The Central Flea Moves to Greener Pastures with Lamplighter Beer
The open market takes over University Park on Sundays from May through October.
Photos from Lamplighter Brewing Co.’s outdoor beer garden in 2017, near its Broadway brewery. This spring, it will operate an open-air bar at the Central Flea Market. / Photos provided by Lamplighter Brewing Co.
Are you sick of hearing about places to drink outside this spring? Neither are we! Add a Lamplighter Brewing Co. beer garden to your spring-summer-fall bucket lists: The Cambridge brewery is popping up at New England Open Markets’ Central Flea every Sunday beginning May 6.
Central Flea, a joint effort from the NEOM and the Central Square Business Association, moves to University Park after its inaugural season in a paved parking lot. University Park is a grassy expanse behind the Lafayette Square Fire House on Massachusetts Ave., between the residential Cambridgeport neighborhood. Moving there gives Central Flea more space for vendors, allows for more food truck parking, and provides guest parking across the street. The market is free to attend.
Lamplighter purchased and renovated a covered cargo trailer, and plans to start the season with fresh beer flowing from eight taps, says cofounder Cayla Marvil. The beer garden is in conjunction with the market every week, weather-permitting pouring from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
“We’ll definitely try to have a good mix [of beer styles]. Certainly IPAs, we’ll definitely do a sour. We’ll pick and choose our favorites from the draft lineup and rotate the selection every week, just like in our taproom,” Marvil says.
They hope to offer a local cider, as well, which is something they can’t have at their Broadway taproom due to licensing restrictions, she adds. There will be long tables and benches, plus a few standing tables and plenty of room to relax on the grass. The fenced-off beer garden has a capacity of more than 100 people.
Elsewhere at the Central Flea, visitors will find 50 vintage and antique vendors, 60 artists and designers, 20 import and fair-trade vendors, 25 specialty food vendors, and 12 food trucks, plus live music and other weekly entertainment. New England Open Markets is also behind the Greenway Open Market, the Salem Open Market, and others.
Last year, Lamplighter joined forces with its neighbor Niche Urban Garden Supply to host a pop-up beer garden near the brewery for Oktoberfest and other select events, which Marvil hopes will continue in 2018. But in the meantime, get outside and sip funky brews from these buzzy beer-makers every Sunday at the dynamic, accessible Central Flea.
Central Flea, Sundays, May 6-October, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 41 Sidney St, Cambridge, Facebook, newenglandopenmarkets.com.
