Latrobe's first Night Market set for April

Have you ever wanted to see what happens in Latrobe after dark? Starting this April, you can.

Jodie Edmiston, co-owner of Latrobe’s Green Goddess, is planning a Latrobe Night Market hosted by local vendors.

The first market is set to be on the third Wednesday of April — April 20 — from 5:30 until 8 p.m. and will feature stores based in Latrobe that specialize in handmade products.

“We’re planning to open the event to any vendor that makes 75% or more of their products,” Edmiston said.

She came up with the idea after opening an Earth-friendly candle shop with her daughter almost a year ago. New businesses were coming into town, but not all of them had storefronts.

For a while, the Green Goddess hosted some merchants without brick-and-mortar shops, and Edmiston began to brainstorm a way to get these businesses, and her own, more exposure.

She attended similar events in Greensburg, Irwin and Ligonier and drew on those for inspiration. Edmiston began reaching out to other local vendors to gauge their interest and received an overwhelming response.

“Our goal is to bring more people into town and to support our local vendors,” Edmiston said.

Edmiston reached out to shop owners including Laurie Corbett and Michael Ciotti, who had planned similar events in the past. Ciotti began Latrobe’s Italian Festival in 2022 and will be hosting it again this year.

Green Goddess turned a year old in mid-March, and Edmiston and her daughter are hosting an anniversary celebration. However, Edmiston said the night market planning was on a whole other level.

“I wanted to get advice from anyone who had had their feet wet with this type of planning,” Edmiston said.

After speaking with city council, it was decided that the first night market would be held in a parking lot on Main Street across from the city building, a lot behind the Westmoreland Federal Savings and a lot between Green Goddess and Frontier Club on Depot Street.

“We don’t want to shut down any streets,” Edmiston said. “As this starts to grow, we’ve picked out other spots where we can move the vendors. We do want it to grow. The bigger the better.”

The Latrobe Night Market will be hosted on the third Wednesday of each month. In colder months, the event will last from 5:30 to 8 p.m. When the summer months roll around, the market will be open later.

Interested vendors can private message Edmiston on Facebook or visit the Latrobe Night Market Facebook page to access an application. Edmiston estimated that accepted applicants will have to pay a $15 registration fee and $40 for a 10-by-10 vendor space. Each applicant will need proof of insurance and will be responsible for their own setup and cleanup.

“I really appreciated the community,” Edmiston said. “The city of Latrobe has been really welcoming to us. The town really deserves more attention. There’s so much going on. People should just park their car and walk around the city and explore.”