Scarborough Sunset Markets Guide: Thursday Nights, Parking And Food

When Are The Scarborough Sunset Markets On In 2026–27?

The markets run in two seasons. The summer season is the original Thursday night market and the longer of the two. The winter edition moves to Saturday afternoons and finishes earlier, because the sun sets well before 6pm in a Perth winter.

For summer 2026–27, the organiser's summer page says the markets run "Every Thursday evenings from 5 November 2026 until 29 April 2027". Its summer FAQ gives the hours as 5pm to 9pm. That is up to 26 Thursdays if every week goes ahead, including Christmas Eve (Thursday 24 December) and New Year's Eve (Thursday 31 December). The organiser has not published holiday-week changes, so check its Facebook or Instagram that week before you travel.

One thing to watch: the City of Stirling's event listing for the summer markets still showed last season's dates (6 November 2025 to 28 May 2026) when we checked. This season is shorter, ending on 29 April 2027, so go by the organiser's summer page rather than older listings, news stories or market directories.

Where The Markets Are: Scarborough Square, The Clocktower And The Esplanade

The markets sit in the middle of the Scarborough Beach foreshore. The organiser's Getting Here page gives the address as 152 The Esplanade, Scarborough WA 6019. Stalls spread around the Clocktower and Scarborough Square, towards the Amphitheatre and onto the beach in front.

Tourism Western Australia puts Scarborough Beach about 20 minutes' drive from the Perth city centre, on what Perth calls the Sunset Coast.

Accessibility

The organiser says ACROD (accessible) parking is in the northern and southern car parks on The Esplanade, and its winter FAQ notes accessible toilets next to the event site. The market area itself is easy to get around, but there is no direct wheelchair access onto the sand. If the beach is part of your plan, stay on the paved square and watch the sunset from the promenade.

Food, Drinks And What A Thursday Night Feels Like

This is a street-food market first: come for dinner, browse the craft and gift stalls between courses, and stay for the music after sunset. Stalls change from week to week, and the organiser posts each week's line-up on its This Week's Vendors page, so check it if you are after something specific.

The organiser's winter FAQ listed cuisines including barbecue, Indian, Italian, Lebanese, Brazilian, Moroccan, Asian curries and soups, plus sweets such as Polish donuts, French crepes, Dutch mini pancakes and crème brûlée. Family groups do well by splitting up, letting everyone choose a different stall and meeting back on the grass. If anyone has allergies, ask each stallholder directly, because every truck runs its own kitchen.

The bars

For summer, the organiser's FAQ says local wines and beers are sold at the Market Bar, presented by The Peach Pit. During the 2026 winter edition the Sunset Bar under the Clocktower was run by Sandbar, with a mocktail bar from Hippie Kombucha. Remember that the City of Stirling does not allow alcohol on its beaches or reserves, so drink in the licensed bar areas rather than taking a bottle onto the sand.

Bring your own eat kit

The markets run a War on Waste program. The organiser asks visitors to bring their own plates, cutlery and cups, and volunteer Waste Warriors sort rubbish at waste stations into compost, Containers for Change, recycling and landfill. The organiser says this has cut the markets' landfill from 100% to 10%. A picnic rug, a reusable cup and a set of cutlery in the car makes the night easier and tidier.

Cash and smoking

Bring a card. If you want cash, the organiser's FAQ says the nearest ATM is outside the Rip Curl store in the Luna Shopping Mart, on the west side of West Coast Highway. The markets are a no-smoking event.

Sunset Times And Weather Through The Season

The organiser says sunset in summer is usually around 7pm. In practice it moves by about an hour and three quarters across the season, so it is worth knowing when to arrive. The times below are approximate, calculated for Scarborough Beach in Perth time (AWST, no daylight saving). Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for the exact time on your day.

The Scarborough Beach Association, which is involved in the markets alongside KINN & Co, describes the crowd applauding as the sun drops into the ocean. Find a spot on the grass or along the promenade about 20 minutes before sunset to see it.

What the weather is usually like

Bureau of Meteorology long-term averages for the Perth Metro station show why this works as a summer market. Coastal evenings are often cooler and breezier than the city, so pack a light layer even in January.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology, Perth Metro (009225) climate statistics, read 28 October 2026. Averages, not forecasts.

If it rains, the markets go ahead unless management decides the site is unsafe. Updates are posted on the markets' Facebook and Instagram pages, so check those before you leave on a wet or windy afternoon.

Scarborough Beach Parking For The Sunset Markets

Parking is limited, and both the organiser and the City of Stirling warn of congestion at peak times, so plan ahead. Here are the options the organiser lists, with prices as published on 28 October 2026.

Two warnings from the organiser: do not park in surrounding business car parks or the Post Office car park, where wheel clamping applies, and follow the signs on private land, where fines and clamping are used. City of Stirling paid parking is paid by card or the EasyPark app, and its meters do not take cash.

If you are getting a rideshare, the City and the organiser both suggest being dropped off on the eastern side of West Coast Highway at busy times. It is a short walk to the foreshore and saves sitting in the beachfront traffic.

