Maui County Fair 2026: OVERVIEW
September 29, 2026
September 29, 2026
Maui County Fair 2026: OVERVIEW... Hours, Tickets & Visitor Guide
The Maui County Fair stands as one of the most cherished and deeply rooted traditions in the Hawaiian Islands. Originally established in 1927, this beloved gathering has served for generations as a vibrant showcase of island life, agricultural achievement, culinary artistry, and community togetherness. The 2026 festival marks the 99th Annual Maui County Fair, positioning the island just one year away from its monumental 100th Centennial celebration in 2027.
More than just a standard county fair, the event captures the authentic spirit of ʻohana (family) and community connection across the Valley Isle. From keiki (children) experiencing their very first thrill rides to kūpuna (elders) sharing historical wisdom and enjoying classic Hawaiian melodies, the fair unites residents and visitors across generations. It offers a rare space where local schools, sports clubs, non-profit organizations, artisans, and farmers gather under a shared banner of island pride.
The 99th Annual Maui County Fair takes place across four action-packed days, opening on Thursday, October 1, 2026, and running through Sunday, October 4, 2026.
The entire festival unfolds at its historic venue, the War Memorial Special Events Complex in central Wailuku, Maui. Nestled against the dramatic backdrop of the West Maui Mountains, the venue grounds transform into a bustling landscape of carnival rides, food booths, agricultural pavilions, live music stages, and cultural displays. Whether you are a lifelong resident returning for your favorite local foods or a visitor eager to experience authentic island culture, this comprehensive guide provides everything you need to navigate the 2026 Maui County Fair.
To help you plan your visit effectively, the 2026 Maui County Fair features a structured schedule filled with specialized daily themes, parades, discount windows, and extended evening festivities.
Fair Hours: 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Special Kickoff Event: The official kickoff begins prior to the fairgrounds opening with the traditional Maui County Fair Parade, held from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The parade marches down Kaʻahumanu Avenue, featuring marching bands, decorated floats, community groups, and local dignitaries.
Evening Overview: Gates open officially at 5:00 PM, allowing attendees to step directly from the parade route into the fairgrounds for opening night food, games, and rides.
Fair Hours: 5:00 PM – 12:00 Midnight
Highlights: Dubbed "Flashback Friday," this evening honors classic local music and island traditions. The Main Stage comes alive with traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music, local hula halau, and nostalgia-filled performances.
Companion Event: The nearby historic Wailuku Town hosts its popular Wailuku First Friday street festival on Market Street, creating an island-wide evening of celebration. The night concludes with a spectacular aerial drone display over the fairgrounds.
Fair Hours: 10:00 AM – 12:00 Midnight
Highlights: Saturday offers the longest operating hours of the weekend. Families can take advantage of Discount Ride Hours from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, when ride credit requirements are reduced across the carnival floor.
Daytime & Evening Activities: Daytime hours are ideal for exploring the Agriculture Pavilion, livestock exhibits, and domestic art displays without the evening crowds. The night wraps up with live headline performances and the Nightly Drone Show.
Fair Hours: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Highlights: Sunday is officially sponsored as "Fun Factory Day." In a long-standing tradition, the first 2,000 attendees receive FREE admission split evenly across the three main entry gates (Kanaloa Gate, Maʻalaea Gate, and Wahine Gate).
Closing Festivities: Discount ride hours continue throughout Sunday, making it a favorite day for families with younger children looking to wrap up their weekend experience.
Attending the Maui County Fair remains one of the best value entertainment options on the island. Below is the full breakdown of gate admission prices and presale purchasing details.
All ticket booths at the physical entrance gates accept CASH ONLY. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are positioned near the entrance turnstiles, but long lines are common during peak hours. Attendees are strongly encouraged to bring sufficient physical cash for gate entry tickets to avoid delays.
Skip the entry ticket lines by purchasing physical presale gate admission passes in advance. Presale tickets go on sale starting in mid-September at designated partner locations across Maui:
Restaurant Matsu: 161 Alamaha St., Kahului
Hours: Monday–Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Thursday–Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Maui Historical Society at Hale Hōʻikeʻike / Bailey House: 2375 Main St., Wailuku
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
West Maui Sports & Fishing Supply:
Kāʻanapali Location: 3445 Lower Honoapiʻilani Rd., Lahaina
Lāhainā Cannery Location: 1191 Honoapiʻilani Hwy., Lahaina
Maui Frozen: 1993 S. Kīhei Rd., Suite 6, Kīhei
Pōmaikaʻi Elementary Media League: Available through participating students and administration at Pōmaikaʻi Elementary School in Kahului.
