Downtown Tempe announced the return of the 6th Street Market beginning Sunday November 3rd, 2019. Now entering its fourth season as a Sunday staple for the community, the market has revamped and upgraded specific aspects based on community feedback, and will be bigger and better than previous years; featuring monthly special programming and events, while highlighting Arizona-based artisans, purveyors and makers. The market takes place weekly on Sundays from 10am – 3pm at the newly-renovated 6th Street Park surrounding Tempe City Hall, November 3rd through April 5th with the exception of certain select Sundays.
With humble roots the 6th Street Market started in 2016 with 20 artists and a coffee cart, and has now grown to 50+ weekly vendors consisting of local artists, food and entertainment. The market’s mission has always been to connect the community with local artists, produce and food creatives. Everything about the market is 100% local and curated and in addition to handmade goods the market also features musicians and performers, baked goods, food items, produce, pies and gifts; akin to a mini version of Tempe’s famed Festival of the Arts on a smaller weekly scale. The market offers local artisans, purveyors and micro-businesses the regular opportunity to connect with both the downtown Tempe and larger regional communities. The perfect way to spend a Sunday, the market is free to attend and open to the public with entertainment for the whole family – including well-behaved leashed dogs.
New this season, market management has worked diligently to program a number of special features including an Asian Street Food pop-up, a Pastry Throwdown, a Boba Sip & Shop, monthly First Sunday Fitness events (featuring free workout sessions and pure barre instruction), two signature dog-oriented events and special holiday programming. From November 29th through December 22nd, the market offers free gift wrapping and seasonal pop-ups like Selfies with Santa and Dogs of 6th Street on December 15th, and a Holiday Foods Pop-up on December 22nd. See link below or their Facebook page for special event listings.
“It’s not only a great place to shop for one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts, the market offers the community an opportunity to connect,” said the Downtown Tempe Authority’s Director of Placemaking, Julie Kent. “Anyone can go to Target or Fry’s or Amazon but the 6th Street Market is an often-missed chance to engage with the artist who made these earrings or baked that mouthwatering pie filled with local peaches, and that’s not something e-commerce can replicate. Our market is ‘by the people and for the people’, and we invite the residents of Tempe and beyond to come meet their neighbors, friends and makers to experience real community. That’s what the 6th Street Market is really about.”
With the exception of programming conflicts, like when the Tempe Festival of the Arts takes over the downtown footprint, the market takes place weekly; rain or shine. There are free parking options on Sundays in downtown Tempe at the 201 S. Ash Garage and all on-street meters are free on Sundays (event parking rates as posted*). Attendees are also encouraged to go green and partake of public transportation, ride share or even bike share
For more information about the 6th Street Market, visit https://www.downtowntempe.com/events/6th-street-market
