Gearing Up for Front Street Halloween

By Wendy Osher

Halloween in Lahaina, mauinow.com file photo.

Preparations are underway for the full return of Halloween festivities to Front Street in Lahaina this year.

Event organizers obtained a permit for the extended closure of Front Street for the first time since 2007, setting the stage for several hours of masquerading and holiday revelry.

The event features both adult and keiki costume contests and will utilize Campbell Park for featured entertainment, face painting and official vending activities.

The Lahaina Town Action Committee is sponsoring this year’s events in coordination with the County of Maui, and has released the following schedule of events:

• 4:30 p.m.: The Keiki Costume Parade begins. The event is sponsored by Soroptimist of West Maui, the Rotary of Lahaina, and the Lahaina Sunrise Rotary.
• 6 to 8:45 p.m.: Additional food, entertainment and an adult costume contest registration takes place at Campbell Park. Featured live entertainment includes “1810” and the Haiku Hillbillies. During this time, there will also be keiki activities, face painting, and official “Back on Front” t-shirt sales taking place.
• 7 to 9 p.m.: Later in the evening, event organizers host a costume contest for adults from 7 to 9 p.m. on the stage in the Banyan Tree area. The event is sponsored this year by Honu Seafood & Pizza.
• 9:30 p.m.: The winners of the costume contest will be announced.

Event organizers have arranged for the closure of Front Street between Baker and Prison Streets beginning at 3:30 p.m., and extending until midnight on October 31, 2011.

There will be no parking on Front Street during this time, and Front Street will also be closed to vehicular traffic.

Event organizers also issued a call today for volunteers to help with equipment set-up and breakdown, trash collection, and sidewalk sweeping.  Shifts may run for two to three hours between 10 a.m. and 2 a.m.

Volunteers receive an official Halloween T-shirt and a meal during the event. For more information or to sign-up please contact [email protected] or call 667-9175.

The event comes on the heels of the recent recognition of Front Street as one of the Top 10 Great Streets for 2011.

Other parts of the island are also hosting Halloween events, some on different days, others on a smaller scale.