On Sunday, 1 December 2019, Australian Mangoes together with North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, hosted the 8th annual Mess-tival—a celebration of all things mangoes.
Mango growers celebrating Mess-tival.
This years’ event fell on the first day of summer and coincided with the peak of mango season. Growers from across the country attended the event, and donated delicious, juicy mangoes that were sampled by festival-goers throughout the day. Crowds were not deterred by the moody weather as North Bondi was filled with mango covered faces and sticky fingers as thousands of people flocked to the beach and took part in the festivities. By mid-morning, the clouds had cleared, and it turned out to be a beautiful summer day— the perfect weather to enjoy a delicious mango.
In the lead-up to Mess-tival, Aussies proved just how mad for mangoes they really are, with over 65 per cent of the nation (equivalent to 12.5 million Aussies) participating in a survey that deemed the juicy fruit as their ultimate seasonal snack.
To celebrate the country’s love of mangoes, Bondi Beach was given a makeover in line with Mess-tival, by being renamed ‘Mango Beach’. This is the first time in history that the iconic Sydney beach has been renamed and we’re proud mangoes were given that honour. After all, what could be more iconic than the king of fruit taking over Australia’s favourite beach?
On the day, we saw the return of the popular mango eating competition, which proved to be a hit amongst parents and children alike. Mango lovers were also treated to beautiful mango flowers that were carved right before their eyes, as well as delicious mango cheeks from the BBQ and bicycle-powered smoothies all morning long. This year also saw the return of the limited edition range of mango themed Budgy Smugglers.
Growers Janelle Sullivan and Duncan Kirk from Sullivan Bros, Carnarvon.
Back by popular demand, the Budgy Smugglers became a huge drawcard for many festival-goers, especially those participating in the mango eating competitions. On the beach, hundreds of nippers took part in their weekly relay races, where they were treated to delicious mangoes to refuel their energy after a big morning in the surf. The kids were so excited by the event that many gathered around the coveted Mango Beach surfboards on the beach for a quick snap before heading up the forecourt to get amongst the action.
Leading up to Mess-tival, we achieved quality pieces of media coverage and generated excitement across gold tier print, online and broadcast titles which helped to drive attendance on the day. Coverage appeared in the likes of Time Out, Wentworth Courier, FIVEaa radio and more. In addition to this, Nova 96.9 promoted the event over radio waves to thousands of listeners.
In total, we saw 30 pieces of coverage go live supporting the event, which included Broadsheet, Zimbio, and Australias Guide. The Budgy Smugglers were also featured on Studio 10 in the days leading up to Mess-tival as part of a fantastic segment on the morning talk show where they promoted the event to their viewers. Audience members were treated to a special giveaway bundle which included the sought-after swimwear.
On social media, mango mad influencers posted their mango excitement pre-event; Instagram’s @bondi_mumma, @tessbegg and @deanogladstone all shared snaps with trays of mangoes, and details of the event with their followers, as well as adorable shots of them and their kids in the mango Budgy Smugglers.
This was the eighth time Australian Mangoes hosted Mess-tival on Bondi Beach, it’s an important day for us to celebrate the season and all the hard work of our amazing growers. It also gives us the chance to give back to the community by partnering with North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, who have been an ongoing partner since we launched the event in 2011. This year alone we managed to raise over $14,500 for the club, which is an incredible result, and something we should all be proud of!
So, whether you contributed mangoes, watched the Studio 10 broadcast, attended Mess-tival yourself, or supported from afar, this year’s Mess-tival was a massive success due to each and every one of you reading this. Thank you!
For further details contact Tate Connolly, Hort Innovation Marketing Manager: P: 0427 145 642 E: tate.connolly@horticulture.com.au