Hanford Insider Previews the 2026 Thursday Night Marketplace

Send me a text and give me feedback on this episode!The Thursday Night Marketplace isn’t just a fun night out. It’s one of the clearest signs of how downtown Hanford is growing, how local businesses get discovered, and how a community learns to celebrate in its own backyard.We sit down with Jim Castleman, the longtime host of the Main Street Hanford Thursday Night Marketplace, for a preview of season 26 at Civic Park. Jim shares why the market “personifies community,” how it became a magnet for visitors from across the Central Valley, and what to expect from May 7 through October 29. We get into the big draws people plan around, including theme nights, live bands across multiple genres, the return of a flyover on June 11 for Navy Appreciation Night, plus crowd favorites like Halloween night and K-Jug Country Night.Along the way, we also cover the week’s Hanford community news and community calendar, with highlights like Council Connect, local performances, festivals, and museum events. Then we close with the Hanford Insider Sports Report, rounding up recent results for Sierra Pacific, Hanford High, and Hanford West baseball and softball. If you’re searching for “Hanford events,” “downtown Hanford,” “Main Street Hanford,” or “things to do in Kings County,” this one brings the full local pulse.Subscribe for weekly updates, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the stories shaping Hanford.You can find the Hanford Insider at www.hanfordinsider.com and on social media at @hanfordinsiderThank you for supporting the show!