Top 10 things to do on Big Island for March 7-13: The Super American Circus returns, Kona brew fest on tap, Love Fest 2024 abounds and more

Get ready for fun under the big top as The Super American Circus returns to the Big Island for several shows this week in Hilo and next week in Kona.

Bigger and better than ever, audiences will be dazzled as tradition meets modern marvels during the event that fuses classic circus charm with cutting-edge entertainment.

Also on tap around the Big Island during the next week is the 29th annual Kona Brewers Festival in Kailua-Kona, Love Fest 2024 at Parker School in Waimea, the 12th annual Buddha Day Celebration in Kealakekua, the Big Island Art Fair in Waimea and more.

You also might have already noticed that Big Island Now is restructuring its weekly top things to do on the Big Island feature. Going forward, we will showcase 10 of the hottest events, activities, festivals, concerts, performances, etc. from Thursday to Wednesday.

We find many of them by looking at social media and around the internet, but the place we look at the most is the Big Island Events section at Big Island Now. We encourage everyone to post their events to the calendar, and they could be featured in future top 10 lists.

All you have to do is visit the Big Island Events section, click “POST AN EVENT” and then just follow the prompts and provide your information to create an account and get posted so the entire island knows what you have happening.

Here are our top 10 things to do on the Big Island for March 7-13.

No. 1 — The Super American Circus (Hilo, March 8-10)

Get Ready, Big Island. The circus is rolling back into town, bigger and better than ever! Tradition meets modern marvels in an electrifying spectacle of boundless energy, daring stunts and aerial acrobatics. Step right up and prepare to be dazzled by a fusion of classic circus charm and cutting-edge entertainment.

The circus will wow audiences at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 8; and 1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. March 9-10 at Nani Mau Gardens, located at 421 Makalika St. There also will be ono, fun fair food, face painting and other fun activities available.

If you miss the Hilo shows, the circus will be in Kailua-Kona the week after. Times are 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 15; 1, 4 and 7:30 p.m. March 16; and 4 and 7:30 p.m. March 17 at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area, located at 75-5560 Kuakini Highway.

Ticket prices vary; free keiki tickets are available online with purchase of an adult ticket. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

No. 2 — Love Fest 2024 (Waimea, March 8)

Parker School, located at 65-1224 Lindsey Road, presents this benefit event for the Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing essential equipment and training to the Hawaiʻi Fire Department.

The festival, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the school’s Upper/Middle campus, will feature live music from the Honoka‘a Jazz Band, Nancy Boy and El Sancho, in addition to student performances. There will also be food trucks, face painting and other fun activities.

Admission is $5 for kids and $10 for adults. Everyone is welcome to this day filled with love, laughter and unforgettable memories. To purchase tickets, click here.

No. 3 — “Abstraction and Distraction” exhibition (Waimea, through March 31)

Waimea Arts Council is pleased to present “Abstraction and Distraction” at Firehouse Gallery, located at 67-1201 Hawaiʻi Belt Road.

Abandoning realistic objective depiction, artwork by Big Island artists on display as part of the exhibition emphasizes colors, shapes, lines and textures, allowing for free, unfettered artistic expression.

The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. For more information, click here.

No. 4 — 12th annual Buddha Day Celebration (Kealakekua, March 10)

The public is invited to join the Hawaiʻi Association of International Buddhists to celebrate the birth of Shakyamuni, who became the Buddha, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Kona Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, located at 81-6630 Hawaiʻi Belt Road.

This year’s topic is “Nurturing Peace.” Ashleigh Loa, executive director of Ceeds of Pease, will be presenting “Conversations for Peace: Embracing Dialogue in the Spirit of Empathy.”

The service will include the traditional offering of sweet tea to the baby Buddha at the Hanamido. Following the talk and service, join an interactive breakout session aimed to equip participants with the foundational skills necessary for fostering empathy and understanding across diverse cultural and community landscapes.

Register online or contact the Rev. Blayne Higa at 808-323-2993 or via email at [email protected].

No. 5 — 29th annual Kona Brewers Festival (Kailua-Kona, March 9)

Experience Kona’s spirit during this beloved annual community event that celebrates the love of craft beer, delicious cuisine, live music and the unique culture of Kailua-Kona.

