On a Saturday night in Kiama, the sound of crashing waves is finally competing with a more vibrant local nightlife.

For years, Kiama’s identity was wrapped almost entirely in daylight - cafes, beaches, blowholes, brunch.

Night was for going home or heading up or down the highway.

The opening of Uncle Fuku's, the town’s new karaoke bar, is another example of Kiama finding its voice after the sun sets.

Kiama Leagues Club, the Bowling Club, Little Betty’s, the Golf Club to the north and Cin Cin’s to the south are great places to spend a night out without having to go out of town.

The kebab shop across the road from the leagues club is doing a decent trade into the wee small hours, always a good sign that a town’s nightlife is healthy.

Many people actually like hanging out with each other past 9pm.

This is what a night-time economy looks like at the grassroots: many venues taking a risk, giving people a reason to linger in town rather than leave it.

The same energy will pulse, probably at a more energetic scale, on 21 February when THAT takes over the Kiama Skate Park and will transport it into a dancefloor like non-other.

These events, and the Sounds of Jazz & Blues set to take place in March show that “nightlife” doesn’t have to mean nightclub.

It can be all-ages, family-friendly, and rooted in the creativity that already exists here.

A lit-up skate bowl and a packed crowd under the stars say something powerful: our public spaces don’t shut down when the sun does.

As Kiama grows, so does our understanding of what liveability actually mean.

It’s no longer just quiet streets and ocean views - it’s also having somewhere to go after dinner, somewhere for teenagers to be seen and heard rather than having to make the trek to Wollongong, somewhere for musicians and hospo staff to work locally instead of commuting.

A thoughtful night-time economy supports safety, diversity and social connection.

It creates jobs, nurtures culture and makes it possible for more people to build a whole life here, not just a daytime one.

Change can feel uncomfortable, especially in a town that treasures its calm.

But the choice isn’t between “peaceful village” and “rowdy and overdeveloped party strip.”

It’s between a town that slowly empties out and one that carefully curates its evenings to reflect its values.

The hum of activation and excitement within town are Kiama’s way of choosing the latter – embracing growth, and with it, a richer, more vibrant life after dark.