Melanie McMurdie is preparing for a bumper celebration of all things mango at the Berry Springs Mango Festival.
Running in conjunction with the Berry Springs Community Market on October 30 from 8am to 2pm, the festival will highlight the juicy tropical fruit with a number of mango-inspired activities and foods.
Coordinator of the market, Ms McMurdie said the event was a great opportunity to draw in large crowds.
“It’s important for tourism - mangos are a big part of the NT,” she said.
“I think everyone loves a festival, especially in Darwin - it’s sort of a hippie feel.”
Having run on and off for the past 10 years, Ms McMurdie said the festival was a part of the Top End culture that brought together “young and old”.
“If you want to catch up with people that you haven’t seen for years, head down to the market,” she said.
The festival includes Pass The Messy Mango and a Mango and Spoon Race.
“You get the kids entering in the mango-eating competition, but the adults are very competitive as well,” Ms McMurdie said.
Markets are a major draw card for the city of Darwin and a mango smoothie is a must when visiting the Top End.
Smoothie and juice vendor Naturally Yum operates at the Mindil Beach Sunset Market, Parap Village Market and the Nightcliff Market.
Owner Mark Hancock said over the dry season the sales for their mango-flavoured products went “through the roof”.
The business uses 40 tonnes of mangoes each year.
“Mango, mango and banana, mango juice… mango anything,” he said.
“Being here everyone wants to try a mango smoothie… it’s a bit of a territory icon,” he said.
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