MangoMania a smashing success
MangoMania was welcomed back to the island with open arms.
This year’s fest at Fisher’s of Men Lutheran Church was a mini one-day event, in comparison to the two-day extravaganza it had become at the German American Social Club in Cape Coral. The event, like most, was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. When the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce planned this year’s event back on the island, by popular demand, they decided a one-day event was all that was needed, and they were right.
“The Chamber of Commerce is delighted,” said board member Cynthia Welch. “We are thrilled to be back on the island and also with how islanders supported us both with businesses at the event and with the turnout from visitors.”
Welch said organizers of the event were overwhelmed by the response from everyone, including the attendance by non-islanders, which she described as both surprising and impressive. Visitors were reported from as far away as Tampa, St. Petersburg, Naples and Marco Island.
According to Welch, contest participation was significant, and memorable.
“The number of entries for the contests was phenomenal, especially for our food contests,” said Welch.
What stands out most in her mind about this year’s event was the positive response from attendees and partakers, Welch said. They seemed unanimously happy to have MangoMania back on the island and it seemed a much more intimate festival due to the size of the location, she said.
Although the chamber is pleased with the outcome, organizers are unlikely to go back to a two-day event, Welch said, adding they are happy with the one-day formula.
“Two days is just so hard to expect enough volunteers,” Welch said, adding that the chamber is hopeful to have the event in the same location again, although she said they are not likely to increase the number of vendors. Bigger is not necessarily better, said Welch, adding that if they increased the number of vendors it would likely be craft vendors, which is wonderful, but not the focus of the event, although no formal decision has been made on this.
“Thanks everybody for your support,” said Welch. “Keep an eye out for Island Fest in March and keep an eye out for MangoMania next year.”
Mango Queen DJ Ruscik was just as thrilled with the turnout, saying the event exceeded expectations, admitting it was more than she had anticipated, starting right off and keeping everyone on their toes for the whole of the day.
The children’s area, manned by the Matlacha Hookers, which was an extension of the Queen’s tent, she said, held dozens of children all day long.
“We had arts and crafts, they were painting rocks and making jewelry,” said Ruscik.
The whole day was steady, she said, with people dropping off food for the contests, and music playing continuously.
“I don’t think any of the volunteers had a break until it rained at 2:30,” said Ruscik. “I was so busy I felt like an octopus, but that made me happy because there were people I saw out there that I haven’t seen in two or three years. Just to have a community event that’s family friendly and attracts all ages — we couldn’t have asked for a nicer day.”
The ratio of visitors to islanders was steep, as Ruscik said there were far more people she didn’t know, than those she did.
It’s not unusual, she said, for all the years MangoMania has been off-island, but it is unusual to see that many visitors on the island this time of year.
Her favorite part of the day, she said, was the pie-eating contest, especially the children.
“There were hundreds and hundreds of people,” said Ruscik.
MangoMania Contest Winners
Mr. Mango Head Contest
1st – Sophia LeStarge – 8 years old
2nd – Luca (no last name)
3rd – Peyton Smith – 3 years old
Kids Tropical Toss Contest
1st – Daniel Jimenezn
2nd – Jack Winlow
3rd – Camden Smith
Adult Tropical Toss
1st – Peter Bacelli
2nd – Kip Graham
Kids Mango Juggling Contest
No entries
Adult Mango Juggling Contest
(Juggling 3 Mangoes)
1st – Mario Librandi – 24.38 seconds
2nd – Donald (no last name) – 16 seconds
Kids Mango Pie Eating Contest
(Challenge was to eat the most
mango pie filling in 2 minutes)
1st – Katherine Castandeda – 13 years old
2nd – Isabella LeDrew – 9 years old
3rd – Nicholas Ford – 13 years old
Adult Mango Pie Eating Contest
(Challenge was the quickest to eat the
entire pie including graham cracker crust)
1st – Brenda Wilson – 1 minute, 29 seconds
2nd – Juan Castaneda – 2 minutes, 2 seconds
3rd – Charlie Murgin – 3 minutes, 37 seconds
Pine Island’s Largest Mango – Heaviest
1st – Kevin Weirick – 4 lbs., 10 oz.
2nd – Eric Jacobs
3rd – Jackie Judd
Mango Jams and Jellies
1st – Patricia Shay Demuth
2nd – Jason Frank
Mango Bread
1st – Drew Sterwald
2nd – Jackie Judd
Mango Cookies
1st – Jason Frank
Mango Salsa
1st – Patricia Shay Demuth
2nd – Denise Litchet
Mango Relishes/Condiments
1st – Jason Frank
2nd – “Witches Brew” (Local company)
Mango Pies/Desserts
1st – Annette Garland
2nd – Jason Frank
Mango Hot Sauce
1st – Jason Frank
2nd – Jason Frank