New night market for Coast
A NEW family-friendly night market will launch next month on the grounds of the Gold Coast’s biggest high school.
Organisers said they hoped the Night Bites @ Palmy market, to run every Saturday from September 3, would become a pillar of the southern Gold Coast community.
Around 50 food outlets, live music and craft stalls are promised at the market, which will be held at Palm Beach Currumbin State High School. Entry will be free.
Night Bites is the brainchild of industry veteran Coralie Harris.
Ms Harris has spent more than 15 years running the Palm
Beach Farmers Market and also founded popular markets at the Gold Coast Turf Club and HOTA.
Ms Harris said she had been trying to launch a night market for years, but had her plans disrupted by the Covid pandemic.
“I’ve had this (Night Bites) trademarked for probably five to eight years,” Ms Harris said.
“We had been talking to the school (about launching the night market) for some time, but Covid intervened and so we had that delay for almost two years.
“And then it takes a while to get a market up and running.”
Ms Harris said the experience of the pandemic had highlighted the importance of friendship and community, and she was hoping to make Night Bites the ideal place for get-togethers.
“It seems after Covid, people really want to get out now,” Ms Harris said.
“I think people have realised how important community and friendship is.
“I think that’s probably one of the reasons that night markets are so popular.
“People love the farmers market, but they also want to go out, have a quick meal and catch up with a friend.
“They can take the kids home if they go early, and get them to sleep.
“And then there are others who turn up a bit later and hang around and listen to some good music and eat some food at not outrageous prices.
“It seems to be a trend that is really working.”
In keeping with the familyfriendly theme the new market will not serve alcohol most nights, but will have separate “wet nights” which will be heavily advertised in advance.
“We’re doing this as a local community event.
“We’re still getting enrolments (from food vendors) all the time, but at this stage I’d say we’ll start with about 50 different kinds of food and drinks.
“And we’re planning on making it wet and dry. Most nights it will be dry, so it will be family friendly.
“There will be lots of mocktails on non-alcoholic beers and wines, so the family can come along and not be concerned about broken glass or people over-imbibing or having to have security guys there.
“Then once a month or so we’ll have a wet (night). That will be promoted heavily when we do that.”
Ms Harris said the P&C at Palm Beach Currumbin would get an income from the school hosting the markets, which meant additional benefit for the community.
“We have the best relationship with the school. We have meetings with them all the time, they’re positive about things. They want the best for the school.
“And they want the best for the markets.
“Because if we succeed they continue to receive an income from the markets as well which goes towards the pupils. So it’s sort of a win-win for everybody.”