Wichita Asian Night Market returns for fourth year with food, fireworks, floating lanterns
It’s like the big Wichita Asian Festival that happens every October at Century II — except it’s outdoors, has fireworks and this year will even include a man-made river floating with glowing lanterns.
The fourth annual Wichita Asian Night Market will happen from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday on the concourse at Equity Bank Park. Inspired by popular nighttime bazaars regularly put on in Asian countries such as China and Thailand, the event will feature dozens of local Asian restaurants selling their food plus arts and crafts vendors, lion dancers, balloon animals and face painting. A big fireworks show will happen at 10 p.m.
Of the 68 groups that have signed up for the event, 31 will be selling food, 21 will have arts and crafts merchandise, seven will be serving boba, and five will have dessert options. The other four are informational booths, said Taben Azad, the president/CEO of the group.
Around 15 to 20 countries will be represented, he said.
Among the food vendors will be recognizable names like Kobe Steakhouse of Japan, Wasabi, Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen, T-Swirl Crepe, Feng Cha and Coffee Daze.
Since its first year, the Asian Night Market has been drawing large crowds, Azad said. This year, he’s expecting between 7,000 and 8,000 people.
Azad said organizers have made a few notable changes, one of them designed to get that big crowd in the doors quicker. Last year, he said, all attendees had to enter through the north gate of the stadium, and at one point, the line stretched all the way to The Monarch.
This year, a second gate will be open off of Maple Street, which Azad says should help get people through the doors more quickly.
Azad said he’s also excited about a unique addition: a 40-foot-long by 20-foot-wide makeshift “river” that will be set up on the northeast corner of the concourse Attendees will be invited to decorate Asian lanterns, make a wish, then set them afloat. All of the lanterns will be fitted with candles, and they’ll glow as they float.
The makeshift river is a preview to what organizers of the night market are envisioning for future events.
“We really want to be able to use the Arkansas River at some point in the future,” Azad said. “This is our version of making do with what we can.”
The Asian Night Market is put on by a group called Wichita Asian Alliance in partnership with the National Association of Asian American Professionals.
Tickets are $10 through 11:59 p.m. Friday at www.tickettailor.com/events/asiannightmarketict or $12 at the door. Azad advises people to bring cash: All food vendors will accept cash, and a few will accept only cash.
This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 11:47 AM.
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