Anaheim’s Indoor Marketplace is Orange County’s largest indoor swap meet and one of the county’s most vibrant cultural centers, but Giselle Lopez said it’s still somewhat of a hidden gem.
“Anaheim Market has been around for 30 years,” said Lopez, the bar’s marketing coordinator. “We have over 200 vendors. Some of the vendors have been here for over 20 years … even though we’re right in the middle of Anaheim and a great location, a lot of people don’t really know about us.”
The market features mostly Latino vendors and small businesses from the community, ranging from food to clothing, retail, party supplies, jewelry and more.
Ana Callejas pours horchata for a customer during the Fiestas Patrias Carnival at the Anaheim Indoor Market.
(Sarahi Apaez)
“We’re known for tasting Mexico without leaving Orange County,” Lopez said. “You walk down the hall here and you feel like you’re walking down the callejones in Mexico.”
In addition to food and shopping, family fun is also offered with bingo and Mexican karaoke on Fridays and live entertainment at La Placita, with folkloric ballet groups, on Saturdays.
“Our marketing team also plans more than one event a month for our community, but they are always free events,” Lopez said. “Last month we planned a health fair in our parking lot, inviting health organizations from all over Orange County to offer screenings and health services to our community.”
Twice a year the market hosts a carnival, and from September 8 to September 11, the market hosted Fiestas Patrias in celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day, September 16.
“We always bring this event to the market so that our community can enjoy this carnival experience and also so that people can become familiar with where Anaheim Marketplace is located. We bring the carnival with all these flashing lights for people to stop and go, ‘What’s that?'”
Fiestas Patrias carnival revelers enjoy rides and games at the Anaheim Indoor Market on Saturday.
(Sarahi Apaez)
The event featured carnival rides, vendors, food trucks and glass art demonstrations.
“We had many vendors selling handicrafts and authentic cultural gifts such as handmade bracelets, shoes and clothing,” Lopez said.
Local folkloric ballet dance groups, such as Nuevo Amanecer, performed on Saturday and Sunday. Univision hosted a live talent show for local artists Saturday, with a $1,000 prize and a chance to perform at an upcoming carnival marking the channel’s 60th anniversary.
The folkloric ballet group Nuevo Amanecer performs on stage at the Fiestas Patrias carnival.
(Sarahi Apaez)
Main entertainment included El Flamante Acapulco, Furria de Arranque, Sonora Santanera de Oro and Tiranos del Norte.
“We also had one of our vendors provide a ceremonial dance and all of our attendees seemed to really welcome them and it was very nice,” Lopez said.
Lopez said the cultural celebration is the essence of Anaheim’s indoor market.
“It’s very important that we are proud here after all these years, especially after COVID, because this place is a safe space for Latinos in Anaheim and all of Orange County where you come and feel at home,” Lopez said. “It’s great that we can connect with everything by providing entertainment for our communities that makes them proud of who they are.”
Alma Martinez and daughter Carly Balmaceda dance together to live music during the Fiestas Patrias carnival.
(Sarahi Apaez)
The Anaheim Indoor Marketplace is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays.
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