2nd Street Festival organizers have announced the first spring issue of the new Northern Liberties Night Market series. This inaugural series of outdoor food festivals kicks off in Philadelphia’s fastest growing neighborhood on Thursday, May 26, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., on N. 2nd Street between Fairmount and Poplar Streets. This new event will take place every spring and fall and is a focus and expansion by the operators of the city’s second street festival, which is returning this summer after the pandemic broke. For this pop-up food festival, find dozens of food trucks, food vendors, shopping malls, sidewalk cafes, entertainment, music, street performers, and other fun surprises. Attendance at the festival is free and food/drink fees are payable on a first-come-first-served basis. For information, visit www.n Northernlibertiesnightmarket.com
said the president of 2nd Street Festival Corp. Owen Kamihira (also from El Camino Real): “We are excited to bring these new outdoor food festivals to our Northern Liberties region.” “For some time, the 2nd St Festival has been looking for ways to expand from just an annual festival into a series of events throughout the year. When the Food Trust announced the end of its popular night market chain, 2nd St Festival saw this as the perfect opportunity to carry the torch of a tradition that many Philadelphia residents near and dear to their hearts.This event has always been designed to help create neighborhoods for success as the event has continued to pop up across the city, with Mt. Fare being a great example of the Food Trust’s work in that area.We originally intended to launch something new. Spring 2020 but COVID had other plans.After a two-year hiatus, the 2nd St Festival is kicking off at the seams to bring people back to Northern Liberties for fun and festivities.Can’t wait to get back there!The fall event got a little wet with rain but we had Great response and we’re happy to head into the warm weather season with an amazing group – even food trucks and mobile vendors.”
Oron Daskal of the North Bowl said, “When we started the 2nd Street Festival, we just wanted to celebrate and enjoy the neighborhood we live in. It’s amazing how much attention it’s attracting now and how much life it brings to 2nd Street.”
After the first test event of the fall, the Northern Liberties night market returns in both spring and fall 2022. The area’s best food trucks will move into the Northern Liberties hot food district and will take place in and around local pop-ups from the area’s restaurants and bars. Find 50 vendors in total, including food trucks, food tents, food vendors, and shopping. This event will occupy several buildings in the area around N. 2nd Street between Fairmount and Popular Streets. This year’s shortlist of vendors includes the following merchants:
food
* Philly Taste – cheesesteaks, burger, french fries, mozzarella sticks and fried oreo
* Bake’n Bacon – gourmet sandwiches where bacon is the star; Also available with grilled chicken and smoked brisket, for those who don’t like bacon and kids who taste three meats.
* Brood Coffee Truck – specialty coffee drinks and fresh pastries
* Byz.Empire – delicious American cuisine influenced by Mediterranean and Latin traditions
* Cali del Sabor – A variety of Caribbean and Latin dishes… burritos, tacos, narcissus chicken and pork
* Chank’s Grab n’ Go – Pizza Cones – Portable Pizza
* Dr. Brownies – A vegan brownie company specializing in all brownie products. From brownie to brownie brownie, we’re vegan cake lovers changing the game in Philadelphia for all dessert and food lovers.
Dr. Wutzit’s Lovely Balls – Delicious, handmade delicious balls like Lobster Mac n Cheese Balls, Buffalo Chicken Balls, Cheesesteak Balls and Arancini Balls.
* Häagen-Dazs – the first and only Häagen-Dazs ice cream truck in the country
*Welcome to Vietnam – Restaurant located in Northern Liberties serving Bahn Miss and Vietnamese coffee during the event
* Korea Taqueria – A fusion of Korean and Mexican cuisine, specializes in rich Korean tacos you’ve never experienced before.
* Li Ping Corn Company – Fresh hot and sweet roasted corn on the cob
* Moocheeze Food Truck – Gourmet fried mac and cheese balls, melt and fry
* Moshava – Israeli inspired street food
*Papermill Foods – The home of Spurrito, inspired by the vibrant flavors of Southeast Asia and a touch of influence from Australian beach culture
* Philly Nuts – Using the finest ingredients, and sourcing the highest quality nuts from the United States and abroad, each flavor blend is carefully handcrafted
* Piccola Italia – authentic Italian street food
* Rita’s Italian Ice – Italian ice, frozen custard, and specialty creations
* Taqueria Dos Hermanos – Mexican food (tacos, quesadillas and burritos)
* The Little Sicily – Aracini rice balls in all different delicious flavours
* The Munchy Machine – Innovative sandwiches, snacks, and desserts, plus a few surprises to keep the gang in check.
