Organizers of the Tarentum Night Market have canceled the scheduled December event, citing Allegheny County’s advisory for residents to stay home unless going out for essential reasons because of the covid-19 pandemic.

Allegheny County Health Department Director Debra Bogen issued the advisory Nov. 18. The last Night Market, for which borough businesses stay open from 5 to 8 p.m. on one Thursday a month, was held Nov. 19.

The next was scheduled for Dec. 10, a week earlier than the first three because of Christmas.

“We take the current advisory seriously. It was made public less than 24 hours prior to our event in November,” said event organizer David Rankin, executive director of Faith Community Partners. “We would have invited chaos if we tried to cancel it. We had requests from 42 crafters and vendors to be involved in the event. And most of the public would have shown up anyway.”

The first Night Market was held in September. In addition to participating businesses, vendors and crafters have been set up at The Murphy Building on Corbet Street for the events.

Although the event is canceled, Rankin said individual businesses may, and likely will, remain open.

“But there will be no activity at The Murphy Building,” he said.

The markets, intended to attract shoppers to Tarentum’s business district with businesses open later along with promotions and live music, have been largely well-received and successful in bringing people to town.

“In the year of a major health pandemic, Tarentum had four new businesses open — Harvest Moon Coffee & Chocolates, Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio, Cindy’s Soft Serve and Hometown Restaurant and the Manos Gallery,” said Dianna Roney, owner of Diamond Antiques and Gifts and an organizer of the Night Market. “Not many towns can say that in a good year.”

Plans for next year’s Night Markets along with related community events, such as health and job fairs, are on hold “until we see what happens with covid,” Rankin said.

“Even though this has been a difficult year, Tarentum should be proud of its accomplishments,” Rankin said. “We are hoping that what the Night Market initiative is planning, as well as other initiatives we are exploring, will put Tarentum back on the map as a great place to live, shop and have fun.”

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