(MVA) — Full plates, a full entertainment lineup, and full tummies are anticipated at this Saturday’s (May 4) kickoff of the 25th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival at American Memorial Park in Saipan.
The festival will feature affordable dishes from 29 local hotels and restaurants, live entertainment, food eating competitions, cooking contests, arts and crafts sales, and more.
Highlighting the night’s entertainment will be Subway Sandwich Challenge at 7 p.m. on back stage, challenging 10 competitors to finish 15 four-inch Subway sandwiches within an hour. The top three finishers will win gift certificates from Subway/Coca-Cola/Powerade/Foremost — $300 worth for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for third place.
Other entertainment for the night on the main stage includes the opening ceremony at 4:30 p.m., Da Kine at 5:30 p.m., Poksai Guma Chamorro at 6:30 p.m., Saipan Music & Dance Studio at 7 p.m., Rhan Hoota at 8 p.m., Yapese Dance Group at 8:30 p.m., Definitive Yorp at 9 p.m., and Sugar King at 9:30 p.m.
“Every year, the Taste of the Marianas gets bigger and better. A big thanks to our vendors, sponsors and supporters for all their help getting ready this year,” said MVA Managing Director Christopher A. Concepcion. “It’s going to be an incredible night. Mark your calendars for ‘Taste’ this Saturday night and every Saturday night during May Marianas Tourism Month!”
All food and drink vendors will accept credit/debit cards. Tokens will also still be accepted and may now be purchased at the festival the Marianas Visitors Authority office at 3366 Beach Road, Garapan,, Saipan, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (except holidays). Cash transactions with vendors is prohibited.
This year’s festival will include several contests: the Subway Sandwich Challenge on May 4, the Oh My Grill (OMG) International Food Challenge pitting top winners from The Subway Sandwich Challenge against celebrity food fighters from Korea and Japan on May 11, and the Marianas Chef Competition on May 18. Rules and registration forms are available at https://www.mymarianas.com/taste-of-the-marianas-2024/ and at the MVA offices in Saipan, Tinian and Rota. The HANMI-NMTech Pastry Chef Competition will be held on May 25. All contests start at 7 p.m.
This year’s festival eateries will include 38 Mitsubachi, Smokeout by Apu, Cup Bab Korean Restaurant, Ben-Ki, Yaya’s Baked Goods, CK Smokehouse and Salad, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Fork and Spoon, Great Harvest Bread Co., Herman’s Modern Bakery, Lanlan Tea House, Island Grindz, Java Joe’s, Kanto 10, Kinpachi, Loco & Taco, Tupu Cane Juice, New Matty’s BBQ, Oh My Grill, Surf Club, T-Bar, The Hut, Vi- Lyn’s BBQ, Saipan World Resort, Ever Trust 123 Food, Aqua Resort Club, Pacific Islands Club and Coral Ocean Resort Saipan, Marpac, Napu Brewing, and WSTCO.
Festival Gold Sponsors are American Memorial Park, Bridge Capital LLC and Dave Electronics Center. Silver Sponsors are Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, EST Rental, IT&E, HANMI, Jonny’s Bar and Grill, M&C LLC, Lanlan Tea House, Subway, Coca-Cola, and Foremost.
For more information, contact MVA Community Projects Specialist Ray Villagomez at rvillagomez@mymarians.com or at (670) 664-3200.
