A wide variety of commercial vendors staked out sections of Fourth Street for Wednesday’s first in the September Night Markets and attracted a steady stream of shoppers on Sept. 2.
On Wednesday evenings the free family-friendly events bring together local businesses, artisans, food vendors and live entertainment to downtown. Local vendors offer unique handmade goods and locally crafted products, and provide samples of food for sale.
The first event brought two produce vendors, including Alvarez Farmers Market from Beckwith Road in Modesto. The other booth was selling locally grown nuts.
Booths stretched along the block between North Street and Lawrence Street and included such products as herbal skin care and pain relief.
The Heavenly Creations booth offered sparkling refresher, coffee, matcha charcuterie and sweet treats. Martinez’s Little Gifts booth sold children’s toys and stuffed animals. At the Bella’s Green Boutique booth customers were checking out the variety of potted plants housed in unique ceramic containers.
One vendor offered 3-D printed dragons and other creations while candles were sold at the “Be Still & Glow Candle Shop” booth.
Jams and jellies were sold by another vendor while BarkN Bits dog treats was another product featured by one vendor.
Totally Tallow offered organic grass-fed tallow skin care products billed as “made with love in small batches,” including tallow and goat milk soaps, face creams, body butters and lip balms.
The Antolitos Los Milagros food truck anchored the south end of the market where Fourth Street meets Lawrence Street to sell Mexican style ice cream treats and hot food items.
Real estate agent Joanna Esparza was on hand to speak to those interested in buying or selling properties. Next to her was loan officer Cecilia Rosales who was asked several times about the current interest rate is running.
Mayor Javier Lopez appeared in the city’s booth for a time, giving him a chance to meet residents.
Food booths were kept at a minimum so as to not detract from the downtown eateries, including American Italian Bistro and Lil Papa’s Sandwiches & More, said city of Ceres Recreation Coordinator Jessica Pulliam. However, Phoenix BBQ & Catering was on hand selling brisket, tri-tip and pulled pork sandwiches, bowls, meats, ribs and sides like mac and cheese, bacon baked beans and pickles and pickled onions.
“But we do have snacks – there’s a lot of snacks, sugar rush,” Pulliam added.
Glenn Smith of the vendor Pepper Addict Spicy Creations of Oakdale was busy introducing folks to a line of spicy jams, hot sauces and pickles in varying degrees of spice. The company business card asks “What’s your heat level?” with four choices: mild, spicy, hot and hell. Smith explained that “hell” category of his products would involve ghost peppers, which are 170 times hotter than Tabasco sauce.
One goal of the Night Market is to introduce crowds to the businesses which remain open in the evening, including The Drip Coffee Bar and Lil Papa’s Sandwich Shop.
The Pentecostal Church, opposite Wells Fargo Bank, held an indoor rummage sale. In front of the bank was a vendor selling Aura alcohol-free perfumes, colognes and oils.
A performance of Ceres Karate students at 6 p.m. drew a number of families to the event, increasing foot traffic.
Pulliam said that Stanislaus Animal Services Agency (SASA) will be bringing pets to adopt at the Night Market slated for Wednesday, Sept. 23.
Not all were selling products at the event. A cheery Kirat Brar of Hughson manned a table for the “Humility, Kindness & Love” (HKL) Foundation which seeks to bring out the best in people. Before her was an assortment of cards free for the taking with encouraging notes. Messages like “Your kindness leaves ripples that go farther than you think.” Others included “You are a person who sees the good in others,” and “You are capable of achieving amazing things.”
“We want to make the world more beautiful by spreading more humility, kindness and love by giving out these types of cards,” said Brar. “We also have HKL walks where we pass out roses just randomly to people on the street.”
Bar said the foundation started in 2024 and is headquartered in Pleasanton and in over 90 countries. Those who signed up with their email will be receiving messages of challenges to “transform you into becoming a more humble, kinder version of yourself.”
Sponsors of the Night Markets include The Drip, Vic’s Churros, Splitfire Graphics, and Synergy Services.
The Night Market runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Sept. 23 and 30.
