THINGS TO DO

Peoria Night Market serves up more than just food

Peoria’s Desert West Night Market gives local entrepreneurs a place to share family traditions, fresh starts, homemade flavors

Dayton Kiko, known simply as “Kiko,” and his brother founded AZ Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp seven years ago after moving from Hawaii.

(Sun Life Magazine/Steve Stockmar)

Ashlee Stancill’s baking turned into a new career when she founded Abiding Cakes in March 2024.

(Sun Life Magazine/Steve Stockmar)

The Desert West Night, seen at sunset on June 20, goes from 6 to 9 p.m. every Saturday through September at the Peoria Sports Complex.

(Sun Life Magazine/Steve Stockmar)

Editor's note: This article originally appeared in Sun Life Magazine, an Independent Newsmedia publication.

On Saturday evenings, the Desert West Night Market transforms the Peoria Sports Complex into a gathering place where food trucks sizzle, local artisans display handcrafted creations and families stroll from booth to booth in search of something new.

For many of the vendors, the market is about more than making sales. It’s where personal stories come to life.

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