The Darwin Waterfront will turn a hue of orange to celebrate the delicious fruit on Sunday, 25 October.
Presented by the Northern Territory Mango Industry Association, there will be food stalls and tastings showcasing mango-inspired food and drinks at the festival.
There will also be entertainment and loads of exciting activities and competitions, educational displays, talks, cooking workshops and mango eating matches that the whole family can enjoy.
Northern Territory Major Events Company CEO Tim Watsford encouraged Territorians of all ages to embrace the inaugural Mango Madness Festival.
“The mango is a proud Territory icon and contributes significantly to our local economy and is the Northern Territory’s largest horticultural production,” he said.
Northern Territory Mango Industry Association President Leo Skliros said the association is proud to be able to bring the family-friendly event to life at the Darwin Waterfront.
“The Mango Madness Festival is a celebration of all things mango. The Territory is Australia’s largest grower of mangoes and is home to the most sought-after mango varieties,” he said.
“This exciting community event has the potential to become a keystone tourism event for Darwin, and the Northern Territory with the potential to grow to become the largest Mango Festival in Australia.”
The Territory remains Australia’s number one mango producer, accounting for about 52 per cent of the nation’s crop last year.
Territory mangoes contribute significantly to the Northern Territory economy as the largest horticultural product worth a combined annual total of approximately $130 million. The Territory is also home to some of Australia’s largest growers and most sought-after mango varieties, including Calypso, Kensington Pride, R2E2 and Honey Gold.
With the Northern Territory Mango industry producing around 60 million mangoes each year, which is the equivalent of three Territory mangoes going into every Australian home, this puts the Territory firmly on the map as the hub for mango production.
In the lead up to the festival event there will be a number of community engagement initiatives, including It Takes Two to Mango which will encourage local restaurants, retailers and food vendors to provide mango-inspired menu options.
Tickets are $10 for adults (18 +), $8 for concession/seniors and children (6–17) with a family pass (two adults and up to three children under 17) for just $20. Children under five are free. To grab your ticket, visit www.mangomadnessfestival.com.au/.