Sydney Goodreau/The Herald

Another summer, another successful Dresden Night Market.

Thousands poured into downtown Dresden to explore the variety of vendors on St. George Street, taste sweet and savoury food, and enjoy live music on the CK mobile stage. According to Morena McDonald, one of the organizers, the key ingredient to the success of the Night Market is the tight-knit group that puts it on.

“We’re not run like other events where there are committees and calls for volunteers. At the end of the day, it’s our family and friends who come and show up to help. And we make more friends, and they bring their friends. It grows that way,” said McDonald. “We keep it very casual and fun, and I think that’s the key to making things successful. Not wearing out your volunteers.” 

Community is the second key ingredient to success, according to McDonald. “We’re a group of friends who wanted to help improve our community. We’re from all over Chatham-Kent. Although it takes place in Dresden, it’s really a community thing. A Chatham-Kent community celebration.”

The Night Market has been running successfully twice a year since 2017 and was recently named one of the top 100 festivals and events in Ontario. Other communities have begun to take notice and draw inspiration from Dresden.

“Like with anything, when you create something, the first time someone tries to emulate or copy it, that’s a unique feeling to go through,” said McDonald. “It’s great that people are seeing what’s possible if you put a little bit of work into improving your town and getting everyone to work together. There’s a lot of power behind that.”

McDonald says the only way an event will be successful is if it meshes with what the community enjoys and desires. An event like the Night Market cannot simply be replicated. “When I see other communities do that, the events don’t last because they’re not rooted in who the community is and wants and the vibe of that town. So I encourage others to create something unique to their town.”

“Really look at your community and what your community wants, or try something new that no one’s ever done before. That’s what’s going to draw someone’s attention, not something that they can go do somewhere else.”

McDonald is appreciative of all of the hard work the volunteers and organizers of the Night Market put into each year. “There are so many of us who put our time and effort into the Night Market, I just want to thank them all for their work and tell them that I appreciate all that they put into it. Again, we’re all a group of friends, but this is all our own time that we’re donating. So thank you!”