Milwaukee Night Market canceled for Wednesday, June 24; rescheduled
Milwaukee Night Market canceled, small businesses impacted
The Milwaukee Night Market season kickoff was canceled Wednesday because of storms, leaving vendors disappointed but hopeful for a makeup date on Oct. 7.
MILWAUKEE - The highly anticipated season kickoff of the Milwaukee Night Market was canceled Wednesday night, June 24, because of storms.
Night Market canceled
Local perspective:
The weather washed out big plans for local businesses. Vendors scheduled to work the Milwaukee Night Market said the opportunity is a huge deal for them, and losing opening night hurts.
From colorful Mexican artisan products to food, those are just a few of the items normally found at the Milwaukee Night Market. It is a major opportunity for small businesses like Lola's Empanadas and Artesanía Minga.
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"It is a big deal, because we get lots of other people to see what we have to offer," Artesanía Minga owner Dominga Peña said.
But Wednesday night, Mother Nature had other plans for the season kickoff. Organizers canceled the event around noon because of incoming storms.
Missing a crowd
What they're saying:
"We were a little sad and disappointed, but it's not the Night Market's fault, we know, it's weather," Peña said. "We ordered extra merchandise or extra things that we thought would sell well there," Peña said.
The last-minute cancellation was a heavy blow for vendors who spent weeks preparing.
"Yeah, there is a little money that, you know, that we are missing out on," said Rosi Solis, senior sales manager for Lola's Empanadas.
For these businesses, missing the Night Market means missing a guaranteed crowd.
"We always sell out, we always sell out," Solis said.
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"It's helped us quite a bit because being in that area, it's new, it's like new customers," Peña said.
Still, both vendors are staying optimistic, hoping people will still seek out their empanadas and handcrafted pieces before the next market.
"I try to be positive all the time and still feel like it's going to get better," Peña said.
Looking ahead
What's next:
A news release says Westown Association reserved Wednesday, Oct. 7, as a make-up date. Further details on the rescheduled date will be shared in the coming weeks, officials said.
The remaining 2026 Markets will be held on July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 16 and Oct. 7.
The vendor directory can be found at mkenightmarket.com/june-vendors with links to vendor websites and social media pages.
The Source: Information in this post was provided by the Westown Association and Milwaukee Night Market vendors.