I’ve been to the very first one of these 5 years ago that was held in Pasadena and they have certainly come a long way. They have relocated from the overly crowded streets in Pasadena to a much bigger location…Santa Anita Park (I believe they relocated 3 years ago). Although this space is so much roomier, it is still somewhat crowded as the Night Market’s popularity steadily increases.
Santa Anita Park – Home of the infamous thorough-bred Seabiscuit.
Santa Anita Park is where you would go for your horse racing fix. This is a thoroughbred racetrack nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains in a city called Arcadia, CA. It holds many racing events including The Breeder’s Cup which is being held in November.
Across from the paddock (where Seabiscuit’s statue is located) is an enclosure where the horses are kept right before making their rounds in said paddock and race.
And don’t forget to place your bets on your favorite horse and jockey…not that I’m endorsing any type of gambling. Play at your own risk. Yes, those are losing tickets on the floor!
The entrance to the actual Night Market is located behind and off to the side of the Jockey Room and next to the above wagering booth.
Walking in, you are greeted with a sea of people. As you begin to walk around your nose will be delighted with wonderful aroma from the numerous food vendors. Being that this is an asian-themed night market, you’ll have your pick of delicacies from Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Thai as well as food trucks which are tucked on the far side of the event.
Since the last time I came (last year I believe), they’ve added a game area as well as extra seating and beer gardens.
Lines for some of these vendors can get very long and last well into the night, and rightly so because they are just yummy!
As night descended, the crowds increased to take advantage of the cooler weather. There were a couple of rows with booths for artists and small local businesses. The lights from these booths as well as the cloak of the nighttime darkness made for perfect shooting conditions.