On the first Friday of the month from May to December things hot up at Strand Night Markets, Townsville. Stall holders start setting up after lunch and the markets open to the public from 5 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.
I, like a lot of my Baby Boomer sisters, am a market freak. To be fair it is not just the B.B. Generation that is afflicted by this condition. Budget Daughter, a Gen Yér has it as well. I think it is our joint Hippy Streak that makes markets irresistable to us. Yes, I used to wear hippy skirts and love beads and buy misshapen pottery mugs with the best of them. And it is not just us hippy chicks that dig them either. My Mum does and she is 87 years old and has never once worn a hippy skirt. She likes finding bargains at flea markets, probably because back in the day, when WWII was on, everything was expensive and hard to source. Then again there is my Sis-In-Law who is younger than me. I don’t know what generation she is classified as, but she likes buying expensive cheeses and skin care products found at markets like EUMUNDI on the Sunshine Coast. Budget Son has also expressed an interest in visiting the (Townsville) N.Q. Farmers Market which is held at the North Shore from 6 a.m. Saturdays. It is so popular that you have to get there early to grab the best produce, and we are going to go one day, but 6 a.m. is just so early, isn’t it?
The Night Markets in Townsville are a great place to find unique presents, grab a bite to eat, and collect some fruit, veges or art, but the latest thing to catch my eye were the Hi Vis shirts for kids. At $39.95 they were a little pricey, but I am making a Tuesday In Townsville prediction, that Christmas Day 2013 in N.Q. will be lit up by reflective strips.
There is something about families strolling in the balmy night air, friends meeting each other by plan and by accident, and the working week being over, that gives the night markets a festive feel.
See you at the Night Markets.
Things to know before you go.
Free Parking is available on the Strand and in the streets behind, but finding a car park close by can be extremely difficult. Come early if you can, and be careful not to obstruct anyone’s driveway!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE TOWNSVILLE POSTS.
Best Off-Leash Areas Townsville
Krista
August 6, 2013 at 2:01 pmHow fun! I love night markets best of all somehow. 🙂 There’s something festive and laid back about the night air and crowds of people. 🙂
Jan
August 7, 2013 at 10:17 amDefinitely Lisa and in Townsville it is not too hot at that time of day as well 🙂
Lisa Wood
August 6, 2013 at 6:44 pmI so have never been to a night market before, but so would love to – I have seen one advertised on the Sunshine Coast but we never got to go.
I like the idea because we are not morning people, so going at night time would mean that we could stroll around at our own pace, and have dinner out at the same time!
I love Markets for bargain shopping, yummy breads/cakes and to support local farmers {buying fruit and veggie as well as honey}
Our boys love going so they can check out the toys at the stalls 🙂
Looks like a great market in Townsville.
Jan
August 7, 2013 at 10:16 amMaybe The Gong has a night market in Summer Lisa?
Andrew Graeme Gould
August 7, 2013 at 11:05 amIt certainly looks like a lot of fun. Well shown in your photo series, Jan.