Getting There By Surf CAT, Bus, Bike Or E-Scooter

Public transport is the low-stress way to do the markets. The headline option is the Surf CAT, a free bus that started on 30 November 2025.

Surf CAT (free)

Transperth describes the Surf CAT as a free service between Stirling Station and Scarborough Beach, running every 10 minutes, every day of the year, along Ellen Stirling Boulevard and Scarborough Beach Road. The City of Stirling gives its hours as about 4:50am to 11:30pm, and the State Government's launch statement put the trip at about 20 minutes from end to end, via Innaloo. That means you can catch a train to Stirling Station and be at the beach without paying a fare for the last leg.

Regular Transperth buses

• Route 990: a high-frequency service from Glendalough Station along Scarborough Beach Road to Scarborough Beach Bus Station, with extra 990 services from Perth Station.
• Routes 410 and 421: from Stirling Station to Scarborough Beach Bus Station.

Use the Transperth JourneyPlanner for live times, and check your last service home if you plan to stay until close.

Bikes and e-scooters

The City of Stirling says Manning and Moorland Streets are Safe Active Streets with a 30km/h limit, linking Scarborough with Stirling Station for bikes, scooters and walkers. Bike racks were provided at the 2026 winter edition, and Beam e-scooters operate in the area through the Beam app.

Dogs, Kids, Swimming And Other Practical Rules

Can you bring the dog?

Yes, with conditions. The organiser says dogs are welcome but must be on a lead at all times and are not permitted on the beach. With crowds and hot food around sunset, think about whether your dog will enjoy it. For a run on the sand, use the City of Stirling's Peasholm Street dog beach nearby instead, one of the City's listed dog beaches (check the signs for current rules). Our pet-friendly Scarborough guide covers the dog beaches and walks in more detail.

Taking children

The markets get crowded around sunset, so keep little ones close and pick a meeting point (the Clocktower works). Tourism Western Australia lists the Whale Playground and a beachside skate bowl on the same foreshore, and there is grass for a picnic. For more family ideas, see the Scarborough family stay guide.

A night market is not a swim session

The City of Stirling's lifeguards work Monday to Friday from October to March (and seven days in April), and the Scarboro and Trigg Island surf clubs patrol on weekends and public holidays from October to March. Those are daytime patrols. By the time the markets are in full swing the beach is unpatrolled and getting dark, so save the swim for the morning between the flags.

Rain, first aid and lost property

The markets go ahead in rain unless management decides the site is unsafe. The Information Tent handles first aid and lost property, and for anything serious call 000. The organiser's feedback and lost-property contact is markets@kinnandco.com.

What Else Is On At Scarborough Beach This Summer

Thursday nights are the regular fixture, but a few dates around them are worth planning for.

Scarborough Beach Weekender, 28–29 November 2026

The City of Stirling lists the Scarborough Beach Weekender (Chapter Two) at the Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre on Saturday 28 November (3pm to 10pm, 18+) and Sunday 29 November (3pm to 10pm, all ages). It is ticketed, with single-day tickets from $119 plus a booking fee and weekend passes from $219 plus a booking fee. The City lists Six60, The Black Seeds, Christine Anu and Drea on the Saturday, and Ziggy Alberts, Sons of the East and Gretta Ray on the Sunday.

The City also says the Amphitheatre and lower promenade will be closed at varying times from Tuesday 24 November to Tuesday 1 December while the stage is built and removed. That week's Thursday market (26 November) may have a different layout, so check the organiser's page that week.

Scarborough Beach Pool

For a daytime plan, Stirling Leisure's Scarborough Beach Pool has an outdoor 50m pool heated to 27°C all year. Its summer hours (from 29 September) are 5am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 6:30am to 8pm on weekends. A morning swim there and an evening at the markets makes an easy coastal Thursday.

For a wider list of things to do in the area, see our fun Scarborough stay guide.

The Winter Edition: Saturday Sunset Markets From June

This guide began life as a winter weekend guide, and the winter edition is still the best reason to visit Scarborough in the cooler months. In 2026 it ran every Saturday from 13 June to 24 October, 3pm to 8pm, at Scarborough Square, and the City of Stirling listed it as free to attend. That was 20 Saturdays. The organiser's winter FAQ says sunset is usually around 5:30pm, which is why the hours start earlier.

The organiser's winter FAQ said the 2026 winter edition had up to 50 food and retail vendors each week, and the City's event listing promised live acoustic sessions and fire performers. There was also the Sandbar-run Sunset Bar under the Clocktower and a mocktail bar from Hippie Kombucha. Dogs on a lead were welcome in the market area, the same as in summer.

Dates for winter 2027 have not been announced. If it follows the 2026 pattern it would start in mid-June, but treat that as a guess until the organiser publishes the season.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology, Perth Metro (009225) climate statistics, read 28 October 2026.

For a winter market, arrive by 4pm to eat before sunset, bring a warm jacket and a beanie for after dark, and plan a cosy night in once the market closes at 8pm.

A Scarborough Sunset Markets Evening, Hour By Hour

Here is a simple plan for a summer Thursday, timed for a mid-season sunset around 7:15pm. Shift it earlier in November, March and April.

