In the Ritchie neighbourhood, a stretch of 99th Street once known mostly for warehouses and light industry is quietly becoming one of Edmonton’s most people-friendly spaces. What started with a few breweries has turned into something bigger — and brighter.
The Grand Night Market, hosted along the corridor now branded as Happy Beer Street, has brought thousands of Edmontonians out to walk, shop and mingle after hours. It’s part of a growing series of seasonal street fairs organized by Grand Markets Edmonton, which debuted on 124 Street and has since expanded to multiple locations, including Ritchie. From 5 to 10 p.m., the market turns this formerly car-first corridor into a high-energy pedestrian zone with local vendors, live music, food trucks and pop-up bars.
Kirsta Franke, founder of Grand Markets Edmonton says the breweries on Happy Beer Street have done an incredible job building up the area. It’s only because they’ve established such a strong presence that the Grand Markets could build on that foundation.
“We come in and create things that generate more foot traffic, that are mutually beneficial for the retailers and the breweries in the area.”
That’s no small feat in a city that runs on gasoline. Edmonton’s wide roads and low density often make walkable gathering spaces feel out of reach. That’s why reclaiming streets for foot traffic — even temporarily — feels meaningful.
What also makes the Grand Night Market work is its timing. Traditional markets cater to daytime shoppers, but Franke’s series captures the unique magic of Edmonton’s summers, where daylight lingers past 10 p.m. It’s a softer entry into nightlife — something between a family-friendly festival and a night out. “We’re reaching a much broader audience with our Night Markets,” Franke says. “I would definitely say we’ve seen (the Ritchie markets) be a little more higher traffic than any of our other locations.”
This article appears in the June 2025 issue of Edify
