Due to an overwhelming response, organizers of the Maui County Fair’s Baby of the Year contest are having to put a small pacifier on the event.

After a six-year hiatus, the Maui County Fair will return Oct. 2-5 along with the popular Baby of the Year contest, formerly known as the Healthy Baby Contest, at the War Memorial Special Events Complex.

The county made the announcement and put out an application for entries earlier this month. However, because the response has been so large, organizers have had to cap the number of potential baby contestants and take down the link for applications.

On Monday, fair assistant Jaydon Isobe said they already have so many entries there will have to be a separate preliminary contest to reduce the number of contestants for the final judging that starts at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The Healthy Baby Contest has been a staple of the Maui County Fair for decades and dates back to the 1950s. The contest was created as a way to encourage families to learn more about resources that support healthy living.

“The Healthy Baby Contest is a way to bring families together, highlight healthy habits and connect parents with important resources while celebrating our future generations,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said in announcing the re-establishment of the contest.

Babies will be recognized in several categories including health and development, personality and interaction, appearance and presentation, family involvement, and special categories.

For more about the Maui County Fair, go to www.TheMauiFair.com.