Umiam, November 13: The Meghalaya Farming & Agro-Tourism Multipurpose Society, in collaboration with the Hill Farmers Union, Ri-Bhoi, will organise the Pineapple Eatery Fest 2026 in Umiam on November 23 and 24. Entry to the two-day festival will be free.
The festival aims to promote agriculture, traditional cuisine, agro-tourism and local entrepreneurship while showcasing Meghalaya’s cultural traditions and natural heritage.
Visitors will get an opportunity to sample traditional dishes prepared using locally sourced produce from Ri-Bhoi. Fruit wines, juices, pineapples and other local fruits will also be available. The festival will additionally showcase handicrafts, organically grown vegetables and other agricultural products from across Meghalaya.
A major attraction will be the pineapple-eating competition, scheduled for noon on November 24. Participants from all districts of Meghalaya, as well as tourists, are welcome to take part. The registration fee is ₹200 per participant, with cash prizes of ₹5,000, ₹3,000 and ₹2,000 for the first, second and third positions, respectively.
The festival will also organise a singing competition, providing singers and young performers from across the state with an opportunity to showcase their talent. The registration fee is ₹200 per participant, while the first, second and third prize winners will receive ₹10,000, ₹6,000 and ₹3,000, respectively.
Live musical performances by singers and artists from across Meghalaya will also form part of the two-day event.
The organisers have invited the public, farmers, entrepreneurs, young people, government departments and other organisations to attend and support the festival.
According to the organisers, the event aims to improve farmers’ livelihoods, create entrepreneurial opportunities for women and young people, provide a platform for emerging talent and promote Meghalaya as an agro-tourism destination.
Rymphai Kharkongor, president of the Meghalaya Farming & Agro-Tourism Multipurpose Society, said the festival would bring together agriculture, food, culture and tourism while creating opportunities for local communities.
