Waimea Town Celebration
Get on down to the Waimea Town Celebration February 17–24, 2024
It’s that time of year again! Gather the ʻohana and some canned goods for the Hawaiʻi Food Bank donation bins, gear up for a real good time, and head west to historic Waimea Town for the 47th Annual Waimea Town Celebration from February 17–24, 2024.
Come celebrate the community of West Kauaʻi in an action-packed eight days featuring concerts, competitions, and cultural events. This iconic event, hosted by the Historic Waimea Theater and Cultural Arts Center, is Kauaʻi’s most prominent and longest-running festival, paying homage to Kauaʻi’s plantation days, cultural heritage, and history.
The Waimea Town Celebration offers something for everyone, from keiki to kupuna. During this eclectic annual event, Waimea Town celebrates a wide variety of cultural activities that showcase the beautifully vibrant history of Kauaʻi’s melting pot of traditions, peoples, and festivities.
2024 Schedule of Events
Sat. 2.17: 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Kauaʻi Cocktails & Cuisine – Historic Waimea Theater
Join this pirate-themed costume event featuring “grog” and other varieties of rum tasting. The costume contest offers a cash prize. Must be 21+ to enter.
$60 GA, $80 VIP (6:00 p.m. entry). The ticket includes general sampling and one meal ticket.
Sun. 2.18: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., King Kaumualiʻi Celebration Lūʻau – Historic Waimea Theater
This lūʻau will surely be special, honoring King Kaumualiʻi with hula, music, and traditional lūʻau food. Featuring Kumu Hula Troy Lazaro & Hālau Ka Pā Hua O Hīnano.
$40 GA includes a meal. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Mon. 2.19: 9:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Waimea Film Festival – Hiff Hana Hou – Historic Waimea Theater
Asian Pacific films, including an encore of award-winning films & sleepers from the 44th Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. Visit waimeatheater.com to view trailers, film showings, and summaries.
$10 tickets at the Box Office & $30 All Day Pass (purchase online) includes a special meal, served at 12:30 p.m.
Tues. 2.20 – Thurs. 2.22: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Music in the Park & How-Fast-Can-You-Eat-Contests – Hofgaard Park
It’s time for lunch. Head to Waimea Town for live music and craft vendors and to enter the daily How-Fast-Can-You-Eat contests. Come hungry and enter to win cash prizes. All ages are welcome.
Tues: Times’ Spam Musubi Eating Contest
Wed: Redondo’s Red Hot Dog Eating Contest
Thurs: Kauaʻi Kimchee’s Kimchee Eating Contest
Wed. 2.21: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Ambassador of Aloha & Music Concert – Historic Waimea Theater
Come and boogie down to the Neil Diamond cover band Cherry Cherry. This concert celebration will pay tribute to Kauaʻi’s Ambassador of Aloha 2024, who will receive the Mālama Award for his service to Kauaʻi’s Westside community.
$20 GA
Thurs. 2.22: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Tales & Treats – Historic Waimea Theater
Join Kanaka Maoli members of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth Ensemble as they perform traditional stories, their own unique songs, and hula with aloha. Enjoy complimentary treats from Gina’s Anykine Grinds Cafe and Super Duper II Ice Cream.
Thurs. 2.22 – Sat. 2.24: Kauaʻi’s Paniolo Showdown – Friendship Do’s Ranch, Waimea Arena
Dust off your cowboy boots, don your best cowboy hat, and saddle up to the rodeo! Experience Hawaiʻi’s best cowboys & cowgirls as they demonstrate their paniolo skills.
$10 admission fee (ages two and up) on Sat. only
Thurs. 7:00 p.m. – World’s Best Muley Roping
Fri. 8:30 a.m. – Team Roping Qualifying Slack
Fri. 7:00 p.m. – Barrel Racing Qualifying Slack
Sat. 10:00 a.m. – Po’o Waiu, Roping, Barrels, Double Mugging & more.
FINAL WEEKEND: Fri. 2.23 & Sat. 2.24
The final weekend of the Waimea Town Celebration is jam-packed with fun activities and has something for everyone! Check out the happenings:
Fri. 2.23 – Sat. 2.24: Hoʻolauleʻa Concert
Free admission, a stellar lineup, rain or shine!
Friday kicks off the two-day concert!
5:00 p.m. Cherry Cherry
7:00 p.m. Na Hoa
8:00 p.m. Braddah Norm
8:45 p.m. Blessed Pati
9:30 p.m. Tenelle
10:30 p.m. Malino
Saturday follows with more heat!
5:15 p.m. Fashion Show
5:45 p.m. Kawaiola Productions
7:00 p.m. Kauaʻi Kollab
8:15 p.m. Sons of Yeshua
9:15 p.m. High Watah
10:30 p.m. Sudden Rush
Fri. 2.23 & Sat. 2.24: Hoʻolauleʻa – Old Waimea Mill
Enjoy 22 hours of free admission and indulge your senses with food booths, craft vendors, entertainment, Paradise Beverages, and the Kōloa Rum Beer Garden!
Fri. 2.23: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., & Sat. 2.24: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament – Waimea Canyon Park Basketball Courts
Pick your teammates wisely and hit the courts for Kauaʻi’s biggest 3-on-3 basketball tournament. All ages welcome: $20/students & $40/adults.
Sat. 2.24: 5:30 a.m. – 6:30 a.m. check-in & 7:00 a.m start time, Na Heihei a Ola 2K, 5K & 10K Fun Run – Waimea Plantation Cottages
Lace-up your running shoes and prepare for a run of fun! All ages are welcome.
$50/Adults, $30/Juniors (17 years and younger). Register online or on Friday night at the Ho’olaule’a (in front of the Beer Garden) from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 2.24: 8:00 a.m. (awards at 1:00 p.m.), Naʻiʻole Long Distance Canoe Race – Waimea Landing
Witness the excitement as traditional Hawaiian outrigger canoes race along the Waimea shoreline. Trust us, you want to see this race!
Sat. 2.24: 12:00 p.m., Super Duper 2’s Ice Cream Eating Contest
Free. Sign up at 11:30 a.m. with Lisa from Super Duper 2 in front of the Hoʻolauleʻa Big Stage.
Sat. 2.24: 1:00 p.m., Scotty’s Music Ukulele Contest – Hoʻolauleʻa Big Stage
Free to participate. Winners receive brand-new ukuleles. Pick up an entry form at Scotty’s Music (across from Walmart in Līhuʻe), download the form from the waimeatowncelebration.com website, or pre-register by 12:45 p.m. the day of the contest.
Sat. 2.24: Drop off from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., view from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., pickup lei & awards at 6:00 p.m., Lei Pāpale (Hat Lei) Contest – Old Waimea Mill Site
Enter a hat lei to win cash prizes in the “Most Beautiful” (fresh foliage) or “Most Unique” (any material) categories, as well as your family Heirloom for the “People’s Choice Award.” To enter, download an entry form from the waimeatowncelebration.com website.
With so many unique, culturally diverse, richly historical, and downright fun activities and events to participate in, we hope you’ll join us at the Waimea Town Celebration. Together, we’ll honor the aloha of the past, tend to the aloha of now, and create a future of warm aloha for years to come.
Vendor Applications (for food, products & games) open through 2.16.24.
https://waimeatowncelebration.com/