Kanemitsu Bakery will be among the vendors at this year’s festival.

WAILUKU – When Maui County’s largest products show, the second annual Made in Maui County Festival, opens to the public on Nov. 6-7, 2015 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului, the event will boast a larger format with more products, more vendors, more food trucks and more reasons to buy local.

Presented by the County of Maui Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and Maui Chamber of Commerce, the 2015 festival will feature nearly 150 product vendors and food trucks, over 40 of which are new to the event.

Product vendors had to meet certain criteria in order to participate, including having their business based in Maui County. Products being offered for sale had to meet a minimum 51 percent of their value added in Hawaii. The product mix, quality and creativity value of products were also considered during the selection process.

Last year, the inaugural event attracted over 9,500 visitors and residents, and 130 vendors participated. Vendors reported over $300,000 in product sales transactions, over 180 new accounts and wholesale orders closed, and over 1,000 leads for future sales and wholesale accounts generated.

This year, the festival is focused on expanding the event’s impact.

“This festival is more than an annual event – it’s all about creating opportunities for our small businesses here at home,” said Teena Rasmussen, director of the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development.

“In an effort to accommodate more shoppers this year, we’ve expanded the show to include additional vendors. We also opened the festival for the first time to the general public on Friday with our Shoppers Preview. Not only will these efforts provide vendors with additional opportunities to promote their products to potential consumers, but it will also help them to connect with potential wholesale and retailer buyers.”

The Shoppers Preview on Friday, Nov. 6, from 2 to 6 p.m. will give shoppers a one-day head start. Attendees will also enjoy the festival’s opening ceremonies and VIP reception. Only 500 tickets will be sold to the general public for Friday’s event. Tickets are $35 per person and are available at the MACC Box Office at (808) 242-SHOW (7469) or www.MauiArts.org.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Made in Maui County Festival will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Public admission is $5 (at the gate); children 12 and under are free. Saturday’s festivities will include demonstrations, a fashion show, food trucks and prize drawings. The first 2,000 attendees will receive a free festival tote bag.

For more information, visit www.MadeInMauiCountyFestival.com.