Today, the City Market offers patrons an experience that combines the best of both yesterday and today with a wide variety of eateries, retailers, coffee, barber shop and an all Indiana craft beer bar with many merchants offering delivery services. In 2021, the Indianapolis City Market hosted its’ 25th Season of the Original Farmers’ Market, which runs annually from May through October. The Indianapolis City Market Catacombs tours in partnership with Indiana Landmarks runs May through October. The Market features bocce ball courts, corn hole, and ample outdoor seating to play and enjoy live music on occasion. www.indycm.com
About Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Tito’s Handmade Vodka was founded by sixth-generation Texan, Bert “Tito” Beveridge. In the mid-nineties, on a plot of land in rural Austin, he built a 998 square foot shack, rigged a pot still with spare parts, and created Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Tito’s corn-based vodka is certified gluten-free. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is distilled and bottled by Fifth Generation, Inc. in Austin, Texas, and is available in Liter, 1.75L, 750ml, 375ml, 200ml, and 50ml sizes. For more information, visit www.titosvodka.com.
About Love, Tito’s
Giving back has been part of Tito’s Handmade Vodka from the very beginning. United under the goal of “Turning Spirits into Love & Goodness,” Love Tito’s, the philanthropic heart of Tito’s Handmade Vodka, has supported tens of thousands of causes over the years—lending a hand to communities affected by natural disasters, spreading joy to those who need a little more, protecting the environment we all share, and developing programs to better serve our communities. For more information, visit lovetitos.com.