KAILUA-KONA — Have a beer, support a good cause. That appealing combination is possible at the local seasonal party, Kona Town Night Market, which returns this weekend.
The market will be held from 5-10 p.m. Saturday, with music, food and drinks at the Brewery Block next door to Kona Brewing Company. Since 2014, the event has been held three times a year with a different theme and a new beneficiary for each one.
“I think it’s just a great community event for a nonprofit, and I think the essence of it all is to be able to have a fun-filled night in the community while supporting a good cause,” Kona Town Night Market events manager Kolina Silva said.
This time around, the theme is “Hoolina Honua,” or “Earth’s Legacy,” which coincides with Earth Day being celebrated in a few weeks, on April 22. The beneficiary on Saturday is West Hawaii Explorations Academy (WHEA), a public charter school in Kailua-Kona.
“WHEA does a lot of exploration in renewable energy and ocean resources and things like that, so we thought they would be really fitting for this event,” Silva said. “It’s a totally free event to come and enjoy, and whoever buys beer, the beer proceeds go to the school.”
Live entertainment will be provided by local band Ms. Demeanor and the Felons, and to continue the theme of celebrating the earth, there will also be the Trash Fashion Show, made famous at the Kona Brewers Festival.
“If you didn’t go to the Kona brew fest, they’ll be having their fashion show here, which is cool because there’s a lot of people, especially the kids, who don’t get to go to Kona brew fest,” Silva said. “So it is great for the community to be able to see these models who make all of their outfits out of trash, which is pretty amazing.”
The last Kona Town Night Market was in November, and while a date hasn’t been set for the next one this summer, Silva said the tentative goal is Aug. 24. Silva expects the one this Saturday to be the most attended of the year.
“They all vary in attendance, but this is probably our busiest one, just because of the timing of it. Everyone’s in town,” Silva said. “I would say we see upwards to 4,000 people throughout the night. It’s from 5-10 p.m., so people are roaming, and coming and going in that time.”
Silva also works to coordinate the Kailua Village Stroll and other events in Kailua-Kona, but she finds Kona Town Night Market stands out from the rest, with its family-friendly atmosphere, time of day and community focus.
“It’s about community, so that we have a special gathering place for people to be with their families. To have live entertainment, free entertainment, and also you can have a beer and walk around with it, it’s pretty special,” Silva said. “Plus it’s a night event, which I feel there isn’t many in Kona.”
Info: Visit Kona Town Night Market’s Facebook page at facebook.com/KonaTownNight Market.
