WAILUKU – Maui County’s largest products show, the annual Made in Maui County Festival, returns on Nov. 2 and 3, 2018. Now in its fifth year, this popular event features over 140 vendors offering hundreds of made-in-Maui-County products all in one location: the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.

Those who want to be first through the gate and who appreciate a leisurely shopping experience will enjoy the Exclusive Shopping Day on Friday, Nov. 2, from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Friday’s festivities include an Opening Ceremony sponsored by Alaska Airlines and complimentary light pupus at 5 p.m.; food will also be available for purchase from three food trucks in the Pasha Hawaii Food Court. Attendees will have a chance to win roundtrip air travel for two on Alaska Airlines and a Grand Wailea Resort getaway prizes (must be present to win), and all shoppers will receive a free festival tote.

Free event parking is available at the MACC and the UH Maui College paved parking lot on Wahinepio Avenue.

Exclusive Shopping Day tickets are $35 per person; children 12 and under are free. Tickets are available at the MACC Box Office; call 242-SHOW or visit www.mauiarts.org/MIMCF.

Then it’s the Big Festival Day on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Festivities include live entertainment by Marty Dread, Pat Simmons Jr., George Kahumoku Jr. and Kaui & Kamaunu Kahaiali’i; fashion and talk shows with Emcee Malika Dudley on the Hawaiian Airlines Presentation Stage; and 15 food trucks in the Pasha Hawaii Food Court.

Shoppers have a chance to win 120,000 HawaiianMiles, a Pasha Hawaii Certificate of Passage good for shipping one personal vehicle to/from San Diego and Maui, as well as a myriad of products from this year’s festival vendors. The first 2,000 attendees will receive a free festival tote. Complimentary shuttles will be available on Saturday to and from War Memorial Gym and the MACC. Free parking will also be available at UH Maui College’s grass parking lot.

Public admission is $5 (purchase that day only at the MACC Box Office); children 12 and under are free.

Qualified wholesale buyers and distributors may also register online at madeinmauicountyfestival.com/preview to receive complimentary admission to attend a special “Wholesale Buyers Event” on Friday from 1 to 6 p.m.

This annual festival is the most sought-after products show in Maui County, offering a springboard for local companies to take their business to the next level by being able to unveil new products, meet with prospective wholesalers and connect with new customers. The event is also a showcase of the islands’ entrepreneurial spirit and a representation of the diverse microcosm of Maui County’s niche manufacturing industry.

The festival is presented by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and the Maui Chamber of Commerce with support from event sponsors. For more information, visit www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com, e-mail info@MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com or call (808) 270-7710. Connect with the festival on Facebook, Twitter (#MIMCF2018), Instagram and Pinterest.