Nevis Celebrates Mango with Culinary Festival
BASSETERRE — The Nevis Mango Festival returns July 2-5, featuring more than 60 chefs and new attractions aimed at drawing foodies and tourists to celebrate the island’s culinary heritage and mango varieties.
The festival marks a continued effort by the Nevis Tourism Authority to position mango cuisine as a major draw for visitors across the Caribbean and beyond. Pheon Jones, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Nevis Tourism Authority, said the island boasts more than 44 different varieties of mangoes, making it uniquely positioned to host the event.
“People travel for food and this is a great culinary masterpiece in Nevis and I think this is what attracts persons to the island of Nevis,” Jones said on ZIZ’s Infocus.
This year brings three major new initiatives. The first is “Nevis Goes Mango,” a digital map that allows visitors to navigate bars and restaurants across the island at their own pace, sampling mango-infused drinks and dishes from participating establishments. Additionally, Sunday’s “For the Love of Mangoes” event will feature more than 60 chefs creating samples ranging from mango-infused chicken and steak to ice cream and popsicles. A new layout called “Mango City” will also debut during the festival.
Two events have already sold out, but tickets remain available for the popular Sunday event. VIP tickets start at $450 for early bird purchases, rising to $500 at the gate, and include unlimited drinks along with 10 to 20 samples. Regular admission ranges from $90 to $135 depending on the number of samples included.
Jones encouraged residents of both St. Kitts and Nevis to experience the festival firsthand. “Come out and see what makes us special. Come out and experience your culture. Come out and experience the heritage. Come out and see why the mango really speaks to the Nevisian story,” he said. “There’s so much vibes at this mango festival. There’s so much things that you can partake in and it’s a great experience not only for you but also for the entire family.”
The festival comes on the heels of other major celebrations across the Federation, continuing a season of back-to-back events designed to showcase the islands’ cultural heritage and attract visitors year-round.