Gloriana Teuira
THE Commonwealth Council for Arts & Culture is bringing back one of the most popular nighttime activities in the Marianas, the Garapan Street Market in downtown Saipan.
The weekly market — suspended since the pandemic — will hold a soft opening on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at a new location, Coral Tree Ave. in front of Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.
“We’re very pleased to bring back the Garapan Street Market for our residents and visitors this month, as we know it is a fun evening activity that people have been eagerly awaiting,” said CCAC Executive Director Gloriana Teuira. “We’re starting small this first night and will continue to grow as attendance also grows.”
The market features a variety of international cuisine, free live music and dances, arts and crafts, and more. To enliven the main tourist district of Garapan, the market has been returned to its original location on Coral Tree Ave. between Paseo De Marianas and Palm Street, where the road will be closed from 2 p.m. to 12 midnight on market nights.
“We’ve been working very closely with the Department of Public Lands, Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and Dept. of Public Safety on the launch, which will bring back a sense of life and excitement to the heart of our tourist district,” said Teuira. “And a special thanks to Marianas Visitors Authority for providing seed money and other support so that the council could get this event restarted. Tourism is everybody’s business!”
MVA welcomed the relaunch.
“We’re very excited and grateful to the Arts Council for re-launching Garapan Street Market, especially now at the high peak of summer travel season,” said MVA Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion. “Our Community Projects team has been working closely with them, and we are already promoting it as a great nightlife option for our visitors.”
For more information, contact the Commonwealth Council for Arts & Culture at (670) 322-9982 or email glorianafolkarts@gmail.com/.