* Vegan Me Raja – Vegan Comfort Food
* WokWorks – Modern Asian street food with organic noodles and bowls of rice
He drinks
* Bourbon and brunch – cocktails
* El Camino – Margaritas, frozen or on the rocks in a variety of flavours, plus Vice Night Punch (vodka, lemon, jalapeno syrup, hibiscus, watermelon) and Maxi My Tais (Bacardi rum, casadores blanco, blue curacao, orgit, pineapple, lime)
* Spontino – beer and wine
* Standard Tap – Cocktails
*Urban Village – A selection of ice cold northern beers
makers and merchants
* After Oak – a small scale jewelry brand, creating unique pieces of jewelry and art in collaboration with nature
* ArtbyAlicia – Posters, greeting cards, prints, and posters with hand-drawn designs for Philadelphia and landmarks backgrounds
* CONNECT360 – Handmade Kenyan jewelry and fashion
* Contemporary works – planters, trays, coasters and other home decor that are colorful and eco-friendly
* Dan Does That – Laser Etched Art and Unique Home Decor
* De ‘Vora – Pet Products
* Electra Vintage – antique clothing, accessories and fixtures
* Lily Lough Jewelry – Handmade Jewelry
* Little Brown Box – Fashionable Jewelry for Women
* Maker Missya – Creative colorful cement planters and household goods
* Messin’ with Resin – Handmade Resin Art
* Ocean Girl Gifts – Beach Jewelry & Ceramic Decorations
* Beautiful crafts – home decor and crafts – horror, sci-fi, goth, punk rock, pop culture and more!
* Ray Reusable Items – Great Household Goods for Sustainable Refill
* RonDee Productions – Handmade dolls called RONSTERS and other doll related merchandise
* SH Candles – Scented soy candles, diffusers and other good hand-poured household accessories
* SCB Naturals – Vegan, organic and eco-friendly soap and wellness products.
* Shady Sunglass Offers – Sunglasses and tie-dyed shirts
* Snug Baby – small batch, highly pigmented nail polish and creative corn
* Spaltline Woodworking – Unique puzzles and clocks in shredded wood (dyed with fungus)
* Terraintextures – handmade jewelry with mushrooms, ferns and leaves
* Unleashed by Petco – Pet Products
* Yardsale Press – Hand-cut and screen-printed hand-cut and screen-printed wooden drink protectors, rivets, and carrying bags
For some vendors, this is the first time they’ve been back on the road and at this kind of festival since the pandemic. This event will support our area’s burgeoning food truck economy and the once-disruptive economy of mobile food vendors, all while showcasing the hot food district of North Liberties. In the next year or two, this is the fastest growing neighborhood in the entire city in terms of numbers, with up to 23,000 people set to move into new apartments and projects about to open or under construction. Population boom has also led to a boom in restaurants. The three neighborhood goers behind the festival are thrilled and want to conserve their energy when their biggest festival is on pause.
Entertainment will DJ Frost, family fun, other music and more! The Project Positive Dance Troupe will feature street performers who will flip, twist and turn their way during outdoor performances all night long. DJ Frosty will drop the tunes.
This Night Market series is not affiliated with the Food Trust and is an independent production of 2nd St. The Night Market was and still is a series of pop-up food festivals designed to bring attention and awareness to different parts of the city, hoping to leave neighborhoods with a sustainable event after it lasts. This new event has been designed with this idea in mind to promote a new and regular series of events – especially when classic night market events are paused.
Attending the festival is free, and pay-as-you-go for food and drink. Bring the kids and puppies, as this is a totally family-friendly event!
Save the date for the 2nd Street Festival on Sunday, August 7th and the Northern Liberties Night Market Fall Edition on Thursday, September 22nd.
For more information, please visit www.n Northernlibertiesnightmarket.com.
About the 2nd Street Festival
Founded in 2008 by Northern Liberties business owners Owen Kamihira of El Camino Real, William Reed of Standard Tap and Oron Daskal of North Bowl, 2nd St Festival was created with the aim of bringing people to Northern Liberities in a fun and engaging way.
From the start, the festival has grown into one of the city’s largest annual events, spanning several blocks and attracting over 40,000 people.
In addition to attracting visitors to the neighborhood, 2nd St Festival also raises funds to support programming for two neighborhood civic organizations, the Northern Liberities Business Improvement District and the neighboring Northern Liberities Association.
For more information visit www.2ndstfestival.org.
Image source: Cory Aversa
