Changes are coming to Tarentum’s monthly street festival to boost safety and socialization.
Night Market, heading into its sixth year, is eyeing a move to First Avenue, where officials believe people will be more prone to sit, eat and linger.
There also would be improved traffic flow and access to public restrooms at the new location alongside Riverview Memorial Park.
“Safety is a huge concern,” committee head Brian DeFelice said.
Prior years saw the partial closure of East Sixth and East Fifth avenues and Corbet Street, with store owners propping open doors and vendors setting up alongside musicians and food trucks.
But that created a traffic bottleneck and left shoppers without clear direction.
DeFelice said that containing the event to First Avenue would enable the market to grow, as organizers expect that the public benches, restrooms and picnic areas will encourage people to sit, listen to music and stay longer.
This new space would help reduce congestion while still being close to the heart of town, he said.
“Most importantly, it will help showcase our fantastic riverfront and the beautiful park that we have to offer for other future events as well,” he said.
Borough Manager Dwight Boddorf said residents and businesses have raised concerns in previous years regarding issues with traffic detours, cars bypassing barricades, limited access for emergency vehicles and a lack of public seating.
The borough doesn’t organize the event and isn’t involved in decision-making.
“We do support the Night Market and communicate regularly with the committee to help ensure it runs smoothly and safely,” Boddorf said.
“We’ve discussed these concerns with the committee, and ultimately, they are requesting to move the event to First Avenue, where it can be held in a format more consistent with other borough events.”
Council is expected to vote on the issue during its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
If approved, portions of the street will be closed to traffic each month. Dates for the season will be released soon.
New this year will be a lineup of local bands and a pop-up brewery by New Kensington-based Conny Creek to pair with food truck offerings.
Galaxy Donuts, which specializes in fresh-made mini confections, might also be on the menu. Owner Rob Huss said he’s considering the market based on its move to First Avenue.
“It will not be as scattered throughout different locations,” he said. “As a food truck, having it more cohesive means bigger crowds and more opportunities as a vendor.”
Driving shoppers to the town’s business district after hours was the impetus for the seasonal event, which started during the pandemic.
DeFelice believes the move will only emphasize a spotlight on the entire town.
“Everyone is encouraged to set up a vendor space and be a part of our community,” he said.
Businesses are also able to stay open late and have people pop in to their stores . DeFelice said people will be encouraged to support the shops and restaurants in the commercial districts along East Sixth, East Fifth and Corbet by parking a few blocks away and making their way to the park.
“We worked hard to find a fair solution that doesn’t favor one business over another, while also providing great amenities for visitors,” he said.
Boddorf said the festival-like atmosphere traditionally brings energy to town, and he’s excited to see it continue to evolve.
The Night Market committee maintains a Facebook site to promote borough businesses, and DeFelice creates maps and street markers to direct people to the many hidden gems that line the streets.
“It will continue to be positive and help all the local businesses,” he said.
“At its core, the Night Market is about showcasing Tarentum — our businesses, our food, our people and our energy,” DeFelice said. “We want visitors to enjoy the event and feel encouraged to come back and support local businesses year-‘round.”
