THIS Saturday, May 31, marks the last day of the 26th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival, with festivities extended an extra hour until 11 p.m.
The entertainment lineup for Saturday is slated to be: Ace Elameto (5 p.m.), Josh Castro (5:55 p.m.), Tekana Hau Nui (6:30 p.m.), Ed Dela Cruz Chamorro Music (7:15 p.m.), Booth Competition Awards (7:30 p.m.), Fusion Flow – Rota (8:05 p.m.), Flores Sinser (8:40 p.m.), CAB Dancers (9:15 p.m.), Chamolinian Cultural Village Inc. The Marianas Experience dancers (9:50 p.m.), and WD40 (10:30 p.m.). The festival will close at 11 p.m. on this final night.
From 6-9 p.m., local chef Eloy Cabrera will also demonstrate the cooking of “charakilis,” a brothy soup of chicken, rice, onion, and other ingredients.
“Taste of The Marianas is like a great marinade — it just keeps getting better with time,” said Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron. “With vendors now accepting credit and debit cards and most of the early hiccups smoothed out, everyone’s been able to enjoy the food and fun even faster. We’ve seen more social media buzz than ever from the Inas’ Kitchen International Food Challenge, and Tinian and Rota have shown strong participation all month with incredible food and live entertainment. We also named our new Marianas Goodwill Ambassador, SkySyllabus, who featured the Marianas in their latest J-pop music video. Nothing beats ‘Taste,’ so don’t miss our final night this weekend as we wrap up Marianas Tourism Month with a bang!”
In last Saturday’s (May 24) HANMI-NMTech Chefs Competition, current or former students of Northern Marianas Technical Institute culinary program had an hour to come up with the best chicken kelaguen incorporating a mystery item — pumpkin chips from Herman’s Modern Bakery. Entries were based on taste, appearance, texture, and sanitation. Winning 1st place and $500 cash were the duo of Romando Lagrio and Mary Kay Alferos. Winning 2nd place and $300 cash for her first time ever making the dish was Ayumi Litulumar. In 3rd and winning $200 was Damian Palacios. Judges were Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands Board Member Deana Reyes, MVA Community Projects Manager Martin Duenas, and KSPN2 anchor Sakura Halstead.
Taste of The Marianas is an annual signature event of MVA aimed at attracting media attention and visitors to the islands. The festivities kick off at 5 p.m. at American Memorial Park in Garapan, Saipan. Festival entry is free. Food, drink and art vendors accept only debit/credit cards and Taste tokens. Cash is not accepted. Taste tokens are sold at the festival token booth and may also be purchased in advance at the MVA office on Beach Road, I Liyan, Saipan during regular working hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding weekends and public holidays.
This year’s festival eateries include Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Herman’s Modern Bakery, V-Lyn’s BBQ, Benki, Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant, 123 Foods, CK Smokehouse & Salad, T Bar, The Hut, Kanto 10, Yaya’s Baked Goods, Loco & Taco, Lanlan Tea House, Fork & Spoon, Matty’s BBQ, Tupu Cane Juice, Oh My Grill, 38 Mitsubachi, Surf Club Saipan, Great Harvest, Saipan World Resort, Dea Jang Kum, Chow Time, and Pho Tam. Drink vendors are WSTCO, Marpac/Unified Sports Organization, and Napu Brewing.
Festival Platinum Sponsors are IT&E and Dave Electronic Center. Gold Sponsor is American Memorial Park. Silver Sponsors are HANMI, Northern Marianas Technical Institute, Century Insurance, Subway, Foremost, Coca-Cola, Inas’ Kitchen, Jose & Ruri Ayuyu Foundation, EST Rental, Marianas Variety and M&C LLC General Construction.
For more information, go to www.mymarianas,com/, @VisitTheMarianas on Facebook, or @TheMarianas on Instagram.
OMG-Oh My Grill is one of 26 food and drink vendors at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park, Saipan. The final night of the festival is May 31 from 5-11 p.m.
Herman’s Modern Bakery is one of 26 food and drink vendors at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park.
Dae Jang Kum is one of 26 food and drink vendors at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park.
Owner Dante Konlu welcomes a patron to Kanto 10, one of 26 food and drink vendors at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park.
Ayumi Litulumar makes her first-ever chicken kelaguen to win 2nd place in the HANMI-NMTech Chef’s Challenge at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park.
Chicken kelaguen was the dish served at the HANMI-NMTech Chef’s Challenge at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park.
Romando Lagrio and Mary Kay Alferos, 5th and 6th from left, respectively, win 1st place in the HANMI-NMTech Chef’s Challenge at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park, Saipan. Also pictured are representatives of Northern Marianas Technical Institute, HANMI, and judges.
Marpac/Unified Sports Organization is one of 26 food and drink vendors at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park, Saipan.
Newly named Marianas Goodwill Ambassador SkySyllabus take a photo with festivalgoers following their live performance at the 26th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park, Saipan. The J-pop group is also filmed their second music video in Saipan during their recent visit.
J-pop’s SkySyllabus is named Marianas Goodwill Ambassador during their performance at the 26th Annual Taste of The Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park, Saipan. Presenting the appointment plaque is Marianas Visitors Authority Deputy Managing Director Judy C. Torres, third left, and other MVA management and staff.
Helen Chin performs at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 10, 2025, at American Memorial Park, Saipan.
South Korea Human Chorus conductor Kang Hang Goo is recognized by the Marianas Visitors Authority at the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 25, 2025, at American Memorial Park, Saipan. Kang has been a perpetual supporter of the festival with live entertainment groups from South Korea. From left, MVA Community Projects Coordinator Jack Aranda, MVA Marketing Media Specialist Ezra Lizama, Kang, MVA Deputy Managing Director Judy C. Torres, MVA Community Projects Coordinator Sherman Santos, and MVA Marketing Manager Thomas Kim.
Local artists and craftsmen are part of the 26th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival on May 24, 2025, at American Memorial Park, Saipan.
