Eugene Asian Night Market draws crowd for AAPI Heritage Month

The Farmers Market Pavilion and Plaza became one of downtown Eugene’s liveliest gathering spots Friday night as the fifth annual Asian Night Market filled 8th and Oak streets with food vendors, performers and community booths in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. More than 30 vendors took part, and the free, family-friendly event ran from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Eugene Downtown Farmers Market Pavilion & Plaza.

Hosted by the Asian American Council of Oregon, the market brought together Asian street foods, an artisan marketplace, youth activities and a full performance schedule in a setting designed for public use. Organizers have said the event is meant to celebrate the cultural diversity and influence of night markets across Asia, while also creating a social space where people can gather after work or school, share a meal and spend time with friends and family.

The evening’s programming included performances by the East Meets West Martial Arts Group and Eugene Bhangra, along with a total of 10 cultural performances that showcased different forms of dance and expression. The mix of martial arts, music and movement gave the event a strong stage presence, but the market also held its own as a food-centered gathering, with local vendors serving dishes that drew steady crowds through the night.

Among them was Jutatip Murray, who runs the Thai food stand Chaiyo. She served mango rice and said she appreciated being part of the celebration, one of the many signs that the market is not just a festival stop but a place where local businesses can show up year after year and build a familiar presence in Eugene’s civic life.

The setting added to that significance. The Farmers Market Pavilion, at 85 E. 8th Ave., opened with a grand ribbon-cutting in June 2022 and now serves as the year-round home of the Lane County Farmers Market. The City of Eugene describes it as a flexible indoor-outdoor public gathering space in the heart of downtown’s arts district, and Friday’s crowd made clear how well the site works for culture as well as commerce.

The Asian American Council of Oregon, founded in 1986 and formerly known as the Eugene-Springfield Asian Council, has long used the market to build visibility for AAPI residents in public space. The event also serves as a local lead-in to the larger Oregon Asian Celebration in July at Alton Baker Park. In a month that Congress permanently designated for Asian/Pacific American Heritage in 1992, Eugene’s downtown night market turned a familiar venue into a bright, shared expression of community identity.