This story first appeared in The Daily Illini.
(Photo by Daniel Demmerle)
As the sun sets on September evenings, downtown Urbana comes alive for the second consecutive year as the city brings back its Night Market at the Square.
Every Thursday in September from 6-9 p.m., the parking lot of Lincoln Square Mall turns into a bustling hub.
The Night Market offers much more than the average shopping experience; it is an evening full of fun.
Food trucks — such as Kona Ice, Keke’s Mobile Beverage Trailer, La Paloma, Burrito King and Kettle & Corn Lemon Shake Ups — line the streets, catering to both sweet and savory cravings.
Alongside a variety of food options, the Night Market is also home to an array of local business owners. Bakers serve up local flavors, artists display handmade goods, live painters and poets create works before patrons’ eyes and bands — both local and regional — fill Lincoln Square with music.
The vendors bring a taste of Urbana’s entrepreneurial spirit into the heart of downtown, where each booth tells its own story, giving marketgoers a chance not only to shop but to connect with the people behind the products.
Among the plethora of passionate vendors is Emil Cobb, better known around town as “The Button Man.” Cobb brings his own flair to the market, selling both pre-made and custom buttons.
Retiring after over 30 years of working at the University, Cobb has found a new outlet for his creativity.
“I think events like this bring the community together because I have a lot of what they call repeat customers, and they’ll come by, and, as a matter of fact, I even get some business at home,” Cobb said. “If you want a button, I’m happy to make it.”
Cobb’s booth radiates the same enthusiasm he brings to conversations, fueled by his passion for community connection and his simple goal of putting a smile on every visitor’s face.
Cobb isn’t the only one who sees the Night Market as more than just a place to sell goods. For vendor Lindsey Kelso, the event represents an opportunity to strengthen ties within Urbana as she blends her craft with her passion for community connection.
Lindsey is the owner of Kelso Kreations by Lindsey, where she sells a variety of products, including makeup pouches, tote bags, reworked shirts and embroidery that she sews herself.
“I do it for the reactions to all my designs and just seeing people and (seeing) their emotions,” Kelso said. “(In) community events like this, we are all just here to listen to music and have fun, but to also buy things, making it a really good way to get our names out there.”
Kelso values the chance to interact with familiar faces while also welcoming new ones, turning each Thursday evening into a celebration of local spirit. Kelso urges University students to explore events like these outside of the campus community.
“For students, at my booth I have cute Illini tote bags and a lot of embroidery of the older Illini looks, but even just in general, this is a good way to get to know who’s in the community, too,” Kelso said. “So if you’re interested in getting involved in the community because you’re not from here, it’s a really great way to just come and get to know the people who are all here.”
While the locals of Urbana hope to see further engagement, some students have already ventured to the market.
“I always knew there was a farmers’ market, but I looked it up today and found out about the Thursday night market,” said Christina Guckel, junior in FAA. “I think this is a lot of fun with a lot of unique stands, so I’d recommend other students to come do something different than what they normally would.”
Guckel’s experience highlights the market’s growing appeal to both longtime residents and students looking for something new, and there is still time for more people to join in on the festivities.
The Night Market will continue for two more Thursdays this September on the 18th and 25th, offering a couple more chances to explore the vendors, food and music that have made it a local favorite.
Lauren Castaldo is an undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a senior arts & entertainment writer for The Daily Illini.