Established in 1996, the brew fest has become a cherished tradition, attracting visitors and locals alike. Proceeds support local nonprofits focused on environment, youth, sustainability and culture, making a positive impact in the Big Island community.

The 2024 festival is slated for 3 to 7 p.m. in the Brewery Block, located at 74-5617 Pawai Place. Must be 21 or older to attend. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the festival website.

No. 6 — Big Island Art Fair (Waimea, March 7-9)

This family-friendly, fun fine art event at Kahilu Town Hall, located at 67-1182 Lindsey Road, showcases art from 20 local artists for sale each day, with styles including acrylic and oil paintings, mosaics, ceramics, jewelry, digital art, photography and more. Fair hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 7-8 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 9.

The Floral Fun art contest invites artists to create works that depict flowers, people wearing flowers or simply something that reminds them of flowers in all shapes and forms. Fairgoers will be able to view the submitted artwork and vote for their favorites, with cash prizes awarded to the winning artists at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Also on Saturday, the Waimea Arts Council will sponsor a free art craft project from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All ages are welcome to participate.

In addition, several demonstration sessions will be offered and food will be available all three days from Mochinga Hawaiʻi, featuring authentic Greek cooking. For more information about the event, click here, find the fair on Facebook or email to [email protected].

No. 7 — Rose Award of Excellence Fundraising Dinner (Hilo, March 11)

Join the Zonta Club of Hilo from 5 to 8 p.m. for this gala fundraising event in the Moku‘ola Ballroom at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, located at 71 Banyan Drive, where the club’s Rose Award will be presented to Big Island state Sen. Lorraine Inouye, whose career in public service spans more than four decades.

Funds raised support Zonta Club of Hilo Foundation scholarships for women pursuing higher education in public affairs, nursing, women’s studies, communication, business and science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as Pay-it-Forward micro-grants to local women-owned businesses.

The event starts with a no-host cocktail hour and silent auction followed by dinner and the award program. To sponsor a table, get tickets and/or make a donation, click here.

No. 8 — Rummage Sale (Keaʻau, March 9)

Come check out all the different treasures waiting for you from 8 a.m. to noon at Puna Hongwanji, located at 16-492 Old Volcano Road. Admission is free.

The sale will feature a variety of items. There will also be a boutique and some food items available for purchase. Bring your patience and compassion as you sort through the items you want to buy.

You can even store your finds in a holding room so you can continue shopping without having to carry them around or go back to the car. Then, just stop and pick them up when you’re ready to leave.

No. 9 — Henry Bianchini/Kathy Long Opening Reception (Waimea, March 9)

Come celebrate the opening of solo exhibitions by these two pillars of the Big Island art scene from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kahilu Theatre, located at 67-1186 Lindsey Road. There is no admission fee.

Longtime Waimea resident and renowned artist Kathy Long creates sensitive and exquisitely beautiful drawings imbued with her love and respect for Hawaiian culture. Long’s artwork has been featured on Merrie Monarch Festival posters and appeared in countless publications.

Puna artist Henry Bianchini opened his first solo exhibition 50 years ago and has been busy creating abstract sculptures and two-dimensional artworks since. A master of many forms of sculpture, painting and printmaking, his creativity knows no bounds.

Both exhibitions will be on view in Kahilu’s galleries through April 7. For more information, click here.

No. 10 — Eve n Eve presents “Never Forgotten” (Hilo, March 9)

Get ready to travel back in time and experience the glitz, glamour and nostalgia of the iconic 1990s era at Sangha Hall, located at 398 Kīlauea Ave. Even n Eve’s fabulous drag performers are ready to take the stage and bring back the unforgettable music, fashion and pop culture moments that defined the decade.

It promises to be a night of jaw-dropping performances, fierce lip-sync battles and dazzling costumes that pay homage to the biggest stars of the ‘90s, when boy bands ruled the charts and girl power reigned supreme. So grab your scrunchies, dust off your platform shoes and get ready to dance the night away.

Tickets are $35 pre-sale or $45 at the door. Bring your own beverage. Doors open at 5:09 p.m. and the show starts at 6:09 p.m. For more information, including how to purchase pre-sale tickets, contact JoBette at 808-960-4671.