Huge Asian-style night market set for Mississauga

Diners searching for unique foods not easily found at restaurants might be happy to hear that an Asian-style night market is set to come to Mississauga this month. 

The 2024 Mississauga Asian Night Market, a three-day celebration of food and culture, will kick off on Friday, July 19 and run until Sunday, July 21. The event will be making its first appearance in the city and will take shape in Square One’s P6 parking lot, right across from The Food District. 

“There are a few night markets, but this is interesting because there’s more focus on the food,” Ruifeng (Ricky) Zhen, the event organizer, told INsauga.com. 

“There will be so many unique food vendors there and some of the food will be special made for the event only.” 

Zhen told INsauga.com that the event began to come to life after he spoke with Ward 6 Coun. Joe Horneck about the need for more Asian-themed festivals and events in the city to mark Asian Heritage Month in the spring. 

“In May, it’s Asian Heritage Month and Mississauga doesn’t have many celebrations here and I talked to [Horneck] about this. I said, ‘Why don’t we do a night market to promote Asian culture?’ and he said it was a good idea.”

Initially, Zhen aimed to host the event in May but decided to push it to July so it wouldn’t overlap with Carassauga, where he helps operate the China Pavilion. Now, he’s optimistic the summer date will work well for families looking for something unique to do. 

“Kids are out of school, so parents can bring their kids over,” he says. 

As far as food goes, the event website says attendees can expect takoyaki (deep-fried octopus), Hong Kong egg waffles, Filipino snacks and street food, Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese cheesecake, Peking Tanghulu (skewered candied fruits), bubble tea, grilled oysters, shaved ice, fried chicken and more. 

There will also be live performances, including traditional dances, appearances by local artists and a DJ during the evening hours. 

Zhen also says guests can shop at the market, as vendors will be selling artisanal crafts, accessories, and cultural works. The market will also boast claw machines, so younger attendees (and anyone who loves toys) can walk away with something fun. 

There will also be a kid’s zone with a bouncy castle. 

The market is free to enter. 

Ultimately, Zhen says he’s excited to bring something unique to the city he calls home.

“There are things you can get at night markets that you can’t get at restaurants. We wanted to bring that to Mississauga,” he says.