Countdown to New Year’s Eve markets

A SPECIAL twilight market will be held on New Year’s Eve in Byron Bay for the first time, with country, rock and blues artist Guy Kachel entertaining the crowd and local artisans showcasing their wares.

The event, which is part of the Byron Community Centre’s Summer of Markets, will be held in Railway Park from 4pm to 9pm on Tuesday December 31.

Acting Byron Markets manager Carl Taylor said it was a great option for people looking for a chilled New Year’s Eve experience and would complement neighbouring Soul Street celebrations, which are supported by Byron Shire Council.

“It has a different atmosphere to the daytime markets,” he said. “People tend to relax more.

“It’s one of the places you can go to experience the Byron vibe – the old Byron with hippies coming in, people darning their own socks and creating jewellery and home wares.

“You get a real flavour of Byron.”

A range of food will also be on offer, including vegan, Thai and Balinese cuisine.

Byron Twilight Market will also be held at Railway Park from 4pm to 9pm on Saturday December 28, with a live performance by multi-instrumentalist Mark Easton, who plays everything from the harmonica to the morin khuur from Mongolia, the Siberian jaw harp and the dombra from Kazakhstan, with a bit of throat singing thrown in.

The Byron Beachside Market will then be held at Dening Park at the Main Beach foreshore the next day from 8am to 3pm, with stalls selling handcrafted and sustainable products and local artwork, as well as performances by roots and reggae artist Cinnamon Sun, afrobeat and world rhythms artist Peter Hunt and reggae master Russ Jalakai.

Mr Taylor said if the weather wasn’t favourable on the day organisers would persevere, unless there was a major downpour.

“There’s always a chance it’s going to stop,” he said.