Kick off set for popular ‘MangoMania’
Each year, MangoMania attracts thousands of revelers to the German American Club for a weekend of fun activities and celebration of tropical fruits. Mangoes and other delicious fruits are served as drinks, salads, desserts and other delicacies. Books of recipes are also available and trees and fruits are available for purchase.
The kick off for MangoMania – organized by the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce- will take place Thursday, June 18, following the Chamber’s 6 p.m. “After-hours Business Card Exchange” at Earth and Spirit Garden Gallery on Maria Drive in St. James City.
Crowning of this year’s Mango King and Queen will take place then, and until that time, no one knows who will be wearing these crowns, according to Lisa Benton, who is the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce and has been chairman of MangoMania for a couple of years.
Also that evening, the winner of the art for T-shirts and advertising will be announced, and T-shirts will be distributed to those who will volunteer for the event. Music, door prizes and more also will fill the evening.
This year’s 13th Annual MangoMania will be held July 11-12. On both days, the festivities start at 9 a.m. Closure time is 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 4 p.m. for Sunday.
Admission is free for children under 10, and $6 for others, at the gate of the German American Club, 2101 Pine Island Road, where the event takes place. Advance tickets are $5 and can be obtained at the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce, 3640 Pine Island Road, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Advance tickets also are available at all branches of TIB Bank.
MangoMania is truly a family affair.
“For the children’s activities this year,” Benton said, “we are trying to make it more ‘hands-on activities’ where the children and other members of the family can participate together.”
In addition to tropical fruits being offered for sale, there will be an array of plants, such as bromeliads, hibiscus and butterfly plants.
“We have a few speakers lined up to talk about the care and maintenance of these plants,” Benton said.
In the food court, a variety of dishes will be found, from seafood to meat cooked on the barbecue grill. There will be Greek and Hispanic cuisine, fruit smoothies, fresh lemonade, mango juice and much more.
Benton said among the entertainers will be the Hot Flashz, a women’s dance group. Annie Wenz will sing and play guitar, keyboard and flute. Among the bands will be Dogfish and Captiva Band on Saturday; The Bombalero and Skeeterland Blue Grass on Sunday.
“It is a family-oriented event,” Benton emphasized. “There is something for everybody – arts and crafts, children activities, music, food. It reaches all ages. The purpose is sort of two-fold. It is to promote the island and to bring tourists in Pine Island during the summer. It also raises funds to keep this Welcome Center open year-round.”
The chamber building is also operating as a “Welcome Center.” It is located on the south side of Pine Island Road, just west of the intersection with Burnt Store Road.
As early as February, the chamber starts preparing for MangoMania. In March, advance publicity began, volunteers were sought and marketing got under way.
For more information on this event and others, visit: www.floridascreativecoast.com