Purchase tickets only from official physical presale outlets or directly at the fair gates. The Maui County Fair Alliance strictly warns against buying tickets through third-party scalpers, social media groups, or unauthorized online platforms. All tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, and damaged or altered tickets will not be accepted at turnstiles.
Arrive early on Sunday, October 4, 2026, to take advantage of the Fun Factory promotion! The first 2,000 guests entering through the main gates starting at 10:00 AM will receive complimentary general admission. Passes are distributed evenly among the three operational gates on a first-come, first-served basis.
The carnival Midway at the Maui County Fair is managed by Hawaii's premier amusement provider, E.K. Fernandez Shows. Featuring classic midway thrill rides, family-friendly attractions, and specialized keiki rides, the carnival is a primary highlight of the fair experience.
Thrill Seekers: The famous Zipper, the high-flipping Inverter, the swinging Pharaoh Swing, and classic spinning attractions.
Family Favorites: The grand Carousel, Bumper Cars, Dizzy Dragons, and the giant Bouncy Fun House.
Keiki Land: Gentle train rides, miniature spinners, and mild slide experiences designed specifically for young children.
E.K. Fernandez operates a completely paperless card/digital system for all rides and carnival midway games. Ride credits must be loaded onto an E.K. Fernandez Fun Pass card or managed through the official smartphone mobile app.
Mobile App: Download the official E.K. Fernandez Fun Pass App prior to arriving at the fairgrounds. The app allows you to purchase ride credits instantly, view current balances, track ride costs, and scan directly at ride turnstiles using your phone.
Family Sharing: Parents can easily transfer credits between family members or load multiple child passes onto a single adult smartphone account.
Presale Ride Credit Savings: Load ride credits during the presale window between Monday, September 28, and Wednesday, September 30, 2026 (9:00 AM to 4:00 PM) to receive bonus credits. Presale purchases via the app require a credit or debit card.
Annual Wallet Fee: A nominal $1.00 annual wallet fee is assessed per digital card/account upon initial setup.
Convenience Fees: In-app credit reloads incur a flat 40-cent fee plus a 3.2% processing fee per transaction. To avoid processing fees, guests can purchase or reload physical plastic Fun Pass cards at automated kiosk stations throughout the fairgrounds using cash.
Maximize your carnival fun while saving credits by visiting during designated discount periods:
Saturday, October 3: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Sunday, October 4: 10:00 AM to Closing
During these windows, select major and keiki rides require significantly fewer credits per ride.
For many local residents, the food court—traditionally referred to as the home of ʻOno Grinds (delicious food)—is the central attraction of the Maui County Fair. The food court is unique because every food booth is operated by a verified local non-profit organization, school athletic team, civic group, or religious charity. Every dollar spent on food directly supports Maui's local community programs.
Hawaiian Mixed Plates: Generous servings of traditional Kalua Pork cooked low and slow, tender Lau Lau (steamed pork and butterfish wrapped in taro leaves), chicken long rice, lomi salmon, and fresh poi.
Local-Style Chow Fun: A Maui fair legendary favorite! Thick, stir-fried rice noodles cooked in giant woks with green onions, bean sprouts, pork, and savory local seasonings.
Teriyaki Beef Skewers & Spam Musubi: Marinated teriyaki beef grilled over flame, alongside fresh island-style Spam musubi wrapped in crisp nori.
Fresh Hot Malasadas: Golden, pillowy Portuguese fried donuts rolled in granulated white sugar, cinnamon sugar, or filled with tropical lilikoi (passion fruit) and chocolate creams.
Island Shave Ice & Treats: Finely shaved ice topped with handmade tropical syrups (lilikoi, mango, guava, coconut), sweetened condensed milk ("snow cap"), and azuki beans.
Classic Fair Snacks: Hot funnel cakes dusted with powdered sugar, fresh cotton candy, roasted corn on the cob brushed with garlic butter, and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
Beyond the thrills and food, the Maui County Fair serves as the primary showcase for the island's rich agricultural heritage, artistic talent, and cultural pride.
The Agriculture Pavilion is a vibrant display of Maui's farming excellence. Local farmers, home gardeners, and commercial growers submit their finest produce for competitive judging.
Tropical Flowers & Orchids: Breathtaking arrangements of exotic protea, anthuriums, hibiscus, and rare award-winning orchids cultivated across Upcountry Maui.
Island Produce: Giant pumpkins, sweet Maui onions, tropical fruits (papayas, dragonfruit, mangoes, bananas), and sustainable root crops.
Located adjacent to the ag pavilion, the Livestock Display highlights the hard work of local ranchers and 4-H youth programs. Visitors can view livestock up close, including cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and poultry, while learning about sustainable livestock management and island ranching history.