5pm: Opening time

Walk the whole market once before buying anything. Opening time, before the sunset crowd, is easiest for young children and anyone who dislikes queues.

6pm: Dinner on the grass

Split up, order from two or three trucks and meet back at your rug. Pick up drinks from the Market Bar if you want one.

About 7pm: Sunset

Move to the promenade or Sunset Hill 20 minutes before sunset and join in the applause.

7:30pm to 9pm: Dessert and music

Finish with dessert and the live music. Head home before the 9pm close if you want to beat the traffic.

Why The Duchess on Duke Works For A Sunset Markets Stay

The Duchess on Duke is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom single-level townhouse in Scarborough. Its listing puts Scarborough Beach about a 20-minute walk or a 5-minute drive away, and names a Scarborough Beach Road bus stop about 3 minutes' walk from the door. That makes a market night simple: walk down for the sunset, or ride along Scarborough Beach Road, and nobody has to circle the Esplanade car parks.

What really suits this trip is the evening after the market. The listing describes a year-round mineral spa set at 38°C in a private courtyard and a private infrared sauna. After a breezy sunset on the foreshore, or a cold winter Saturday, that is a good way to end the night. There are three private courtyards with an outdoor table and a BBQ for a lazy breakfast the next morning, and a chef's kitchen with a double oven, gas cooktop and Nespresso machine if you would rather cook than queue on the second night.

The home sleeps up to 6 guests, with a queen bed in bedroom 1, a double in bedroom 2 and two singles in bedroom 3, all on the ground floor. The main bedroom has its own ensuite. There is air conditioning and heating, a PS5 and board games for a quiet night, and on-site parking (the listing describes it as limited), so the car can stay put while you take the bus. Guests have rated it 5.0 from 32 reviews.

Dog owners should note the listing welcomes up to two small or medium dogs, by approval, with a fully fenced yard. That fits the market's own rule that dogs on a lead are fine in the market but not on the beach. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out by 10am, so a Thursday arrival still leaves plenty of time before the 5pm opening. See the full details and live prices on The Duchess on Duke listing.

Who This Market Stay Suits

A market stay here suits small groups who would rather share one home than split across hotel rooms, such as two couples, or a family with older kids who want their own room.

It also suits families with babies and toddlers. The listing includes a highchair, and a portacot, baby bath, baby gate and changing table are available on request. A short trip to the markets, home by 8pm and a quiet house afterwards is much easier with young children than a late drive back across Perth.

And it suits anyone coming from outside Perth for a long weekend. A Thursday market night, the Scarborough Beach Weekender, a morning at the beach pool or a drive north to Hillarys and the Marmion Marine Park snorkel spots all fit into three or four nights. For quieter, slower days, see our Scarborough wellness weekend guide.

Planning Your Scarborough Market Weekend

Groceries and coffee

The listing names Coles Scarborough at Luna Maxi Mart about 5 minutes' drive away, and Woolworths, ALDI and Big W at Karrinyup about 7 minutes away. For breakfast, Brighton Road Food Market, Brighton Bakery, Harvest Boulangerie Patisserie and Driphouse Scarborough are each about 4 minutes by car.

Beaches nearby

Trigg Beach is about 8 minutes' drive from the house and Mettams Pool about 9 minutes, according to the listing. Our practical Scarborough Beach stay guide covers more of the area, from the shops to the best places for a morning walk.

Comparing places to stay? See all WTP Holiday Homes you can book direct, or browse more Scarborough Beach guides.

Sources And Dates Checked

Every fact in this guide was checked on Wednesday 28 October 2026. Events, prices and timetables change, so confirm with these sources before you travel.

• Scarborough Sunset Markets, summer season page: Thursday evenings, 5 November 2026 to 29 April 2027.
• Scarborough Sunset Markets, summer FAQ: 5pm to 9pm, Market Bar, dogs, rain, ACROD parking.
• Scarborough Sunset Markets, winter FAQ: 2026 winter dates and hours, bars, ATM, accessibility, vendors.
• Scarborough Sunset Markets, Getting Here: address, parking, buses, rideshare.
• Scarborough Sunset Markets, War on Waste: eat kits and waste stations.
• City of Stirling event listing for the Scarborough Sunset Markets Winter Edition 2026 (free, Saturdays 3pm to 8pm, 13 June to 24 October 2026), read 28 October 2026; the page no longer loaded later the same day.
• City of Stirling, Scarborough parking and transport options: Surf CAT hours, bus routes, Safe Active Streets.
• City of Stirling, Scarborough Beach Weekender 2026 Chapter Two.
• City of Stirling, beaches and lifeguard patrols.
• Stirling Leisure, Scarborough Beach Pool: summer hours and pool temperature.
• Transperth, CAT services: Surf CAT frequency and route.
• Wilson Parking, 1 Manning St Car Park: hourly rates.
• Bureau of Meteorology, Perth Metro climate statistics.
• Tourism Western Australia, Scarborough Beach.
• The Duchess on Duke listing page: property features, distances and house rules (listing last updated 16 October 2026).

Sunset times are approximate and were calculated for Scarborough Beach in AWST. They can differ by a few minutes from official figures.