FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2014 

Contact: Mindy Linetzky, (415) 554-4829

NEW “NIGHT MARKET” TO LIGHT UP UNITED NATIONS PLAZA 

Spend Friday evenings under the stars - food, entertainment and more coming in September

San Francisco, CA – Public Works and the Market Street Association announce a new Night Market at United Nations Plaza every Friday from September 5 - October 24, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Night Market will feature food, fashion trucks, entertainment and arts/crafts to provide local workers, residents and visitors the ultimate urban evening experience. The Night Market is being produced to create a destination event while showcasing the plaza’s public space possibilities and historic grandeur. 

“There are night markets all over the world where people come together to have a good time,” said San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. “The Night Market will liven up the center of our City with lights, music, food, merchants and – above all – people. Come and listen to music, sample good food and spend time with your family and friends – there’s something for everyone.”

To ensure success, the Market Street Association brought in veteran event organizer Ansanelli Productions – the same company responsible for Treasure Island Flea and Jack of All Trades Market. "The Night Market is the perfect event for the historic United Nations Plaza,” said Carolyn Diamond, Executive Director of the Market Street Association. “The Night Market will draw residents, families, workers and tourists from 8 to 80 years old. I envision it to be highly popular and the next San Francisco destination place to see and be seen. I am excited about this market and proud to be part of it."

When: Every Friday September 5 - October 24, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Where: United Nations Plaza, 8th and Market streets 

What: Food – six to eight food trucks and stands 

Drinks – beer, wine and cocktails 

Vendors – fashion trucks, local Bay Area made artists/sellers and artisan food startups (imagine truffles and flavored popcorn) 

Entertainment – live music, dancing, games and more 

Activities – educational and hands-on workshops for all ages – interactive, community oriented and green (imagine making jewelry out of duct tape or designing a tote bag) 

Website: www.fridaynightmarket.com

The Night Market is part of the City’s Make Your Market initiative that is inviting a new and vital public life into Market Street’s sidewalks and plazas. In partnership with community based organizations, the City is aiming to make San Francisco’s busiest street into a place where its most creative and engaged people experiment with how to make a more beautiful, livable and vibrant city. While the City finishes its grand plan for a Better Market Street, Make Your Market will be bringing a wide variety of activities and installations to the sidewalks – Living Innovation Zones, commercial pop-ups, temporary stages, playful street furnishings, moveable tables and chairs and all the inventive, unexpected ideas that people and communities contribute to urban life.

The Night Market is produced by the Market Street Association and Ansanelli Productions in partnership with Public Works, San Francisco Beautiful, Civic Center Community Benefit District, United Playaz, Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs, Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Recreation and Parks Department and several community organizations. 

Market Street Association is a non-profit organization established in 1963 with the mission to promote and encourage the rehabilitation, redevelopment and improvement of Market Street, and the business district along Market Street. Through advocacy, outreach, marketing and networking, the organization promotes and encourages the significant and material improvement of the general economic, commercial and social environment of the Market Street area.

Ansanelli Productions: With a mission to support local artists and entrepreneurs, the Treasure Island Flea debuted Memorial Day 2011. Three years later the event is Northern California’s largest monthly gathering of artists, collectors, designers, crafters and food trucks. The event has been coined “the Festival of the Bay” and attracts an average attendance of 15,000. Shortly after the launch of the Treasure Island Flea, Ansanelli Productions was formed to grow and expand the mission. In October of 2013 they opened the Jack of All Trades Market at historic Jack London Square in Oakland, held every second Saturday. Ansanelli Productions is a family-run event company led by husband, wife and oldest son trio: Charles Sr., Angie, and Charlie Jr. Ansanelli.

About San Francisco Public Works: The 24/7 City agency cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and nurtures City-maintained street trees; designs, constructs and maintains City-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; builds curb ramps; eradicates graffiti; partners with neighborhoods; trains people for jobs; greens the right of way; and educates our communities. For more information, see www.sfdpw.org.

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