Be in this space: first-ever Moonlight Bazaar to light up abandoned Saint John lot
It'll be out of this world
A glowing orb will rise over Saint John on Saturday night at the city's first-ever Moonlight Bazaar.
The inaugural night market combines costumes, DJ tunes, tarot card readers and reiki practitioners, local artisans and food vendors, and bars serving up frosty craft beer and cocktails.
"We were inspired to do this in 2014 after we went to this evening bazaar in an old warehouse in Brooklyn," said Moonlight Bazaar co-founder Lauchlan Ough, who organized the event with fellow Saint Johners Jody Kliffer and Kale Harper.
"We thought, 'Oh my god, we have to do this in Saint John.'"
'New-age-y, spacey feeling'
Approximately 16 vendors are scheduled to take part. There will also be "a few pop-up surprise performances throughout the event," Ough said.
"You're either there at the right time, or you're not."
Grannan Street and part of Canterbury will be closed from 8 p.m. until late on Saturday to make way for the event — so named for the softly glowing 20-foot-diameter inflatable moon that will be suspended overhead, setting an otherworldly ambience.
Most of the action will take place in the vacant lot off Grannan Lane, behind Port City Royal.
"There will be sod laid underneath the moon so that you can hang out, have a drink and eat cheese," Ough said.
Attendees also should plan to don their most out-of-this-world apparel.
Not only are costumes encouraged, Ough said, but the bazaar has partnered with the upcoming Fundy Fan Fest and will include a contingent of cosplayers in comic book and anime-themed getups.
"There will be lots of people in costumes and wacky outfits," Ough said.
The moon, Kliffer said, is the perfect focal point for an out-of-this world outdoor event.
"It'll have a new-age-y, spacey feeling," he said. "We've rounded up a lot of people with a proclivity for the strange to take part."