The DTLA Night Market provides a great start for summer fun. (Heidi Carreon/Neon Tommy)

While the inaugural Downtown Los Angeles Night Market (DTLA Night Market) opened in the late afternoon of June 20, it seemed as if summer already arrived. The smell of marinated meat perfumed the air, music resounded throughout the venue, and the warm night was full of friends and families hanging out. 

Despite the Night Market's small-scale location between L.A. Live and Staples Center, 626 Night Market veterans will find themselves getting lost among the booths. To newcomers, the DTLA Night Market might be overwhelming, but here are some tips to get the most out of the DTLA Night Market and help you prepare for night two on Saturday.

Take The Metro

Save yourself the nightmare of parking. The Night Market is a five minute walk from the Expo line's Pico Station. Plus, Metro users get $2 off admission when they show their TAP card.

Arrive Early

While it might be hard, arriving early is the way to go. There will be few lines, if any, and it gives you a chance to look around without navigating a maze of people.

Read More: Asian Night Market Hits Downtown Los Angeles This Weekend

The fruit says it all. (Heidi Carreon/Neon Tommy)

A lot of people make the mistake of bringing credit cards to the Night Market. While there are a number of vendors who accept credit and debit cards, (such as food trucks) most of the vendors at the Night Market take only cash. ATMs are available, but it's better to skip the transaction fees and bring your own cash.

Bring Friends And/Or Family

The Night Market is definitely not the place to go stag. The quantity of things to do and the numerous photo opportunities—whether selfies at the Night Market stage or a picture with the 626 Night Market Instagram Frame−makes the Night Market the perfect place to create memories with the people you enjoy being with.

Know Where You Want To Go

Figure out what you might want to check out through the vendor list here. iPhone users can also access it by downloading the 626 Night Market app.

Hit The Popular Places First

Enjoying liquid nitrogen ice cream. Savoring the OG Ramen Burger. Taking a picture with the World's Largest Boba Drink. Getting a free drawing of yourself as a minion. These are things that must be done early on; no one wants to spend the last hour of the Night Market is waiting in line.

Don't Play It Safe With Food 

Sure, you can get gyoza and satay then claim that you got your fill of Asian food, but don't ignore the booths selling Taiwanese street food (the most famous Asian Night Market, after all, is in Taiwan). Other things to try are octopus balls and savory pancakes and waffles with seafood and meat fillings. 

Also, skip the boba if you can live a night without it; popular boba vendors such as Boba 7, Boba Bear, and Ozero have locations near Downtown L.A. and can be visited at their normal operating hours. Try other drinks, such as sugar cane juice from Cold Cane Labs.

Read More: 10 Foods To Try At The DTLA Night Market

Whether you're a kid or a kid-at-heart, the Night Market plenty of opportunities for indulgence. (Heidi Carreon/Neon Tommy)

While some vendors do give out free stuff, it is usually stickers and candy. There are some booths, however, that raffle free tickets to events such as the L.A. Weekly booth and the O.C. Fair booth. Also, if you party where AMP Radio's Studio 97 is set up, they'll give you a free shirt.

Talk To The Musicians

Many of the performers are rising artists promoting themselves through the Night Market. If you like their music, best way to meet them and to know their story is by approaching them behind the stage after their set.

Talk To The Artists

All of the art booths will have the artists there, and many of them have interesting pieces, such as a cosplaying blowfish and minion characters. Best part? Many artists sell prints of their work under $20. 

Be A Kid

Play carnival games, get henna tattoos and have a balloon animal. It's rare for adults to have the type of fun that's usually only found at county fairs, but the Night Market allows for adults to indulge themselves.

Stay Until The Night

Yes, there are crowds, but the lit booths and the backdrop of the L.A. skyline look romantic and gorgeous. Plus, it's summer. While you don't have to stay until closing time, stay long enough to enjoy yourself.

Reach reporter Heidi Carreon here and you can follow her on Twitter here.