The annual Splash Festival is back this year with an estimated budget of R2.5 million allocated to boost the local economy in the metro.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality recently launched the festival at the PEDSAC PE Harbour, which will take place from Friday, April 19, to Monday, April 22.
According to municipal spokesperson, Mthubanzi Mniki, the Splash heralds the busiest, loudest and greatest annual sporting-tourism period in the metro.
“This year’s Splash Festival weekend will be a four-day fiesta of sports, family fun and entertainment, with the emphasis on quality and some new offerings. In the past, the Splash fell over the same weekend as the KKNK Festival in Oudtshoorn.
This affected stalls quality and spectator count. Now that the KKNK is held one month before the Splash, we will benefit greatly in all respects,” Mniki said.
New additions include a conservation exhibition tent, a wine and food pairing tent, and laser game. The popular food tent will be extended, while a second tent will be provided for stallholders. A total of 32 stage performance slots have been filled, with more than 80 individuals benefitting from the programme.
Speaking at the launch, the Member of the Mayoral Committee entrusted with Sports Recreation, Arts and Culture, Lehlohonolo Mfana, said that the festival would tap into the city’s ocean economy.
Mfana added, “As always, the municipality has provided logistical and other support.
“We are eager to build the potential of the Splash Festival as a flagship event, drawing larger crowds from the region, the province, and elsewhere in South Africa,” Mfana said.
“The annual Splash Festival is focused on family fun and entertainment.
“This year’s much expanded festival will further build and entrench Nelson Mandela Bay’s reputation as the water sports capital of Africa.”
Local artists will benefit from the estimated R2.5 million and will be receiving 10% of the allocated budget.
“Because we are a listening government, we heard the pleas of local artists and have allocated more than 40 slots to them.
“We aim to improve each and every year, which is why we also have artists and crafters who will be showcasing their art work,” Mfana added.
NMBM beaches and resorts director, Kithi Ngesi, said that a quality programme awaited festival goers, with a number of exciting new offerings added to the programme.
Key among these would be the focus on ‘edutainment’, with a conservation station educating festival-goers on various aspects of conservation.
This edutainment segment was introduced after President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the Good Green Deeds programme, which was the brainchild of the Environmental Affairs Minister, Edna Molewa.
Ngesi commented, “We will also make sure that our environment is clean and safe to host an event of this nature. As part of our mandate, we will also make sure that the safety standards are maintained and, with the assistance of the KZN Sharks Board, will take every precaution to ensure that the water sports event will take place in shark-free waters.”
The first day’s programme includes beach volleyball, a DJ competition, the NMB Surf Series and more.
The second day will include the much-anticipated wine tasting and food pairing, jet ski racing and stalls.
National artists expected to perform at the event include DJ Ganyani, Sdudla Noma1000, Snotkop and Steph the Hypnotist, while local artists include Sizani, DJ Nitro, Thoko, Gino Lee and Faye Gatley.
Fireworks
Residents of Summerstrand, Humewood, Forrest Hill and South-End – please be aware of the fireworks taking place this Saturday (20/04/19) at 20:00.
Organisers of the Splash said they are aware of the strain this causes on pets and they do “sincerely apologize”, but asked residents to take the necessary precautions.
