From lion dancing and taiko drumming to artisan goods and street food offerings, Red Lantern City Night Market is an annual celebration of pan-Asian culture. First held in 2021, the event transforms two blocks of the Central West End around Saigon Cafe each July. T&S spoke to founder Heidi Hamamura, chef/owner of Taberu STL, to learn more about why the market was created and what St. Louisans can expect from it.
Red Lantern City Night Market was created as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hamamura saw the impact first-hand, not just on restaurants but also local cultural institutions. Thanks to her father, chef Naomi Hamamura, she is involved with the Japan America Society of St. Louis, the nonprofit behind the beloved Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden. When the festival was cancelled due to the pandemic, the organization lost one of its most important ways to raise funds. Hamamura reached out to friends and started planning a night market to raise money for the nonprofit. “We raised $10,000 for the Japan America Society that first year,” she notes. “The society also shared a lot of its programming that it showcases at the Japanese Festival, like tea ceremonies, taiko drumming and kimono tying.”
In its first year, around 1,000 people showed up for the Red Lantern City Night Market. In 2023, Hamamura partnered with Mike Ly, owner of Saigon Cafe, to bring the event to the Central West End, just in time to celebrate the restaurant’s 20th anniversary. That year, the event drew 6,000 visitors, and it also expanded beyond its focus on Japanese culture. “We have a vibrant pan-Asian community in St. Louis—you can find so many stores, restaurants, food trucks and pop-ups owned by Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean and Japanese St. Louisans,” Hamamura says. “For me, the most important thing it showcasing these small businesses. We want them to thrive. Red Lantern creates a space for connection and creativity.”
The market has continued to grow. Last year, Red Lantern City Night Market drew more than 10,000 attendees. Hamamura and her fellow organizers, Ly and Dorrie Meyer, also have been able to make connections with community partners. Along with the Japan America Society, the event also works with the Very Asian Foundation, Asian American Chamber of Commerce St. Louis, Park Central Development and Euclid South Community Improvement District. This year, Alpha Brewing is creating a special Red Lantern beer that is expected to be released by the end of the month. It will be available in Schnucks, and Hamamura is working with Asian-owned businesses to showcase the beer and the story behind it.
When creating Red Lantern City Night Market, Hamamura was inspired by the night markets found across Asia. “It’s a fun experience,” she explains. “You get to hang out with friends, walk the bustling streets and try a bit of everything from the vendors.” Local businesses offer street food, handmade goods, original art and more. There also are a variety of cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities, such as traditional calligraphy, sumo, K-pop dancing and ice carving—Hamamura convinced her father to showcase his skills in the latter. A roaming magician entertains the crowd, and the lion dance travels up and down the streets twice in the evening.
This year, the Red Lantern City Night Market will be held July 18. Hamamura notes that tariffs and global events have made things difficult for many of the market’s vendors, but she’s thankful to have the opportunity to spotlight these businesses. “Red Lantern brings people together with food, art and music,” she says. “It’s inspiring to see St. Louis embrace Asian heritage and community, and I’m proud to share the diversity of businesses and restaurants around the region. It may be a celebration of Asian culture, but we’re also very St. Louis. We love this city.”
Photos by Suzy Gorman