Surrey Night Market completely destroyed by windstorm, closed for the season (PHOTOS)

Dec 20 2017, 1:06 am

Surrey Night Market, held every summer weekend at the Cloverdale Rodeo Fairgrounds, has been completely decimated by Saturday’s powerful windstorm.

Most tents containing merchandise and equipment have been completely mangled and tossed by the high winds. A source told Vancity Buzz that most vendors have lost everything during the windstorm and the market did not acquire insurance for this level of ‘Act of God’ devastation.

The night market was open on Friday night. As in the case for most weekends, vendors kept their merchandise and equipment secured inside their tents under the watchful eye of security guards.

Due to the damage and losses, organizers of the night market have confirmed that they will not be reopening for the remainder of the season. The future of the night market could also be in doubt.

“We want to thank the community, Surrey City Officials, Cloverdale Exhibition Grounds Management and Staff, Fraser Health Authority, all our vendors and staff, sponsors, media, performers, Scorpio Security Inc., for all the encouragement and support during the season,” reads a statement on Surrey Night Market’s Facebook page posted Sunday evening.

The region’s two largest night markets also sustained some damage from the windstorm.

Both the Richmond Night Market near the Canada Line’s Bridgeport Station and International Summer Night Market on Vulcan Way were closed on Saturday evening but reopened earlier this evening following a cleanup effort.

The night market in Surrey celebrated its inaugural year in 2014 and had about 70 merchandise and food vendors. For the current season, it opened on May 29 and was to close on September 20.

If you have yet to take in this year’s night market experience, there are still several operating weeks left for the weekend night markets in Richmond. The Richmond Night Market will remain open until October 12 while the International Summer Night Market will open until September 27.

PlayLand and the Fair at the PNE were also affected by the windstorm. PNE organizers shutdown the event at 3 p.m. due to safety concerns from the high winds, only to rescind the closure decision at 3:30 p.m. after Environment Canada cancelled its high wind warning. Gate admission for the Fair was free for the remainder of Saturday, but 75 per cent of the rides were closed.

Surrey Night Market damage

Image: Steve Janes / submitted

Image: Steve Janes / submitted

Image: Steve Janes / submitted

Image: Steve Janes / submitted

Image: Steve Janes / submitted

Image: Steve Janes / submitted

Image: Steve Janes / submitted

Image: Steve Janes / submitted

Image: Tom Tubbs / submitted

Image: Tom Tubbs / submitted

Image: Tom Tubbs / submitted

Image: Tom Tubbs / submitted

Image: Tom Tubbs / submitted

Image: Tom Tubbs / submitted

Richmond Night Market damage

Image: Richmond Night Market / Facebook

Image: Richmond Night Market / Facebook

Image: Richmond Night Market / Facebook

Image: Richmond Night Market / Facebook

Image: Richmond Night Market / Facebook

Image: Richmond Night Market / Facebook

Image: Richmond Night Market / Facebook

Image: Richmond Night Market / Facebook

DH Vancouver StaffDH Vancouver Staff

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