Jupiter is crashing the party as Moonlight Bazaar returns to Uptown Saint John this weekend.
The annual street festival, known for its mix of music, food, art and live performances, will feature a seven-metre inflatable Jupiter as its new centrepiece.
The planet replaces Mars, which was damaged during last year’s event.
“Last year, Mars got a beat, took a big slash, had to get patched up,” Jody Kliffer, co-founder of Moonlight Bazaar, said.
“We thought, well, when we go with Jupiter, it’s unique… so why don’t we just lean into that.”
Kliffer said the switch adds a fresh visual theme and ties into mythology. Organizers hope the change will inspire costumes and pop-up performances, especially with a cosplay event happening nearby the same weekend.
Despite rising costs, the event remains free to attend. Kliffer said economic pressures from housing prices to grocery costs have made it harder to run a large-scale event without charging admission.
“There’s been moments, especially last year, where it’s been hard to run a free event,” he said.
“But we’ve maintained that this needs to be a free event for the community… we don’t want to put up any barricades.”
Support from local sponsors has helped make that possible.
Kliffer credited companies such as Commercial Properties and Envision Saint John for their continued support, along with other private and public sector partners.
The festival will also feature more than 50 hand-selected vendors offering a wide range of food and goods.
Kliffer said the vendor lineup is curated to reflect Saint John’s growing multicultural community.
“It was always meant to lift and reflect on the new dynamic of this community,” he said. “It’s not a burger and fries event.”
Moonlight Bazaar has grown significantly since its start in a gravel parking lot nearly a decade ago.
Kliffer said the event was never meant to be a replica of other urban festivals, but rather something unique to Saint John.
“You don’t go to Moonlight Bazaar because you want to check out a band,” he said.
“You go there because of Moonlight Bazaar.”
The festival runs from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Saturday night.
Street closures include Prince William Street, Princess Street, Grannan Lane and Canterbury Street.
