The 19th annual Mango Melee, a fun-filled event for the entire family, will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, at the St. George Botanical Gardens. Mango Melee features local food, craft vendors, kids’ and adults’ mango eating contests, children’s activities, the return of the “dunk tank” and much more. There will be performances by King Derby and Calypso Inc., the “We Deh Yah Cultural Dancers”, a special appearance by visiting African dance and music troupe the “Taratibu Youth Association,” as well as DJ Swain and DJ SuperFly on the turntables.
Local celebrities and political candidates will once again risk getting soaked at the “dunk tank” for the benefit of St. George Village Botanical Garden. And the always popular “Mango Dis Mango Dat” food competition will give local chefs a chance to show off their culinary skills and win special prizes. Admission is $6 for adults, $2 for children ages six to 12, and free for children five years and younger. Attendees are asked to walk with exact change to save time at the entrance gate.
The theme this year is “Mango Melee 2015: The Drought Edition.” The event is dedicated to the farmers of St. Croix who have provided fresh fruit and other produce, even under the adverse conditions of this growing season. Workshops will include “Conservation Practices for Addressing Climate Change,” and other informative discussions.
The other featured fruit for this year is the drought-resistant coconut. Island chefs are encouraged to bring dishes incorporating this fruit for public tastings. Egg fruit will also be celebrated for its ability to hold up under adverse growing conditions.
This event is made possible through the support of V.I. Department of Tourism with help from the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) Agricultural Experiment Station, UVI Cooperative Extension Service and the V.I. Department of Agriculture. Mango Melee is sponsored by A Better Copy, Cruzan Rum, A Garden Friend, Innovative Companies, TV2, Aqua Sounds Studio, Crucian Gold, Cruzan Environmental Services, JKC Communication, Owen and Carol Johnson, King Derby and Calypso Inc., Marshall and Sterling, and RE/MAX Team San Martin.
For more information, call (340) 692-2874 or (340) 692-4090.