The Oceanside Sunset Market
Every Thursday night a couple of streets in Oceanside come alive between the hours of 5:00 pm-9:00pm for the Sunset Market.    In the summer months, alive means, really alive!!!  The market is  jam packed especially in the summer so come early to find parking spaces. It is located right by the pier off of Mission Ave and Tremont Street.
The Thursday night market has been in existence for about ten years and has grown in each one of those years.  At the very beginning there were only a few food booths and various other booths with gift ideas, local crafts, flowers, produce, etc.
Nowadays, the sweet smell of food hits you before you even get out of your car because of the dozens of  vendors offering up their fresh fare nearby.    Besides BBQ, American, Mexican, Hawaiian, Thai, and Chinese cuisines, there are other booths with foods from all over the world.  Regardless if you want to be adventuresome or eat your local favorite, there will be something for everybody.   Some people come to the market just to eat.
Food in abundance and many kinds and types
Sweet tooth anyone?   Row upon row of desserts of every type, shape, and form can be found along the route of the market. It would take you many visits to try it all.
Just a few of the many desserts at the market
Besides food, there is entertainment, craft booths, specialty booths, clothes, jewelry, and other various merchandise.
At the end of Tremont Street you can sit back and enjoy the mellow sounds of the lone guitarist, Pua, or dance in the main center area to the beats of local bands.
A band plays at the main stage
There is also a kid’s zone with various activities, games, and horse rides.  On the corner, the ever present Casey twists and turns balloons to make the most elaborate figures for your kids or they can get  their face painted just across the way.
I had friends that owned a Crepe booth many years ago and I visited this market quite often to enjoy their amazing creations.   Once they stopped selling there, and it got so big, I stopped going.   It’s just too unbearable to find parking sometimes.
Yet somehow, we always find a spot and now go a little more often. Â Â We brave the crowds to search for that magic dessert or yummy dinner.
On my last trip, I walked through the crowd, eyeballing all of the variety of foods and soon made my pick. Slithering back to my favorite table at the end of the street, I have to admit that I picked out what I always get, Huli Huli Hawaiian chicken.   Darn, sometimes I wish I was more adventuresome, but I like what I like.
While sitting back in my chair enjoying my meal on this extremely warm summer night, the guitarist switched to an ukulele to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”.   The familiar strumming of the original version by IZ, was a perfect ending to the day as the orange and yellow hues of the setting sun were now visible in the sky.
The Oceanside Sunset Market is a great place to visit for the evening. Bring your kids, bring your money, bring your dogs, and especially … bring your appetite.
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