Enjoy live music by Hapa, Henry Kapono, Willie K (pictured), Zenshin Daiko and the King Kekaulike Na Ali‘i Big Band at the event.

KAHULUI – The Maui Arts & Cultural Center will celebrate its 25th Anniversary year with a free celebration for the community on Sunday, Nov. 24, from 4 to 8:30 p.m.

The MACC celebration marks 25 years of presenting performing and visual arts, entertainment, education and Hawaiian cultural events.

The MACC’s 25th Anniversary Celebration of Community will start at 4 p.m. with a marching band at the entrance gates, where the audience will be invited to proceed into the A&B Amphitheater and enjoy a full range of activities throughout the evening.

The program includes two amazing performances by Australia’s Strange Fruit; live music with Hapa, Henry Kapono, Willie K, Zenshin Daiko and the King Kekaulike Na Ali’i Big Band; an art activity; face painting; balloons; and more.

There will be plenty of fun all evening, including free birthday cake and a fireworks finale.

A highlight of this celebration will be another amazing act that the MACC brings to Maui as an exclusive: the astounding performance entitled “The Spheres” by Australia’s Strange Fruit, as produced by Strut & Fret Production House.

A performing arts company based in Melbourne, Strange Fruit produces a remarkable style of work that fuses theatre, dance and circus.

Perched atop five-meter-high flexible poles, the troupe delivers a sublime performance, bending and swaying in a hypnotizing dance as the audience looks up in wonder.

Their performance piece for the evening, “The Spheres,” takes a whimsical look at physics, the miracle of birth and humanity’s existential relationship to our planet.

“Celestial beings” emerge from illuminated globes to recount a tale of transformation and wonder, covering creation, exultation, liberation, life, the universe ? and everything!

A range of ‘ono grinds will be available for purchase from multiple Maui vendors, including Three’s Bar & Grill, Sea Salt Maui, Outrigger Pizza, Maui Teriyaki, Ululani’s Shave Ice, 808 Delights and Grandpa Joe’s Candy Co.

This anniversary of the MACC – a full quarter-century – is yet another benchmark for this Maui nonprofit organization, which is also Hawaii’s most comprehensive performing and visual arts venue.

The MACC has become a very special place on Maui and an integral part of life on the island, described by The Maui News as “the artistic and educational heart of an entire community” and “Maui’s entertainment and arts crown jewel.”

Opened in May 1994 as the culmination of a decades-long dream by leading members of the Maui community, the Maui Arts & Cultural Center is a world-class performing arts facility, as proved by the amazing caliber of arts and artists who have been hosted at The MACC over the past 25 years – Elton John, Aerosmith, Paul Simon, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Mark Morris, Yo-Yo Ma, Kris Kristofferson, The Who, Journey, Diplo and dozens more luminaries.

With an extensive and diverse array of visual art events, educational activities and performances, The MACC serves more than 240,000 people annually in its theaters, gallery, classrooms and meeting rooms.

In addition to major music, theater and dance performances, the MACC is host to approximately 1,700 events every year, including hula, classical music, ballet, tap, yoga, taiko, drama, children’s art, slack key guitar, popular music, acrobatics, storytelling and more.

The MACC is also a frequent gathering place for community meetings and school events.

Most importantly, with regard to future generations, The MACC is a center for arts-integrated education, serving 6,000 Maui schoolchildren per year in grades K-12 directly, including students in Hana, Lanai and Molokai through CanDo! Arts immersion days.

Even more students learn about the arts through school shows, teachers’ professional development and arts partnering, and artist residency programs.

Many of the performers in MACC presentations also do residency or outreach programs in Maui schools, social service agencies and senior centers.

To find out more about The MACC, the Nov. 24 celebration or any of the performances and departments at The MACC, call 242-SHOW or visit MauiArts.org.