A popular summer tradition is returning to uptown Saint John.

The Saint John Night Market enters its fifth season on Thursday, July 6.

The season launch was supposed to take place on June 29 but was postponed due to wet weather.

The outdoor market is a chance to enjoy food, local shopping and entertainment.

“We’re feeling excited, as always,” said Andrew MacDonald, who manages the City Market.

MacDonald launched the open-air market in 2019 and has watched it evolve ever since.

But that evolution has not come without its challenges and struggles, according to the manager.

After launching the Night Market in 2019, MacDonald said they had to make big changes when the pandemic hit in 2020.

“We had to rearrange how we set up everything. The idea of a market moved away from the close-knit partying and everybody together to creating that wider berth and larger area,” he said.

“Now as we’re moving into less restrictions and more of an open environment … we’re trying to reconfigure how we do things and reinvigorate and look at some new ideas.”

That includes veering back toward the original market setup and putting a greater focus on outdoor space.

Vendors will be located on South Market Street and the stage and seating areas will be moved to Market Plaza.

MacDonald said they plan to start with around 15 vendors during the first week and go from there.

“We’re working with a long list of return vendors and trying to schedule out how we’re going to do it over the season,” he said.

This year will also see a new seating area called the ‘Compass Lounge’ that MacDonald encouraged people to check out.

“We’re getting some nice umbrellas and fencing that in a little bit. That will be where you face the band this year rather than have the band over on North Market Street,” he said.

In addition to the music, MacDonald said they also have a number of great entertainment partnerships planned.

Organizers are planning to do some paint and sips and to bring in live art and tattoo artists.

“We’re really just trying to see how we can differentiate ourselves,” said MacDonald.

The market saw around 500 to 1,500 people each week last year, and MacDonald is anticipating a similar number this year.

The Night Market will be open every Thursday evening from 5 to 9 p.m. until August 31.