Ashwin Christian
The weather may not have played ball, but that did not stop people from having one at the 2023 SPAR Splash Festival.
Despite the entire first day and final afternoon of the event being called off due to high winds, the festival delivered in between as visitors flocked to the new Kings Beach venue over the rest of the Easter weekend.
Festival organiser Darren Mungur, of Soul Good, said while Friday obviously had been a disappointment, there had been a “very good turnout” on the second day.
The return of Wrestle Monster after a hiatus of several years was every bit the success people expected. Body slams and daredevil antics brought huge cheers from a Nelson Mandela Bay audience who are always game for top-class wrestling action.
Mungur said another highlight was the cooking demonstrations.
“We had Zola Nene from Expresso, a sold-out show for J’Something and then it culminated with another sold-out show for his music performance on Saturday. Sunday was also a “brilliant day”.
The Galaxy Bingo Beach Arena was a new addition this year and the numbers had been extremely high, he said.
And while the wind was the major factor in keeping entries low for the 4.5km beach run on Sunday, the “key objective” there had always been for the little ones to have fun and, in this regard, it delivered.
Selvi Govender, working at daughters Keshnee and Ranee’s food stall, said the family would be back next year, even if the weather gods did not play along this Easter.
She said the Splash Festival was always a great idea for traders, especially when the Gqeberha weather was good.
(Statement supplied)
