The 626 Night Market — the giant Asian-American night market born in LA's San Gabriel Valley and named for its area code — brings its Bay Area edition to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, and 2026's dates are set: one weekend only, October 9–11, running 3 to 11pm daily. That's worth flagging twice: it's later in the year than the usual summer runs, and there's just the single weekend, so it will be busy. The formula is the fun kind of overwhelming — 200-plus stalls of skewers, boba, takoyaki, grilled squid, light-up desserts, plus crafts, merch, carnival-style games, and live performances. Entry is cheap (about $6, young kids free), and the real spend happens stall by stall: most families should budget $15–25 per person for grazing. One navigation note that trips up South Bay folks every year: this is at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, not the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds — the Tully Road night market in San Jose is FoodieLand, a different operator.
Friday–Sunday, October 9–11, 2026, 3–11pm, Alameda County Fairgrounds, 2005 Valley Ave, Pleasanton — enter at Gates 8 and 12 off Valley Ave. Admission is about $6 (presale ~$5.90 online) with young children free; parking is $15 plus tax per vehicle, card or mobile payment only. Security runs bag checks, there's no re-entry, and unaccompanied minors aren't allowed late in the evening. Only service animals are allowed, so the family dog sits this one out.
Go at opening. The 3–6pm window is night-market lite: shorter food lines, room for a stroller, and daylight for toddlers who find the full nighttime crush overwhelming. After 7pm on Saturday, expect shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and 20–30 minute lines at the famous stalls — better for teens than tots. Split your group's strategy: one adult holds a patch of ground while the other runs food sorties. Bring cash and cards, since vendors split both ways, and pack wipes — most of this menu is eaten standing up with your hands.
The gate fee is a teaser; food items mostly run $8–$18, and the photogenic stuff (grilled squid skewers, drinks in light-up cups) sits at the top of that range. A family of four grazing modestly lands around $80–$120 including parking. Games and light-up toys are extra and heavily marketed at kid eye-level — set the toy budget in the car. Portions are snack-size by design: the right move is many small things shared, not entrées.
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October 9–11, 2026 (Friday–Sunday), 3–11pm each day, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton — the only Bay Area weekend this year.
About $6 general admission (~$5.90 presale online); young children free — 626's site says 5 and under, the fairgrounds listing says 3 and under. Parking is $15 plus tax, card or mobile only. Food, games, and merch are pay-as-you-go.
No — that's FoodieLand, a different night-market brand. 626's Bay Area home is the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, where it has run since 2018.
Yes, especially before dark — arrive at 3pm for manageable lines and stroller room. It's loud and very crowded after 7pm, and there's no re-entry.