Mango Fest Draws Hundreds to Bayview

by Tony Vindell/LFN

The usually quiet Town of Bayview was bustling with people and there is a reason for that.

A fest to celebrate the popularity of the tropical fruit mango was held on Saturday, July 20, drawing people by the hundreds and many of them said they were surprised to see such a turnout.

The mango was the festival highlight and attendees had the chance to savor the fruit in a variety of ways they had never seen before.

That included ice cream, fruit samples, juice, smoothies, crepes and paletas in which mango was the main ingredient.

A mango queen was also crowned during the four-hour festivity and she received a $400 scholarship donated by a vehicle dealership from San Benito.

Ashly Galvan, who attends Harlingen High School, took the honor of representing the fest while Karen Zambrano, a Los Fresnos high school student, and Brandy Sanchez, a Porter High School student, were runner ups.

“I am going to use this money for college,” Galvan said. “I plan to go to the University of Texas in Austin.”

Jason Leonard said he came from Weslaco to attend the festival, which he described as a neat event.

“I believe this is the second or third time that I have attended,” he said. “I enjoyed being here.”

Los Fresnos residents David Armendariz, with State Farm, and Jose Ramirez, who works for a home health company, said they were glad to attend the festival for the first time.