Queen Kaʻahumanu Center Exhibits: Featuring historical photo galleries, local handcrafts, woven lau hala art, and traditional Hawaiian quilts (kapa).
Keiki Art & Domestic Arts: Ribbons awarded for student artwork, woodworking, baking, sewing, and photography submissions from residents of all ages.
Esports Arena Competition: A modern addition to the fair, hosting live video game tournaments and competitive collegiate/high school esports matches throughout the weekend.
The Main Stage serves as the heartbeat of the fairgrounds, offering non-stop live performances from morning until night.
Hawaiian Traditional & Contemporary Music: Performances by award-winning Slack Key guitarists, ukulele virtuosos, and celebrated Hawaiian music groups.
Hula Hālau Performances: Moving performances by local hālau hula (hula schools), presenting both ancient (kahiko) and modern (ʻauana) dance traditions.
Local Comedy & Keiki Shows: Family-friendly stand-up comedy, talent showcases, martial arts demonstrations, and interactive children's entertainment.
Replacing traditional fireworks to protect local wildlife and farm animals, the high-tech Nightly Drone Show has quickly become a fan favorite. Each evening before closing, hundreds of synchronized light drones ascend into the Wailuku night sky. The drones form luminous, moving 3D formations depicting Hawaiian sea turtles (honu), traditional canoes (waʻa), island outlines, and cultural motifs set to an immersive musical soundtrack.
The 2026 Maui County Fair takes place at the War Memorial Special Events Complex, situated in the heart of Wailuku.
Address: 700 Halia Nakoa Street, Wailuku, HI 96793
Parking directly at the War Memorial Complex is extremely limited and fills rapidly each afternoon. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra travel time due to heavy traffic along Kaʻahumanu Avenue and Kanaloa Avenue.
To alleviate traffic congestion, the Maui County Fair provides FREE Park & Ride Shuttle Bus services throughout operating hours. Attendees can park their vehicles for free at designated satellite lots and take a quick shuttle ride straight to the main fair entrance.
Queen Kaʻahumanu Center: Dedicated fair shuttle pickup zone near the department store parking areas.
Wailuku Civic Center Parking Garage: Convenient parking in downtown Wailuku with direct bus shuttles running every 10–15 minutes.
Designated accessible parking spaces are located inside the War Memorial Football Stadium parking lot. A valid state-issued disability parking placard or license plate is required for access.
To ensure a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for all attendees, please review the following event guidelines:
Clear Bag Policy: To expedite security lines, clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC bags are strongly encouraged. Small clutch purses and diaper bags are permitted but subject to inspection.
Security Screening: All persons, bags, backpacks, and strollers are subject to mandatory security screening and bag checks at entry turnstiles.
Allowed: Empty reusable plastic or stainless steel water bottles are permitted inside the grounds.
Hydration Stations: Free water refill stations are located throughout the fairgrounds to keep families hydrated in the warm Wailuku sun.
The following items are forbidden on fair premises:
Weapons of any kind (knives, firearms, pepper spray)
Illegal substances or drug paraphernalia
Outside alcohol or glass bottles
Outside food, coolers, or large ice chests
Pets or animals (Official ADA-recognized service animals are permitted)
First Aid Station: Fully staffed first aid and medical responders are stationed inside the War Memorial Gymnasium.
Lost Keiki Tent & ID Wristbands: Located immediately inside the Kanaloa Entry Gate. Parents are urged to visit the tent upon arrival to secure a free ID wristband for their young children, stamped with a parent contact phone number.
The successful execution of the Maui County Fair relies on strong island leadership, dedicated community volunteers, and municipal support.
The 99th Annual Fair is directed under the leadership of Daryl Fujiwara of Festivals of Aloha. Fujiwara and the organizing committee have focused heavily on honoring authentic Hawaiian culture, improving family accessibility, and modernizing logistics while keeping entry affordable for local families.
Recognizing the cultural and economic importance of the fair to Maui residents, Mayor Richard Bissen and the Maui County Council proposed a dedicated $1.5 million county funding allocation to support infrastructure, security, sanitation, and public transportation for the event. This funding ensures the fair remains safe, clean, and accessible to everyone.
As the gates open for the 99th edition in 2026, excitement is already building across the state for the monumental 100th Centennial Maui County Fair in October 2027. The 2026 event serves as both a grand celebration in its own right and the official bridge toward a century of cherished fair memories on Maui.
Plan ahead, gather your ʻOhana, bring your appetite, and prepare to celebrate four unforgettable days at the 2026 Maui County Fair!
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