Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on September 17, 2024.
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When an event brands itself as “a most curious bi-annual market,” we can safely say our interest is piqued. When that event is the Allentown Night Market, typically taking place on a Saturday night in June and October, after our first visit we knew we had to visit every time.
“Most curious” is an understatement here!
So whether you’re into the off-beat, macabre, or simply want to check out what is new in this fun corner of Pittsburgh, the Allentown Night Market evenings should be on your radar.
Curiosities Galore at the Allentown Night Market
The Allentown Night Market runs twice a year, typically from 7 to 11pm on a Saturday night, with events, music, and special business hours all throughout the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
During the event, many local Allentown businesses are open late, and makes for a great opportunity to explore staples of the neighborhood like Dr. Tumblety’s Specialty Shop, Inner Grove Brewing, Bottlerocket Social Hall, The Weeping Glass, Grim Wizard Coffee, and many, many more that you may have missed on other stops to the neighborhood. Our visits to the night market almost always start off with a round of beer at Inner Groove, a cocktail in the speakeasy at Dr. Tumblety’s, and some shopping at these (and other) staples in the neighborhood.
But the real highlight of the Allentown Night Market, to us, is the pop-up markets found at four locations across the neighborhood.
These markets include the Warrington Outdoor Market, the Hilltop Outdoor Market, the Manton Outdoor Market, and, the biggest one of all, the RE360 Warehouse Indoor Market just around the corner from Bottlerocket Social Hall. These truly make the night market the reason why we return for each and every event.
It is at these markets that you can find all forms of local art be it from conventional paintings, ceramics, and woodworking, to more off-beat art like radioactive glass, incense, gravestone art, and so much more. Can the art be weird? Yes. Can it be macabre? Double yes. Can it be just plain unusual? Absolutely. This is all part of the fun of the Allentown Night Market.
But in being a neighborhood night market, you’ll find more than just art. You may be walking down the rows of local artists and find a baker selling bread, a bar selling cocktails, and, in the case of the outdoor markets, a lineup of some of Pittsburgh’s best food trucks and (typically) a popup from the vegan, metal-themed Onion Maiden to name a few. This one is a curious market, for sure, but it is a neighborhood market all the same!
The final element of the Allentown Night Market to keep in mind is that many of the businesses and markets are also home to stages for live entertainment which also follows that “most curious” theme. On one stage you may see a fire performance. On another you may be taken back in time with some 1920s style classics. We’ve often witnessed a marching band playing loudly through the markets and streets of Allentown, too.
It is just that kind of market– weird, wonderful, and a perfect reflection of why Allentown is so fun.
But, for those who wish to visit the Allentown Night Market, be warned- this one is popular. With each passing market, more and more visitors attend, and parking in Allentown gets that much more challenging. Be sure to arrive early, grab a coveted street parking spot, and enjoy the evening with a few thousand new friends and artists.
There really isn’t another market quite like this one in Pittsburgh, and we are so lucky that they bring it around twice a year!
The Allentown Night Market typically takes place in early June and October each year in Allentown.
