The Maui County Fair is returning on Oct. 2-5, with a traditional parade, games, rides and more. Maui News archive photo

The Maui County Fair is returning to the War Memorial Special Complex this week, featuring dozens of food booths, rides, live entertainment, livestock and poultry exhibits, a petting zoo and much more.

“We’re very excited,” said Gabrielle Berce, the fair’s livestock and poultry exhibit chair.

The last Maui County Fair occurred in 2019 and the event sold more than 90,000 tickets. The fair was called off in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, Mayor Richard Bissen proposed and Maui County Council approved a $1.5 million appropriation from the general fund to revive the fair, one of Maui County’s biggest annual events.

Berce said the livestock show and contest will include a Paniolo Hall of Fame exhibit as well as a variety of livestock, including cattle, Nubian and dwarf goats, and a Valais Blacknose sheep named “Marshmallow.” Maui keiki rodeo contestants will also conduct demonstrations.

The Maui County Fair parade route.

Thursday parade

The fair will kick off with a parade starting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the University of Hawaii Maui College campus in Kahului.

The parade will feature bands from Baldwin High School and Maui High School while the route proceeds onto Kaahumanu Avenue and ends at Kanaloa Avenue.

Former Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino will lead the parade as the grand marshal.

Other scheduled participants include Miss Maui Filipina Bernadette Amorim Acaso and Ms Maui Filipina Jasmine Therese Esguerra, as well as members of Japan Chamber of Commerce of Fukuyama, the sister city to Maui.

“They’ve been coming to march for more than 30 years,” said Deidre Tegarden, executive director of the Nisei Memorial Center. “We’re continuing that bridge that started so many years ago.”

Food, rides and more

More than 40 nonprofit organizations will be selling food at the fair including Ke’anae Congregational Church with its Kūlolo sundae, the Living Pono Project with its kalua pig plate, and Baldwin High School Project Graduation 2026 with its sweet and savory waffle dogs.

Maui Ministry On The Move with its chow fun, and The Legacy Foundation with its garlic noodles with teriyaki chicken.

Rides at the fair will be provided by E.K. Fernandez and the lineup includes Dizzy Dragons, Helicopter, Magic Maze, Merry-Go-Round, Lolli Swings, Pharaoh’s Fury, Scooter, Seven Seas, Super Sizzler, Super Slide, Wacky Worm, Wave Swinger and Zero Gravity.

E.K. Fernandez now has an app available for purchasing rides — the old card system will no longer be used.

Because part of the War Memorial complex is undergoing renovation, some activities will be at Kaahumanu Center, including the orchid exhibit by the Maui Orchid Society. The society will be occupying a space near the bus stop at Kaahumanu Center and featuring an exhibit similar to its Mother’s Day display earlier this year.

The exhibit is scheduled to be open during regular center hours.

Live entertainment lineup

Live entertainment will start after the opening parade on Thursday and continue each night under the big tent. The lineup is as follows.

Thursday

6 p.m. — Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua with Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona

7:30 p.m. — Wehilei

9 p.m. — ‘Āinaty

Friday

6 p.m. — Jordan Soon

7:30 p.m. — Kalani Pe’a, four-time Grammy Award winner

9 p.m. — A Fiji Tribute featuring Damon Williams, Pi’ilani Arias, Loeka Longakit and friends

Saturday

12:30 p.m. — Kaina Kountry

2 p.m. — Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders

3:30 p.m. — Mikey Mina

5 p.m. — Da Braddahs

6:30 p.m. — Hawaiian Time

8 p.m. — Ka’ikena Scanlan

9:30 p.m. — Redmelo

Sunday

12:30 p.m. — Mark Yamanaka

2 p.m. — Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka with Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva

3:30 p.m. — Ku’uipo Kumukahi

5 p.m. — Keali’i Reichel and Hālau Ke’alaokamaile with Nā Kumu Hula Kealiʻi Reichel and Henohea Kāne

6:30 p.m. — Nā Leo Pilimehana

8 p.m. — Nuff Sedd

Regular ticket prices for the Maui County Fair are $10 for adults (12 and up) and $5 for children (5-11), with children 4 and under admitted for free.

For more information on the 98th Maui County Fair, visit www.themauifair.com/.

Shuttles and parking

The county has coordinated free shuttle services, free and paid parking areas and rideshare sites for the fair.

The Maui Bus will have modified routes in the area during the parade and the fair. For updated routes, visit www.mauibus.org or the Maui Bus app.

Ka’ahumanu Avenue from Liholiho Street to Kahului Beach Road will be closed for the parade from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Kanaloa Avenue will have traffic restrictions from 8 a.m. Oct. 2 to 8 a.m. Oct. 5. Traffic flow will be divided. Crossing Kanaloa Avenue will be prohibited. Access to parking areas will be limited to the side of the street that matches your direction of travel.

Free parking will be offered at Wailuku Garage and Queen Ka’ahumanu Center.

There will be a free shuttle service during fair days with one shuttle every 30 minutes from 6 p.m. to close and two shuttles every 15 minutes during peak hours.

There will be $5 paid parking at Baldwin High School, Boys & Girls Club, War Memorial Stadium, Keōpūolani Park, J.W. Cameron Center and Kaiser Wailuku Medical Office.

‘Ohana and rideshare drop-offs will have active loading and uploading for fair guests near Baseball Field 3 along Kanaloa Avenue.