Queens Night Market Ends Season With Halloween-Themed Event

FLUSHING, QUEENS — The Queens Night Market is closing out its first season since the pandemic with the return of an annual Halloween-themed night on Oct. 30.

In addition to its usual array of international fare and live music performances from local artists, the Queens Night Market will set up trick-or-treating and a costume contest for kids and adults with Queens-themed prizes on the last Saturday night of this season.

John Wang, founder of the Queens Night Market, is excited to welcome visitors back for the first Halloween-themed finale in two years, but said that this season — the first since the start of the pandemic — has still felt "bittersweet."

"On the one hand, we’re happy for the success of our vendors, many of whom struggled mightily during the pandemic," he said, noting that this year was the best-yet for vendors. "But on the other hand, we realize that we had such a busy season precisely because we’re still in a pandemic, and that outdoor spaces and events like ours have really become an oasis during these tragic times," he said.

Wang hopes to welcome market-goers back under "much happier circumstances" next year.

Since its summer return, Wang has balanced the "gravity and tragedy" of COVID's impact on Queens — especially in the event's nearby neighborhood of Corona, the former epicenter of the epicenter — with his hopes that the event could represent "a celebratory beacon of solidarity and really just a huge, collective sigh of relief."

Under his guidance the Queens Night Market reopened in June and donated 20 percent of the net proceeds from tickets — amounting to $11,000 — to COVID- and racial equity-focused charities.

Then, opening night of the market's fall season in Sept. served as a fundraiser for local survivors of Hurricane Ida who couldn't access FEMA aid because of immigration status.

This final Saturday marks a respite from the intensity of the year, with the return of the "beloved" costume contest.

"In 2019, we had about 100 contestants in our costume contests competing for prizes. We hope for even more this year," said Wang.

The kids’ costume contest starts at 8:30 p.m. on October 30th, followed at 9:15 p.m. with the adults' contest.

Local prizes include a baseball signed by NY Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, VIP-suite concert tickets to Forest Hills Stadium, a $100 gift certificate to the Queens Center Mall, and more.