UTC Night Market in Sarasota embraces the fall season

The 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.