Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Celebrates 31st Annual Mango Festival
- wgclients01
- Jul 8
- 5 min read
This summer, the mango takes center stage once again as Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden celebrates the 31st Annual Mango Festival, Saturday and Sunday, July 12–13, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Widely regarded as South Florida’s juiciest summer tradition, the two-day festival draws mango lovers, culinary connoisseurs, and curious newcomers for a weekend that is equal parts flavor, culture, and celebration.
Set amid the lush, tropical landscape of one of the country’s most iconic botanical gardens, the festival offers a chance to sample rare and exotic mango cultivars from Fairchild’s acclaimed Tropical Fruit Program, attend expert-led workshops, and shop mango trees and fruit selected by top horticulturists. But the real heat this year is coming from the kitchen.
At the heart of the weekend is the Mango Brunch, a ticketed culinary experience that brings together an impressive chef lineup. Leading the charge is Chef Allen Susser, James Beard Award winner and author of The Great Mango Book, alongside trailblazing talents like Cindy Hutson of Zest at the Cliff, Cesar Zapata of Phuc Yea, and Jose Mendin of Pubbelly, Casa Isola, and Mar y Rosa in Puerto Rico, each crafting dishes that transform the mango into culinary gold.
This year’s brunch also welcomes Chef Aaron Brooks of Sunny’s Steakhouse, recently crowned the number one new restaurant in America by Robb Report. Brooks will present a signature raw bar experience using Florida Treasure Coast oysters with green mango criolla, a dish that’s as refined as it is rooted in local flavor.
Other standout dishes include:
Chef Susser’s Mango Brulee Brie on ginger mango bread
Cindy Hutson’s Jerk Seared Tuna Tataki with Julie mango salsa
Malcolm Prude’s Champagne Mango and Compressed Pink Pineapple Ceviche
Chef Irie’s bold Goat Ragu in Mango Curry Sauce with coconut polenta
Chef Colameco’s USDA Prime Skirt Steak with Mango Chimichurri and Ahi Tuna Tartare
Cesar Zapata’s The Federal Biskits with Florida mango butter and hot honey
Jose Mendin’s playful Mango Matsuri Roll, featuring shrimp, mango, and a mango passionfruit drizzle
This event sells out annually and is a highlight of Miami’s summer dining calendar.
The brunch is just one small aspect of the weekend festivities, the festival offers family-friendly games, art workshops, spirited mango cocktails, a curator-led mango tasting experience, and an immersive marketplace with mango-inspired treats and handcrafted goods. Attendees can also browse and purchase Fairchild’s coveted mango trees, many of which are not available anywhere else in the country.
Fairchild’s Mango Festival is a vibrant intersection of science, culture, cuisine, and community. With its rich programming, spectacular garden setting, and world-class chef participation, the 2025 edition promises to be the most delicious yet.
Tickets and full schedule available at fairchildgarden.org.
WHEN: Saturday, July 12 and Sunday, July 13, 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
WHERE: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden,
10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL. 33156
HOW: Admission is $24.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors 65 and up,
$11.95 for children 3 - 11
Free for Fairchild members and children 2 and under
For more information, please visit www.fairchildgarden.org or call 305-667-1651.
2025 FREE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
Family Games
Guests can enjoy a playful lineup of classic and oversized games, including Ladder Ball, Connect 4, Fowling, Giant Jenga, and Legos, offering a fun, interactive break for all ages.
Paint a Magnet
Create your own colorful keepsake by painting a custom magnet, fun, easy, and perfect for all skill levels.
(extra charge of $5 onsite)
11:00 a.m. 1:45 p.m.3:30 p.m.
Picardo Colors
Picardo Colors offers a vibrant palette of artistic inspiration, blending bold hues and dynamic textures to ignite creativity.
12:00 p.m. 2:45 p.m.
Nature Bingo
Invites players to explore the outdoors while spotting plants, animals, and natural wonders in a fun, interactive game for all ages.
1:15 p.m. 3:00 p.m.
