Thousands of people are expected to celebrate Halloween in Lahaina on Oct. 31. This year’s highlights include a keiki parade, new art installations and the Adult Costume Contest. PHOTO BY BRYAN BERKOWITZ.

LAHAINA – On Thursday, Oct. 31, Lahaina Town is celebrating with the biggest and best family Halloween party anywhere in the Hawaiian Islands.

For over 40 years Front Street has been celebrating Halloween festivities, beginning with the annual keiki parade.

This year’s parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. Children are invited to wear their Halloween costumes and enjoy the family-friendly parade festivities.

Volunteers are needed to walk in the parade and hand out candy. To volunteer, contact Joseph D. Pluta, parade chairman, at (808) 283-4533.

The three Rotary Clubs of Lahaina are the leading sponsors of today’s Keiki Halloween Parade with support from the County of Maui and LahainaTown Action Committee.

Rotarian Pluta has been the master of ceremonies these past 40 years. Given this remarkable 40 continuous years of service, three past presidents of the Lahaina Rotary Club named Pluta this year’s grand marshal.

For many years, the keiki parade was organized by West Maui Soroptimists. Pluta credited Ruth McKay for being instrumental in establishing the foundation for the success of the parade with her fellow Soroptimists.

The parade starts at 4:30 p.m. from the corner of Papalaua and Front streets. Participants will march down Front Street, with the parade ending at Campbell Park adjacent to The Wharf Cinema Center across from Banyan Tree Park.

All keiki from preschool to teenagers are invited to march in the parade. They should assemble at the Outlets of Maui corner by the Clock Tower by 4:15 p.m. at the latest.

This year, there will be an assortment of curated art installations down Front Street created by local artists for families to check out, interact and take pictures with.

The Halloween-themed art installations – sponsored by Whalers Village, the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development and LahainaTown Action Committee – will be featured up and down Front Street. Local artists include Fuzz Box, Athena Medina Designs, Ryan Wemyss, and Jammin on Maui.

Maui police and fire units will close off affected streets by 3 p.m. Maui Fire Department’s Parade Vehicles will be leading the parade, followed by Mayor Mike Victorino and Grand Marshal Pluta.

Additional vehicles will include the Maui Shriners and a Rotary float with presidents from the three Lahaina Rotary Clubs.

After the vehicles, the Lahainaluna High School Marching Band will lead hundreds of keiki in costume down Front Street to the stage area at Campbell Park. The first group behind the band will be the pre-schoolers and kindergarten keiki, followed by first- to third-graders and then fourth- to sixth-graders and high school students.

All keiki are invited to march across the stage, where they will receive a participant ribbon and bag filled with candies and treats. The event will be followed by a Keiki Dance Party at Campbell Park with LahainaTown Action Committee.

This year, Front Street boasts one of the largest trick-or-treats in Hawaii, with the fun starting pre-parade at the Outlets of Maui and lasting through the street’s restaurants and shops all the way to the 505 Shopping Center.

Highlights include Fleetwood’s on Front St.’s homemade Halloween Cookies, Campbell Park’s Keiki Dance Party and refreshment vendor showcase (purchase the official Halloween in Lahaina T-shirt), Wharf Cinema Center face painting and ballon art, and the 505 Shopss Pineapple Carving Contest.

Finish off the evening at Lahaina Cannery Mall from 5 to 8 p.m. for your photos with favorite Halloween characters, a costume contest and face painting and balloon fun.

Campbell Park festivities are sponsored by Waikiki Brewing Company and Cheeseburger in Paradise. Enjoy entertainment by Fuzz Box Productions, Galaxy Laser and Light and Athena Median Designs.

Purchase the annual Official Halloween in Lahaina T-shirt. Food vendors, face painters and keiki games are all part of the fun.

At 6:30 p.m., the Adult Costume Contest begins with participants walking the stage until 7:30 p.m. Winners will be announced at 8:45 p.m..

Sponsored by Honu Seafood and Pizza and Frida’s Beach House, the contest offers a $1,000 first place prize.

Register in advance at Honu Seafood and Pizza or in Campbell Park on Halloween night. The contest is limited to the first 50 entries.

Roberts Hawaii will operate the Halloween Express shuttle from Kihei and Wailuku. For ticket and schedule information, visit www.visitlahaina.com.

The Maui Bus will offer extended service for its West Side Kaanapali and Napili Islander routes.