Around 6 p.m. on the first Friday of every month, the First Fridays Hilo Art Walk takes place in the downtown Bayfront area of Hilo on Big Island. The somewhat sleepy town comes alive as locals and visitors alike come out to celebrate everything local and creative. From vendor booths on the streets selling handmade jewelry, pottery, paintings and clothing, to bars and art galleries opening up for live music and poetry readings, Hilo Art Walk is an awesome addition to the Hilo nightlife.

Unique creations — Photo courtesy of Hilo Art Walk

Following in the footsteps of other communities around the island, such as Kaua`i where they have Hanapepe Art Night and Kapa`a Art Walk, and Oahu where First Fridays in Chinatown take place, Hilo's new art night has only been growing at each event. Each First Friday, the crowds are larger than the last, the vendors are more abundant and more people arrive for open mic performances.

Started by a few key community players who own a skateboard shop and gallery in the downtown area, the art night is now providing everyone in the area with a unique nightlife opportunity, an element that's a little hard to find on the east side of the Big Island. There are plenty of restaurants and shops in the area, so make sure to dine out in Hilo on a First Friday.