Ocean Street is home to some of the hottest eateries on the Sunshine Coast, and undoubtedly the hottest in Maroochydore. A quick walk along the street reveals bars and restaurants such as: The Post Office, Hello Harry and all that the Big Top has to offer, it’s the place to be in ‘Maroochy’ on a Friday night, especially on every second Friday of the month. Art, food, music, fashion and community – it all comes together, here on Ocean Street, during Nights on Ocean.

‘Nights on Ocean’ is run by The Maroochydore Revitalisation Association. You can read all about the Association and their work on their web site but fundamentally, the markets are part of a push to breathe some new life into the heart of Maroochydore. For over a decade this area had been in a state of uncertainty as we all waited for a decision on the Horton Park Redevelopment and of course on the ongoing issues of the Big Top Shopping Centre. In the meantime the MRA sought to create a place for people, a meaningful space where they can enrich their lives by having authentic experiences. “This is where we want to improve our quality of life in all aspects. We already have a strong local community; we just haven’t had a unified voice before. We have expected others to build our community for us. I think that we all agree that it is us who should take control of the future of our precinct and empowering ourselves to work together to create a future that we are proud of is a very exciting process”. You can read more about Nights on Ocean on their website.

The MRA has done a fantastic job running these night markets, making their intentions incredibly clear from the very start. They have managed to bring together the cream of the crop in terms of market stall holders, food and trinket peddlers and musical acts to create a fantastic, warm and welcoming family environment, melding perfectly with the already existing fantastic restaurants and bars on Ocean Street. Last month the incredible collection of artists and sheer variety of amazing street food, from the cultures of the world amassed here on the Sunshine Coast, left me dumbfounded and heading for a food coma once I got home. These markets are an incredible milestone for our community, as they bring together every aspect of what makes the Sunshine Coast unique, and the place we all love to live, all in one place.

Nights on Ocean would have to be one of the best nighttime markets currently operating on the Sunshine Coast. Through these markets you will experience food, art, music and our diverse Sunshine Coast culture all in one place, not to mention a fantastic way to support local artisans and producers. For more information on Nights on Ocean see the website – There’s no greater way to spend your Friday night on the Sunshine Coast in Maroochydore.