The 2nd Annual Island SPACE Mango Festival Brought Sweet Fun to Broward County
LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. (June 11, 2025) — More than 700 attendees gathered at Lauderdale Lakes Middle School on Saturday, June 7, for the second annual Island SPACE Mango Festival presented by Grace Foods. A celebration of the beloved tropical fruit, the event featured a full day of flavorful fun, interactive workshops and cultural engagement designed for the whole family.
Hosted by Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, Broward’s only mango festival highlighted the mango’s rich culinary and cultural significance, while offering a dynamic schedule of entertainment and community connection. Support for the event was also provided by the Community Foundation of Broward, the Broward County Cultural Division, the City of Lauderdale Lakes, the Broward Supervisor of Elections, Broward Meat and Fish, the Florida Immigrant Coalition and JN Money.
Recipe demos by celebrity Chef Thia kept audiences engaged… and ready for samples! (Photo: Hannah Gulics / Island SPACE)
Flavor, Culture and Community on Full Display
Festival goers were treated to center court activities emceed by Island SPACE President David Muir, with upbeat tracks by DJ Mega keeping the energy high throughout the day. Guests enjoyed recipe demos by celebrity Chef Thia, who prepared a spicy mango salsa served with Grace Plantation Chips and a mango mint refresher—both earning enthusiastic responses from the crowd.
Mango Sommelier Djamil Ninsoo conducted exotic mango tastings at multiple points during the day, offering attendees a chance to experience the fruit’s diverse flavor profiles and origins. The Bazaar, Tasty Lane and Artisan Village were buzzing as visitors sipped, snacked and shopped their way through more than 20 vendors offering mango-infused treats, handmade goods, jewelry, fashion and tropical treasures.
Featured vendors included Frost Daiquiri and Company Inc., Bread Xpressions, Spud’s Coffee, Gerda’s Gourmet Catering, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, Bran Brie Co., Rudz Catering, and La Veranda. Artisan goods were offered by Oelegance, Kumasi Street, Jackie Buckley, Ginger T Clothing, Ruky Designs, Mawon, Kultural Kard Games, Manifest Jewelz, J Cash and Soap King LLC.
Education Through Engagement
The day’s educational lineup included five engaging workshops covering everything from mango cultivation to its health and cosmetic benefits. Leary Mullings led a session on the stages of mango tree growth and planting, while Dwight Robinson joined virtually to discuss tree grafting techniques. Nick Bernal offered a global view on mango varieties and Dr. Laurent explored the fruit’s nutritional value. Jackie Buckley rounded out the lineup with insights into mango-based skincare.
The event also featured kid-friendly attractions including face painting and a coloring corner, making the festival a fun and educational outing for families. Raffles, giveaways, and spontaneous acappella performances added to the community-focused atmosphere, while lucky guests took home mini mango trees and Grace Foods gift baskets.
Community Leaders Join the Celebration
Officials from Broward and Miami-Dade showed up in full force for the Island SPACE Mango Festival. (Photo: Hannah Gulics / Island SPACE)
The festival drew several public officials and community leaders from across South Florida. Among the VIP guests were State Rep. Lisa Dunkley, Broward County Commissioner Hazelle Rogers, Visit Lauderdale’s Vice President of Multicultural Business and Community Engagement Neki Mohan, and Jamaicans.com founder Xavier Murphy. Representatives from the cities of Lauderdale Lakes, Tamarac, Sunrise, Plantation, Miramar, and Miami Gardens also joined the festivities.
Island SPACE Caribbean Museum thanks its sponsors, partners, vendors, and attendees for making the 2025 Mango Festival an unforgettable community experience. Plans are already underway for next year’s event.
Thanks to Our Sponsors
Island SPACE is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Broward County Cultural Division, BBX Capital Foundation, Community Reinvestment Alliance of Florida, “King” George Jograj, Dr. Lydia Malcom of Authentic Behavioral Health LLC, and her husband, Mr. Waynewright Malcolm, Alexandra P. Davis, and the following funds at the Community Foundation of Broward: Judith Cornfeld Fund for the Arts, Helen and Frank Stoykov Charitable Endowment Fund, and The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation Broward Community Fund.
About Island SPACE Caribbean Museum
Island SPACE Caribbean Museum is a cultural institution dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the Caribbean’s diverse heritage through exhibits, educational programs, and events that spotlight the region’s history, art, and music.
The facility features a historical archive filled with information and artifacts from across the Caribbean region, a fine art gallery and multipurpose spaces.
The public is invited to visit the museum Thursdays through Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. General museum entry is $15 per adult and $7.50 per child. Visit islandspacefl.org to learn more.
Get Involved
If you’d like to participate in future events or to get involved otherwise, here’s how you can:
Sponsor an upcoming event: Email mu****@***********fl.org or call 954-999-0989
Become a vendor at an upcoming event: Email mu****@***********fl.org or call 954-999-0989
Volunteer with us: https://islandspacefl.org/volunteer
Become a museum member: https://islandspacefl.org/membership
Plan your visit to the museum: islandspacefl.org/visit
Book an event with us: Email mu****@***********fl.org or call 954-999-0989
