WAIMEA — The public is invited to welcome the fall season with a full day of family fun and something for everyone at the fifth annual Waimea Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Spencer K. Schutte Waimea District Park (67-1315 Ala ‘Ohia Road).
Admission is free, and public parking will open at 8:30 a.m.
The fun-filled family festival, hosted by Waimea Athletics, will feature live entertainment throughout the day, a pumpkin patch, Selfie Suite photo booth, indoor and outdoor keiki games and activities, a craft sale, community information booths and exhibits, and lots of great food.
Brother Noland — legendary composer, innovator, educator, multi-Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, and Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award recipient — will headline the entertainment, along with 2024 Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Kenny Tagavilla, Waimea’s Hama ‘Jang and Ryan Hooley, the U.S. Army Schofield Barracks 25th Infantry Division Brass Quintet, and more.
Keiki will enjoy a full day of fun with train rides, hamster balls, inflatable bounce houses and water slides, polo activities, pony rides, balloon sculptures by Duane Nishimori, and a free petting zoo, including an interactive experience with therapeutic horses.
There will be an indoor Keiki Game Zone hosted by the Waimea Cowboys football team featuring all-day carnival games with a $15 wristband. All-day wristbands ($25) also will be available for the outdoor inflatables, waterslides and laser tag.
Be sure to bring lots of sunscreen, a swimsuit, towel and beach chairs. This is a rain or shine even.
Food and beverage booths will be plentiful, offering a variety of burgers and fries, poke bowls, poke nachos, acai bowls, fruit cups and fruit trays, specialty sushi rolls, tacos, burritos, churros, chili nachos, hot dogs, Korean chicken, kalbi ribs, chicken katsu, takoyaki, pansit, summer rolls, braised short ribs, pork belly tinono, and more.
There will be a wide range of local craft booths for early holiday shopping, including jewelry, handmade fabric and cork items, laser-cut and engraved wood products, western and baby wear, crocheted items, small plants, anime-related items, pareos, a variety of bags and clothing, and more.
All food, craft and activity sales are cash (no scrip), with the exception of all-day wristbands for the outdoor inflatables ($25) and the indoor keiki zone ($15). Presale information for outdoor inflatables wristbands is available online at waimeaathletics.org. Attendees can pick up their prepaid wristbands at Will Call on event day beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Numerous community organizations will be on hand to share information, including American Legion Post No. 4 Kohala, The Cole Academy, the Hawaii Police Department with free keiki IDs, Hawaii Island Fentanyl Task Force, Hawaiian Electric, Kipuka o ke Ola, Hilo &Kona Veterans Center, Kamehameha Schools, Malama Pono Kohala, Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District, Thelma Parker Memorial Public Library with Rubik’s Cube Speedcubing Champion Matty Inaba of Waimea, and Waimea Trails &Greenways.
Federal and county of fire department personnel will be on hand to answer questions at outdoor static displays.
After a three-year pause due to COVID-19, last year’s Waimea Fall Festival attracted about 5,000 people, and organizers are planning for a larger crowd this year.
“In addition to bringing families and our island community together, the Waimea Fall Festival provides opportunities for youth groups to raise funds for their team or programs,” said Melissa Samura, event coordinator for Waimea Athletics and the festival.
Proceeds from the festival benefit participating local sports teams and clubs, nonprofit organizations and local businesses, and sport equipment sponsorships provided by Waimea Athletics for community youth programs at Waimea facilities.
For more information, visit waimeaathletics.org.