This past Sunday was the grand opening of the Sunnyside Night Market!

The night market brings community members, local vendors, and visitors together to celebrate Sunnyside’s rich cultural diversity through food, art, and performances. The event kicks off a year of programming to connect residents, support local businesses and artists, and celebrate Sunnyside’s vibrant culture.

The vision behind this activation is rooted in the belief that consistent use of public spaces for community gatherings can transform how residents view and use these areas. Through regular programming, we aim to foster a sense of ownership and inspire the community to envision even greater possibilities for the space. Our extensive outreach has shown that many community members feel the area under the 7 train is underutilized and have expressed a strong desire for more market-type activations.

This project is presented by the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District with support from dD+P and the Queens Lighting Collective. The project is produced in partnership with The Local Center, a collaboration between Urban Design Forum and the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development. Thank you to our city agency partners NYC Department of Small Business Services and NYC Department of Transportation.