The 28th annual Garden Party & Chefs’ Festival will feature entertainment by the stars of “Jekyll & Hyde The Musical,” as well as event favorites Kristi Scott and Moondance. PHOTO BY JACK GRACE.

WAILUKU – Tickets are available for Maui Academy of Performing Arts’ 28th annual Garden Party & Chefs’ Festival on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 1 to 5 p.m. on the beautiful grounds of the Yokouchi family estate in Wailuku.

Guests spend the afternoon chatting with friends, sipping wine, indulging in fine cuisine, enjoying live entertainment and bidding on treasures and art to support MAPA’s educational performing arts programs.

The Garden Party features an impressive Chefs’ Festival with gourmet offerings from Maui restaurants, including 808 on Main, Aloha Spiced Cacao, Aria’s Restaurant & Catering, Betty’s Beach Caf, Bistro Casanova, Blue Sky Beverage, Cafe O’Lei Restaurants, Duke’s Beach House, Fleetwood’s on Front Street, Fork and Salad (by Three’s), Hula Grill, Joey’s Kitchen, Maui Coffee Roasters, Maui Tacos Mexican Surf Grill, Nick’s Fishmarket Maui, Private Chefs Maui, Sangrita Grill + Cantina, Three’s Bar & Grill and Vineyard Food Company by Catering from Soup to Nuts.

Entertainment will be provided by Will Kimball, Kathryn Holtkamp and Leighanna Locke – the stars of this summer’s smash hit, “Jekyll & Hyde The Musical.” Also featured are Garden Party favorites Kristi Scott and local band Moondance.

Guests are encouraged to join in the fun this year by entering the Hat Contest. Get creative and come dressed in a traditional Garden Party beauty or spice it up with something funny and zany.

The winner will receive four tickets to MAPA’s “Nutcracker Sweets Ballet” this December. An assortment of vintage cars will also be on display.

One of the event’s signature offerings is Fresh Art; as guests meander through the picturesque grounds, they watch some of the island’s top painters and sculptors create beautiful works of art. Maui artists creating Fresh Art this year include George Allan, Karen Camara, Joseph Fletcher, Jack Hamilton, Jim Lynch, Jamie Roth and Steve Turnbull.

The Garden Party also features fabulous live and ailent auctions with professional Auctioneer Joe Teipel. New this year, guests are invited to preview the silent auction at 12:30 p.m.

“MAPA has grown into one of the state’s largest performing arts organizations, offering a full range of performing arts programs,” said Linda Howlett, MAPA’s board secretary and chairperson for the event.

“The Garden Party fundraiser has a direct impact on the success of our nonprofit organization. As MAPA’s largest fundraiser, it plays an essential role in ensuring that MAPA’s performing arts programs remain accessible and affordable.”

Tickets are $75 ($85 at the event) and include all food and beverages. Tickets are available by phone at 244-8760 or online at mauiacademy.org. Tickets are also available at Evolution Salon at 395 Dairy Road in Kahului or the MAPA office at 81 N. Church St. in Wailuku.

The Yokouchi family estate is located at 2471 West Main St. in Wailuku. The Garden Party is for adults 21 and over only. For more information about MAPA, visit www.mauiacademy.org or call 244-8760.