It's County Fair Time

Aloha Kakou:

The 86th annual Maui County Fair starts at 5 pm today and runs through Sunday, October 5.

The County Fair provides a glimpse into local Maui life and really helps a visitor to understand Maui's small-town feeling. Like fairs everywhere, there's the midway with carnival rides, cotton candy and games of skill and chance. Many local organizations have food booths presenting a huge array of homemade taste treats representing Maui's many ethnicities, ranging from the typical (like spaghetti and meatballs, corn on the cob and Irish stew)to the local style (chicken hekka, dry mein, lau lau and kalbi ribs) to the "I dare you to try that!" - flying saucers, pronto pups, poi mochi and pancit.

A full range of entertainment awaits, including local musicians like Kealii Reichel, Willie K and Na Leo. Check the fair website for times.

And, of course, what fair would be complete without the displays of prize-winning local produce, flowers, needlework, Hawaiian quilts, and farm animals.

My favorite part of the fair is Orchidland, a combination of displays by six or seven orchid growing clubs. The picture at the top is just one small area of one display. There are literally thousands of plants with seemingly millions of flowers - just to see the orchids is worth the price of admission.

See you there!

86TH MAUI COUNTY FAIR
MAUI COUNTY FAIR PARADE

FAIR HOURS
* Today, 5 to 11 p.m.
* Friday, 5 p.m. to midnight.
* Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight.
* Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
ADMISSION
* Today-Saturday - adults $5; children 5-11, $2; children 4 and under, free.
* Sunday - First 2,000 free; adults, $4; children 5-11, $1.
PARKING
Free shuttle buses will be operating from:
* Kalana O Maui / Maui County Building parking lot.
* Wells Park parking lot.
* MCC soccer field.
* Keopuolani Park parking lots.
* Queen Ka'ahumanu Center has a shuttle service operating 6 to 11:30 p.m. today and Sunday; 6 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.