Watercolor and Color Pencil Art Class: Mangos with Carlos Gallostra
Explore your creative side with a guided watercolor and colored pencil art class led by local artist Carlos Gallostra, featuring vibrant studies of mangos as your muse.
Saturday, July 12 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Mangos in Oil or Acrylic Painting Class with Carlos Gallostra
Join renowned artist Carlos Gallostra for an immersive oil or acrylic painting class, where the rich colors and textures of mangos take center stage as your artistic inspiration.
Sunday, July 13 from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Fairchild Choice Mango Tree Sale
Cultivated with care by expert horticulturists year-round, our premium mango trees represent the finest varieties available. With limited quantities that sell out fast, this is your chance to bring home a taste of tropical perfection.
Mango Fruit Sales
Savor the season with our fresh mango fruit sales, featuring hand-picked, locally grown varieties at their peak of ripeness, a true taste of summer in every bite. Prices vary.
Mango Marketplace Fun
Bring the whole family and enjoy tasty mango-inspired treats from amazing food vendors, then browse local shops filled with handmade and nature-themed treasures, perfect for a fun, mango-filled day.
Mango Festival Lecture Series
The Mango Festival Lecture Series features two days of how-to workshops featuring some of the world’s most renowned mango experts, supported by Fairchild’s Tropical Fruit Program.
Saturday, July 12
11:00 a.m. Dr. Richard Campbell, Ciruli Brothers
Mangos: A Rebirth
Saturday, July 12
1:00 p.m. Jeff Wasielewski, USDA Extension Office
Selecting and Caring for Mango Trees
Saturday, July 12
2:00 p.m. Julian Lara, Lara Farms
Propagating and Grafting Mangos
Sunday, July 13
11:00 a.m. Nick Bernal, Seasons Farms
Mangos of the World: A journey of discovery
Sunday, July 13
1:00 p.m. Dr. Jonathan Crane, UF
Pest and Disease Management of Mango in the Home Landscape
Sunday, July 13
2:00 p.m. Dr. Matt Snow, Sunshine Organics
Exotic Mango Lecture & Tasting
2025 FOR PURCHASE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
31st Annual Mango Sunday Brunch
Celebrate the height of mango season at our beloved annual Mango Brunch, a vibrant culinary affair showcasing the creativity of Miami’s top chefs, each presenting inspired dishes that pay homage to the king of tropical fruit. With general Garden admission included and kids welcome at the same price as adults, it’s a flavorful experience the whole family can savor.
Sunday, July 13
Location: Arts Center
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
(Members $120; Non-members $135)
Array of Spice Mango Season Edition
Embark on a flavorful and fragrant journey with Spice Rack by Rochelle: Array of Spice, a hands-on seminar offered in two one-hour sessions. Guests will explore the lush sweetness of Grenadian mangos while creating their own self-care essentials, including mango sugar scrub, body butter, and nourishing mango oil. A sensory experience that delights both palate and spirit.
11:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
($36 per person)
Bite-Size Mango Tasting
A limited-availability experience where guests sample three irresistible, Fairchild-grown mango varieties at the peak of perfection. A fan favorite that sells out fast, this flavorful offering is available exclusively on-site. Tickets are available for in-person only.
($5 per person)
La Tropical Beer Tasting Flight
Sample four refreshing brews from Miami’s favorite brewery, each capturing the bold, vibrant spirit of La Tropical, perfect for craft beer lovers.
Our World-Famous Mango Smoothies
A festival favorite bursting with tropical flavor. Choose from three refreshing blends for $9 each or grab two for $16. Fun, fruity, and perfect for all ages. (Non-alcoholic)
Mini Mango Cocktail Flight
Savor a curated tasting of three tropical cocktails, each expertly crafted to highlight the vibrant essence of fresh mango, an ideal experience for both cocktail enthusiasts and mango aficionados.
Spirited Mango Smoothie
A luscious tropical blend enriched with a splash of spirits, delivering a refreshingly smooth sip with just the right touch of kick.
For more information, please visitwww.fairchildgarden.org or call 305-667-1651