MangoMania set for Saturday on Pine Island
Southwest Florida’s favorite tropical fruit fest is back — and back to its roots.
Mini MangoMania, Pine Island’s celebration of its homegrown harvest, is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church after being held for the last several years at the German American Club in Cape Coral.
The fair also will return to a smaller format this year -hence the “mini” in the name — but much of the mania will remain as will, of course, mangos and the “It’s All About the Mango” theme.
“We’re looking forward to another fun-filled day with the festival back on the island, and keeping it on the island,” said Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce Board member Cynthia Welch in an earlier interview.
“It’s a great location and I’m excited to see all the smiling faces coming back,” board member Tammy Aeschliman agreed.
As the name boasts, the day will be marked by everything mango — mango specialties, mango food tastings, arts and crafts and mango-themed contests and games including a competition in which the largest mango will win, a game of Mr. Mango Head and a pie-eating competition.
This year’s pie-eating contest will take place with all the contestants’ hands behind their backs, Aeschliman said.
“It’s not going to be how much you can eat, but how fast you can eat it — but it won’t be a whole pie this year,” Aeschliman said.
The afternoon will feature live music with the Rudy Cox Band from 1-4 p.m. and seminars given by locals, such as Fruitscapes, on how to successfully grow your own mangoes.
There will be free giveaways at the gate, and something for everyone, organizers said.
The event will take a pass on one tradition this year, though — there will be no reigning queen as the event will be smaller and so not in need of a spokesperson or ambassador.
“MangoMania is about our island and our children, and about mangoes,” Aeschliman said.
Admission is $5 for adults. Children under 10 are free.
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Church is at 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia.
To reach PAULETTE LEBLANC, please email pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com