INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Aug. 19, 2021) – Growing Places Indy is excited to announce the return of the Indy Night Market on September 25th. Just in time to welcome the fall season, the second Indy Night Market will fill the fall evening with delicious food, live music, and family-friendly activities, all in the heart of Midtown.
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 diverse offerings and supports up-and-coming food entrepreneurs and small businesses– all while encouraging visitors from the greater Indianapolis area to explore historic neighborhoods.
“We are proud to partner with Growing Places Indy to host the next Indy Night Market in celebration of the extraordinary culinary artists and entrepreneurs of Indianapolis,” said Isaac Bamgbose, President of New City Development Partners. “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 with tremendous enthusiasm.”
Over 2,000 visitors attended the previous Indy Night Market to shop from local chefs, artists, restaurants, and businesses. Over 30 local vendors participated in the first night market, including Pinky’s Sweet Tooth Factory, The Food Fusion LLC., The Paper Flame, The Vegan Cheese Lady, The Botanikal Bar, Holloway’s Garden, and more. In addition to welcoming more local vendors and chefs, the Fall Night Market will also feature a Kids Corner with family-friendly activities, performances by live entertainment, and is pet friendly.
“We are excited to bring local businesses and community members back together for the second Indy Night Market this fall,” said Victoria Beaty, Executive Director of Growing Places Indy. “Our partnership with local partners, like New City Development Partners & the Be Nimble Foundation, allows us to enhance the local food scene and foster local entrepreneurship through a fun food event that will directly benefit the Indy community.”
“As one of the largest property owners in this area, we are excited to bring this event to the Mapleton Fall Creek neighborhood,” said Bamgbose. “We welcome all of our neighbors in the Midtown area from Crown Hill, the Highland Vicinity, and beyond to come join us for this special event. Along with the nationally renowned Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Ivy Tech are the people who have lived in this area for generations. We appreciate the leadership of Indy Night Market and their intentionality in bringing this event to the heart of the community. Despite these unprecedented times, we believe our small businesses and entrepreneurs must be supported – and celebrated – so we can’t wait to see them showcase their talents once more at the Indy Night Market!”
The fall Indy Night Market will take place Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, from 6-10 p.m. in the open lot behind 2955 N. Meridian St. In the chance of rain, the event will be rescheduled for Oct. 2, 2021.
“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 visit www.IndyNightMarket.org to apply for the night market.
Growing Places Indy and the Be Nimble Foundation launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $15,000, thanks to the donations of 101 patrons. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority provided a matching grant through its CreatINg Places program, a place-based crowdfunding grant program.
“Indy Night Market is a great opportunity to support local artists and entrepreneurs within Indianapolis’ food scene,” said Jacob Sipe, Executive Director of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. “This event is a unique way for Downtown Indy to celebrate culture and diversity while enjoying some of the best food in the city.”
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. To stay updated with news about the event, follow the Indy Night Market on Instagram and Facebook.