The Sunset Night Market is officially making its comeback, and honestly, we’re here for it. After taking a hiatus last year due to overcrowding and some behind-the-scenes drama, the beloved event is returning this Friday, February 27th with a Lunar New Year celebration that’s going to kick off the Year of the Horse in style.

If you’ve never been to a night market before, imagine an open-air festival packed with food vendors, live performances, and that electric energy that makes you forget you’re in San Francisco and not somewhere in Asia. The market will stretch across Irving Street between 20th and 25th avenues in the Outer Sunset, and organizers are promising something for everyone, vegan options, meat lovers, dessert enthusiasts, you name it.

The entertainment lineup is solid too. You’ve got Jing Mo Drum Roll starting things off at 5 pm, a lion dance performance at 6:30 pm, and celebrity chef Martin Yan doing a cooking demo at 7 pm. So basically, you’ll have plenty of reasons to stick around while you’re demolishing some seriously good food.

Now, let’s talk about what happened last year. The night market became such a massive hit that it actually became a problem, organizers couldn’t handle the crowds and the city took forever reimbursing costs, which left everyone scrambling. Add some local political drama to the mix (because this is the Bay Area, after all), and the event got paused. But the Outer Sunset merchants clearly missed it, and now they’re bringing it back as a quarterly series. You can expect three more markets throughout the year: one celebrating Dragon Boat Festival in June, an Autumn Moon Festival edition in September, and a holiday market in December.

Bill Barnickel, president of the Outer Sunset Merchants and Professionals Association, is excited about the return, pointing out that last year’s market actually boosted sales for local businesses across the entire neighborhood. This isn’t just about the food and entertainment, it’s about bringing foot traffic and energy to Irving Street so people discover the shops and restaurants that keep the Outer Sunset thriving.

Even though things got messy last year, the community clearly wants this event to work. The retooled version aims to be more sustainable while still capturing that magical night market feeling. Whether you’re a longtime fan who’s been waiting for this or someone who’s just curious about what all the hype is about, Friday night is your chance to experience it. Bring your appetite, bring your friends, and get ready to ring in the Year of the Horse.

The Sunset Night Market happens Friday, February 27th on Irving Street between 20th and 25th avenues. It’s free to attend.