- April 29, 2025
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Luna and Zander Hartman enjoy the pumkin patch at The Green at UTC.
Photo by Lesley DwyerVolunteers Barbie Osterling, Peg Scruggs and Janis Schechter sell pumpkins to benefit Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.
Photo by Lesley DwyerHusband and wife Serap and Tufan Ozgen sell their Glowing Gourds at the UTC night market.
Photo by Lesley DwyerRuthie Santoro sells her goods out of a 1962 Shasta camper. Her store, Saved by Grace, is located in Palmetto.
Photo by Lesley DwyerJody Weniger walks her granddaughter Louella Leavitt through the night market at UTC.
Photo by Lesley DwyerHeather Hernandez, Tricia and Michelle Sarata and Jason Hernandez work the Graze Street AMI booth.
Photo by Lesley DwyerCharcuterie boards in a cup are the perfect appetizer for walking and shopping.
Photo by Lesley DwyerNew mom and Bradenton resident Zeleena Khan's first stop at the market was to get a drink for her husband before heading to the pumpkin patch with their 3-month-old.
Photo by Lesley DwyerAmanda Champ owns the Surfing Coconut. If you missed her at the night market, she's a regular vendor at the Lakewood Ranch Farmers' Market on Sundays.
Photo by Lesley DwyerProceeds from the pumpkin patch benefit Nate's Honor Animal Rescue.
Photo by Lesley DwyerBradenton resdient Olivia Gratzer is in the Halloween spirit.
Photo by Lesley DwyerSweet B's flower truck is a 1952 Chevrolet.
Photo by Lesley DwyerThe Oct. 19 Night Market on The Green at UTC featured a pumpkin patch and earlier hours.
Over 30 vendors sprawled down the street from The Green toward Rocco’s Tacos.
Included were Ruthie and Garrett Santoro, who brought their refurbished 1962 Shasta camper packed with clothing and accessories from Ruthie Santoro’s Palmetto store, Saved by Grace.
Garrett Santoro found the camper in Orlando, spent over six months tearing everything out and added new floors and shelving units.
Serap and Tufan Ozgen were selling their handmade glowing gourds. Next year, the couple will have been married for 40 years.
“It’s retirement work for us,” Serap Ozgen said.
Each gourd takes about two to three days to make, depending on the design. The couple originally saw the glowing gourds on a visit to Turkey. When they couldn’t bring one home, they decided to try to make one themselves. They had so much fun, they started making them as gifts. Now, the Ozgens have been in business for over four years.
Amanda Champ’s branded coconuts were also inspired by a vacation. She came up with the idea for her business, Surfing Coconut, while hanging out by a pool in Hawaii, but the coconuts are shipped in from Thailand within five days of harvest. They’re Nam Hom coconuts.
“They have more nutrients, vitamins and water. They’re naturally full of electrolytes and a whole bunch of different things your body needs,” Champ said. “A lot of coconuts taste like water with a little bit of sugar added to it. These have a distinct taste that’s really top notch.”
On top of the health benefits, Champ can brand the coconuts to order for businesses and parties.
The Night Market is held every third Thursday of the month.
