A record 50,000 consumers flooded the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall and Arena for this year’s Made in Hawaii Festival to scoop up handmade items and sample an array of food from local vendors.

“It was just packed, shoulder to shoulder in every aisle,” said Blaine Apo, owner of Maui Crisps, which sold 6,000 bags of beef jerky chips and pineapple crisps in its first year at the show. “People were saying there’s no parking. The experience just coming to a show with this many people … it’s huge. This was the first chance for Oahu (people) to really see our product.”

The thousands of people who attended the three-day event over the weekend generated an estimated $295,000 in ticket sales for the Hawaii Food Industry Association, which produced the event.

In addition, the 425 local vendors earned an estimated $270,000 in revenue from booth sales, said Amy Hammond, a spokeswoman for the organization. She added that after the show, vendors surveyed in recent years said they typically generate between $10 million and $12 million in residual income from deals made during the annual event.

“They just did really gangbuster sales that they haven’t seen in a long time from buyers coming in, as well as consumers who were really ready to spend,” Hammond said. “People know that it’s a great place to shop.”

Hammond attributed the growth in this year’s customers to a “growing awareness of the value of locally made products.”

Attendance has steadily grown from 33,000 in 2012.

“(The Blaisdell) had people riding around on bikes trying to find people extra spaces and golf carts opening up different lots trying to accommodate people,” Hammond added. “There’s isn’t enough parking, obviously. Even when you go to a concert, there’s always parking issues. It is like an annual pilgrimage.”