Thousands converged on the centre of Canberra to get their tastebuds around a range of flavours on the first weekend of the Night Noodle Markets.

It is the fifth year the markets have come to the capital as part of the Enlighten Festival, with the 2019 event featuring 26 stalls.

There were long lines snaking around the markets from food ranging from pork belly skewers, bao, burgers inspired by the Year of the Pig and Filipino-based desserts from Gelato Messina.

Many members of the crowd said they arrived early, long before the sun went down, to beat the queues before the light installations at nearby Old Parliament House were turned on as part of the festival.

Among them was Atsuko Beutel, who was at the markets with her two children Aya and Misaki.

While she had been to the markets before, this was the first time she had been back with children.

"The kids have really been enjoying themselves," Ms Beutel said.

"Some of the food has been a little bit too spicy for them, but they did have some spring rolls and some chicken skewers."

One of the most sought-after stalls at the festival was Flying Noodles, with its pile of noodles seemingly defying gravity on the plate, making it Instagram-worthy fodder for the masses.

Calwell resident Marine Morton was among those to try the stand-up noodles, and said it was her first time visiting the markets along with her daughter Aubrey.

"We had some of the bao burgers before and they were really good," Ms Morton said.

"It was really good that we came here early and not when it was crazy busy."

This weekend is expected to be the busiest time for the markets during their 10-day run.

The markets will open from 4pm on Sunday and from 5pm on weekdays, before the Enlighten projections switch on at dusk.