Mangoes celebrated at Botanic Park
(CNS Local Life): The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park will be hosting its first annual Mango Fair on Saturday, 1 July, created and organised by the Tourism Attraction Board (TAB) to expand the yearly mango tree sale at the park into a family-oriented event. “I am delighted to be coordinating an event like this for the first time at the Botanic Park,” said Shayma Hamdi, TAB marketing coordinator.
“It’s a great way to bring together members of the community and celebrate mango season. Local vendors can showcase their products, families can enjoy a fun day out in nature, and garden-lovers can take advantage of the wide variety of mango trees for sale.”
All three-gallon mango trees, which can be purchased for $40, are grafted named varieties.
The event will showcase local vendors who farm mangoes and create associated products as well as have the fruit trees offered for sale. Items available on the day will include mango cocktails, candles, tarts, a variety of loose individual mangoes, mango curry chicken, BBQ mango chicken and mango hot sauce. There will be facepainting and other activities for children, as well as discounted admission to the park.
“We are enthusiastic to host Mango Mania at the Botanic Park this year,” said John Lawrus, park general manager. “The ability to introduce new varieties of mango – the ‘King of Fruits’ – to the island will only benefit future generations of mango lovers, as well as having lots of mango-induced food and drinks make the Botanic Park the place to be this Saturday.”
Guests can bring their food and drinks into the park and relax by the pond, in the Floral Colour Garden, or explore the newly opened Rankine Heritage House, which displays a number of cultural and historical artefacts.
“I am pleased that the Botanic Park is hosting the inaugural Mango Mania event – the hybrid of the ever popular mango tree plant sale and the newly established Mango Fair & Fest,” said TAB director Patrick Thompson.
“We anticipate that this will become one of the signature events on the Cayman Islands events calendar and I urge the community to come out and support. The team at the Park has done a tremendous job in organising this event and I am confident that you are in for a treat.”
The main event, which will run from 9am-1pm, will take place outside the visitor centre, with live entertainment from 11am-1pm from local musician Cory Allenger.
Discounted admission to the Botanic Park will be extended to all visitors for the day, at $5 for adults, with children under 12 and seniors over 60 free.
For more information, email TAB or the Botanic Park
Category: Events
