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View Winners → Santa Anita Hosts “626 Night Market” this Weekend
Arts Oct 18, 2012
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Organizers Hope to “Bridge the Cultural Gap” with Popular Market
Santa Anita Park CEO, Mark Verge, said he was excited to have the Market come to the track and hopes to encourage new people to visit the Great Race Place . -Photo by Terry Miller
On Wednesday morning Santa Anita announced its first-ever two-day 626 Night Market, which will take place in the track’s expansive Infield area on Saturday, Oct. 20 and Sunday, Oct. 21.
This will be the third in highly successful series of ‘626 Night Markets’, which features Asian street foods and is home to a wide array of local Asian businesses and young entrepreneurs who promote their businesses, products and services. The event aims to entertain people of all ages and ehtnicities and will feature live DJs, a dance floor, performance artists and games.
Jonny C. Hwank, the founder of 626 Night Market explained that over 150 vendors have signed up this year and the hours have been extended to IAM on Saturday and 11PM on Sunday.
Hwang said one should be prepared for some unusual foods in addition to the more traditional Asian specialities. He said that the ‘Stinky Tofu’ may be an aquired taste, but is extremely popular as is the ‘Chicken Butt’ and ‘gizzards.’
There will also be small retailers at the 626 Night Market offering unique clothing and other merchandise.
Hwang was asked how many people would be attending the Market. Someone in Hwang’s team joked “ One Million!” to which he quipped, “we’re not expecting a million but certainly could accommodate about 20,000 people each day on the infield.”
“Building relationships and new friendships is a huge part of the Market scene in Asia and is so here in the San Gabriel Valley, ” Hwang said.
City councilman John Wuo agreed and said he hoped many non-Asian people also come to experience the feel and excitement of the Asian Market at Santa Anita. “It’s not like a Farmer’s Market, “ he said.
“We are thrilled to be hosting this event on Oct. 20 and 21 and we are looking forward to introducing this dynamic group of entrepreneurs to the Asian and English-speaking media here on Wednesday,” said Santa Anita CEO Mark Verge. “The people who have developed this 626 concept are some of the brightest and most highly motivated entrepreneurs in our community and we feel this is a great opportunity to introduce them to Santa Anita and to make them feel at home here. It’s a win/win for everybody.”
It is estimated that the most recent 626 Night Market in Pasadena attracted a crowd of 40,000.
Night Market hours on Oct. 20 will be from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. and on Oct. 21 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Santa Anita’s infield parking lot, which can be accessed by entering Gate 6, off of Colorado Place on Santa Anita’s northern perimeter, can comfortably accommodate 10,000 vehicles.
“The 626 Night Market team is working closely with the City of Arcadia and Santa Anita Park to make the two-night cultural experience smooth and enjoyable for our patrons,” said Hwang. “We’re looking forward to bringing some new and dynamic people out to the track.”
The first 1000 people will be given a betting $2 voucher to wager on their favorite horse Saturday or Sunday and one lucky entrant will get a $500 voucher, courtesy of Santa Anita.
For more information regarding the 626 Night Market at Santa Anita on Oct. 21 and 22, visit www.626nightmarket.com. Admission is free for both nights.
