Hafa adai!
The Mango Festival (Annual Hågat Mango Festival) was held over three days from Friday, May 23rd to Sunday, May 25th! This event, very popular among the people of Guam for fully enjoying the deliciousness of mangoes, celebrated its 16th edition this year. Blessed with sunny weather throughout the period, the three days were bustling with large crowds. Here is a report on the event’s atmosphere.
The venue was Hågat Village, located in the central part of the island. Tourists cannot get there without a car, but if you rent one, you can enjoy the event just like the locals!
The photos were taken around 2 p.m. It was a very hot
time of day, but already there were so many people that parking was hard to
find. Food stalls selling barbecue and other dishes, as well as handmade
souvenirs, lined up with people queuing.
Mango Fes3.jpg
Many shops were lined up, but what caught everyone’s attention was, of course, mangoes. Cut mangoes ready to eat, mango juice, mango donuts, and pickles made from young mangoes — a variety of delicious mango products were sold.
Here is the festival’s traditional contest for “The Largest Mango,” submitted by mango farmers and judged by the panel. Many mangoes bigger than the palm of a hand were entered. There were also many entries for “The Most Beautiful Mango” and “The Ugliest Mango,” all waiting for judging.
At a handmade accessory stall, you could also find mango-themed earrings and necklaces. They are super cute!
As evening came and the heat eased a bit, even more people began to gather. Since the venue is by the sea, there was a breeze, and some people relaxed on the beach enjoying the beautiful sunset.
This year’s Mango Festival ended in great success once again. It is held every year in late May or early June. Be sure to visit next year! However, beware of heavy traffic jams in Hågat Village during the island’s round-trip drive.
