The Portland Night Market is a diverse, volunteer-run market with a variety of food, clothes, art and more. Created by married couple Dustin and Emma Evans in 2015, the market is completely free to attend.

It’s located in the Central Eastside district of Portland, on Alder Street. Parking tends to fill up quickly, since thousands of people are attending. Most of the attendees this December have been teenagers and young adults. 

It starts at 4 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m. both Friday and Saturday nights, and it starts every quarter of the year. While attendance is free, there is the option to buy a “fast pass,” which will allow you to skip the entrance line. A fast pass costs around 10 dollars and is free for children under 12 as long as a guardian has a fast pass.

The line is absurdly long, stretching throughout entire streets and turning corners to fill more space. A fast pass is necessary if someone doesn’t want to wait at least 30 minutes to enter. This is especially true later into the night.

Sylvia Hidalgo, a senior at Ida B. Wells, attempted to attend without a fast pass. “Th line was so long, I decided to cut my losses and bail,” she said.

The food is served outside, freshly made and hot. With over 170 vendors, there is a vast variety of options for people of all cultures and tastes.

There is so much food that even picky eaters will find something appetizing. There are plenty of nonfood vendors, too, meaning there is a good chance an attendee will walk away with something they love.

The interior of the Portland Night Market is huge, and always extensively decorated. This winter season, the market has put up Christmas trees and ornaments, adding a festive touch to their interior.

The Portland Night Market is a great activity for teens, as long as waiting in a long line or paying 10 dollars isn’t a problem. Exploring around occupies a good amount of time and highlights the eclectic nature of the venue.