<- back

Little Mekong Night Market

A Night Market that Brings Together St. Paul

Asian Economic Development Association

St. Paul, MN

Patrons enjoy Thai rolled ice cream from SOTA Hot & Cold’s stand at the Little Mekong Night Market, AEDA’s signature creative placemaking initiative.

Little Mekong launched Minnesota’s first-ever Asian-inspired night market on June 14, 2014. Since then, the Night Market has generated over $5 million for artists and entrepreneurs and grown to host up to one hundred food vendors and highlighted more than sixty artists and craft makers.  The event has increased neighborhood vitality, fostered cultural identification, built stronger community cohesion, and promoted greater cross-cultural exchanges. Tens of thousands of market-goers have visited the open-air street bazaar replete with a wide selection of food booths, arts and crafts offerings, and local farm vendors against a background of live music and dance performances.

Located on University Avenue between Mackubin and Marion streets, the five blocks of Little Mekong boast a diversity of cultures, top-rated restaurants, and unique shopping experiences. The Little Mekong Night Market celebrates and represents its Frogtown-Rondo-Summit- University neighborhoods.  Performances bring world music and movements representing the cultures of African American, Cambodian, Chinese, Hmong, Indonesian, Japanese, Karen, and Ukrainian communities.  The Night Market offers dynamic SE Asian-inspired art and culture largely missing in the Twin Cities arts landscape.