Market-goers make their way along Fourth Avenue SE on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, during Market After Dark in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
UPDATE, Aug. 28, 2019: The Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, which hosts Market After Dark, said this year’s event had a record number of attendees, at nearly 50,000. “We heard from many of the 100 Market After Dark vendors that they were sold out or nearly sold out of products well before the closing bell at 11 p.m.,” said Jenn Draper, Events Planner, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance. “We are so pleased Market After Dark was a successful, strong sales opportunity for these local entrepreneurs and established businesses.”
CEDAR RAPIDS — Organizers predicted 40,000 people would attend the fifth annual Market After Dark and with the weather cooperating, that estimate appeared to hold true.
Children dance to DJ Commando during the 2019 Market After Dark. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Crowds stood in lines to wait for wristbands to buy beer and other beverages and passed shoulder-to-shoulder to reach food vendors and more in downtown Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Aug. 24.
More: Photos of last year’s Market After Dark
An average of 14,000 market-goers attend each of the regular Downtown Farmers Markets. One more market will be held in September.
Nearly 100 vendors sold prepared foods, honey, baked goods, flowers, clothing, handcrafted items and more at the 2019 Market After Dark.
More: Details on the last Downtown Farmers Market of the season and other area markets.
New features at Market After Dark this year included a lighted bubble alley behind the Towne Center Plaza and a balloon garden in Greene Square Park.
Construction on Third Avenue left a gap in the middle of the market, with vendors forming a square that avoided the street.
The band City Park and headliners, Diamond Empire Band, entertained on the main stage at Fifth Street and Fourth Avenue SE, while market favorites Junk Funk and other groups performed elsewhere downtown.
See photos from the 2017, 2016 and inaugural year of Market After Dark and more from the 2019 market, below:
A balloon garden in Greene Square Park was among the new features at the 2019 Market After Dark. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Cedar Rapids-based band City Park performs next to the historic Banjo block in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A crowd waits in line for wristbands to buy alcoholic beverages during Market After Dark. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Junk Funk performs during Market After Dark in downtown Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Dogs were present at Market After Dark, in spite of signs that noted pets weren’t allowed. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Clothing was among items sold at Market After Dark. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Children reach for bubbles in the bubble alley behind Towne Center Plaza. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Customers look at fruits and vegetables sold by Buck Creek Produce of Iowa City. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Market-goers pass through the balloon garden in Greene Square during Market After Dark. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Des Moines-based Diamond Empire Band performs during Market After Dark. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A father and son rappel down the Iowa Building in downtown Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Customers buy prepared food at Thai Street Food by Lynn. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Volunteers work at one of the beverage tents during Market After Dark in downtown Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Lighted bottles are sold by Bottlework Creations. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Dancers from Prestige Dance Studio perform during Market After Dark in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The crowd makes its way along Fourth Avenue SE during Market After Dark. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Norton’s Greenhouse sells sunflowers during Market After Dark in downtown Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
A costumed witch greets market-goers outside Balloons, Etc. & The Costume Emporium on Second Avenue SE. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Diamond Empire Band performs during Market After Dark. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
Lights reflect in balloons in Greene Square Park. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
The 2019 Market After Dark was expected to attract 40,000 people to downtown Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
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