Scarborough Sunset Markets began with 20 vendors; 10 seasons later they bring over 100 stalls and 10,000 weekly visitors

Thursday nights in Scarborough mark a new milestone. The Scarborough Sunset Markets open their tenth summer season on Thursday, 5 November. will run every Thursday until 29 April 2027, from 5 to 9 pm along The Esplanade.

The markets began with 20 vendors on the grassy knolls of Scarborough Amphitheatre. They now stretch across the whole foreshore, with more than 100 stalls and more than 10,000 visitors each week. Local events agency KINN & Co runs them in partnership with the Scarborough Beach Association. “Reaching ten seasons feels like a real milestone for everyone involved,” says KINN & Co director Kate MacKinnon.

Expect a fresh batch of beachside eats alongside the returning favourites. For something sweet, Bache Bakery brings loaded gourmet cookies, Swirl & Co offers build-your-own frozen yoghurt, BASQ serves Basque cheesecake, and returning vendor Cafe Pastel has traditional Portuguese tarts.

On the savoury side, Amelie Catering sells arancini, croquettes and pies, and Celtic Cravings brings Irish food-truck fare. Haengbok Bites pairs Korean fried chicken with Brazilian pão de queijo, while Kebabe offers a plant-based take on Berlin-style döner. Two Stacks returns with its smash burgers.

Local makers. The retail stalls add new independent traders this season. You’ll find jewellery from AKWA, artwork by Art by Miller and Tamara Si, and handmade ceramics from JS Handmade Ceramics. Beyond the End sells straw hats, travel bags and outdoor blankets; Ocean Zone sells men’s boardshorts, and Onshore Threads prints its tops locally. PIXI Collections makes personalised claw clips, and Heaven and Hell offers fine-line tattoos.

Music and drinks. Local acts will play live at Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre. On the sand, the Beach Lounge has wicker furniture and low seating, and DJ Flex plays from the clocktower as the evening goes on. Then comes the Sunset Applause, the crowd’s unofficial tradition of clapping the day out.

The Sandbar runs the Beach Bar with an all-Australian-owned drinks list. It includes beer from Coopers Brewery, cider and ginger beer from Margaret River’s CBCo, cocktails and cans from Joliment’s Urban Jungle Distillery, and wines from the Great Southern and Margaret River regions. The Sandbar has been locally family-owned for 13 years.

The markets have cut landfill waste from 100% to 10%, thanks to volunteers known as the Waste Warriors. Every Thursday they help sort rubbish into compost, Containers for Change and general waste, and share tips on more sustainable choices. Look for them at the waste stations.