Nadalie Joseph and Nylani Bernier admire the varieties of mangos on display in the Great Hall during Mango Melee 2019. (Source photo by Linda Morland)
On Sunday, July 7, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Mango Melee will be in full swing, bringing fun for the entire family at the St. George Village Botanical Garden (SGVBG).
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 5-12. Children under 5 are free. Advance tickets and wristbands will be available in the gift shop after July 1.
Parking will be available in lots across from the St. Croix Blue House and nearby church just off Centerline Road. Parking will be $5 per vehicle. For those who don’t want to walk to the entry gate, air-conditioned buses will be available. Handicap parking will be limited and requires a government issued handicap placard to be displayed. Security personnel will direct vehicles with the appropriate placard to the designated lot near the Bodine Visitor Center.
This event is SGVBG’s largest fundraising event. The income from admissions goes to operating expenses for the 16-acre garden. Tickets can be purchased at the garden gift shop after July 1, the day of the event at the gates, or in advance from Eventbrite.
An abundance of activities and entertainment will be ongoing throughout the day. These include The Children’s Museum, Jungle James’ mobile petting zoo, workshops by the St. Croix Orchid Society, Chant, The Nature Conservancy and more. Entertainment will feature Troopah Live, Deri and Fyah Train.
Children and adults enjoy an event at the Children’s Museum location in the garden. Mango Melee provides a wide range of activities for all ages, as shown in this photo from 2018. (Source photo by Linda Morland)Children participate in the mango eating contest during Mango Melee, a yearly festival at The St. George Botanical Garden on St. Croix, USVI in this photo from 2014. A truly Caribbean celebration of local produce that draws a large crowd. (Source photo by Linda Morland)
Mango Events include Mango Dis and Dat Food Contest with judging at 12:30 p.m. in the Great Hall with a wide variety of mango themed edibles. The foods in four categories may be sampled by the public starting at 2:30 p.m. There will be a display of many varieties of mangoes in the Great House. QR codes will be posted throughout the garden to easily identify activities, times and locations.
One of the judges for Mango Dis and Mango Dat, Chandra Henderson, marks her scores for a mango treat in this photo from Mango Melee 2018. After completion of judging, the public can buy tickets and give the offerings a taste test. (Source photo by Linda Morland)
One of the most popular events, the Mango Eating Contest, starts at 4 p.m. on the lawn of the Great Hall. There will be prizes for both adults and children. The contest draws a large crowd every year to cheer the contestants on.
A large crowd gathers in the hot sun, anticipating the start of the Mango Eating Contest on the lawn of the Great House during Mango Melee 2019. (Source photo by Linda Morland)
Three cash bars will be in the garden to provide cold beverages, sponsored by Cruzan Rum. The locations will be one at the Bodine Visitor Center, one on the Great Hall lawn and one behind the Great Hall close to the coral fountain. The event map shows the locations.
Who will be the winner of Mango Melee 2024? Adult Mango Eating contestants dig into the delight of a large crowd during Mango Melee 2019. (Source photo by Linda Morland)
There will be booths for 120 vendors spread across the garden. Check the vendor map and vendor list to find your favorite crafts, food, and beverages.
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