NELSON MANDELA BAY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SUMMER FREEDOM

As South Africa approaches the end of the 20 years of Freedom Celebrations, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality plans to do it in grand style. Yesterday evening, the NMBM officially launched the Summer Season 2014/15 Programme. This year’s Summer Season promises to be of a special kind. It will be a true reflection of the journey we have traveled to create the Rainbow Nation that we are today.  It will also capture the feeling of unity in diversity, as the people of the City are now free to celebrate anywhere with anyone, without the risk of arrest or harassment.

The Summer Season 2014/15 Programme cuts across race, age and traditional, religious and gender stereotypes. It has been tailor-made for family entertainment, with the safety and security of residents and visitors a top priority. Artists selection has been done in such a way that both well established national artists and local upcoming artists will share the stage. This will not only give exposure to local upcoming artists, but will give them an opportunity to share experiences with established artists. Beach entertainment has been expanded to give beach lovers an opportunity to enjoy our warm Blue Flag beaches.

“As a City we have come a long way. We have walked a difficult but fulfilling journey of uniting the people of the City that have been divided by the then government to kill their never dying spirit. This is a Summer Season Celebration of a special kind, because it coincides with our 20 years of Freedom Celebrations, celebrations that have highlighted the road we have travelled and the gains we have made and the good story that we have created,” said Executive Mayor, Cllr Benson Fihla.

The Executive Mayor has called on all residents of Nelson Mandela Bay to make sure that they celebrate the unity in diversity that the 20 years of Freedom has brought. “I call on the people of the City, as they gather in different places to celebrate the Summer Season, to reflect on who we are as a people:  people of the Friendly City, who believe in the ideals of Ubuntu. Do make our tourists feel at home, safe and entertained so that they keep on coming back for more,” urged Executive Mayor, Fihla.

Arts and Recreation Portfolio Chairperson, Cllr Soul, under whose Portfolio the Summer Season resorts, has issued a strong warning against drinking and driving and child neglect. “Safety and security will be prioritised. Working together with the South African Police Services, our Traffic and Security services will not tolerate drinking and driving. Parents are called upon to look after their children while visiting our beaches, as it is a highly traumatic experience for a child to find himself lost,” said Cllr Soul. She added that parents must make sure that they keep their children in sight all the time.

The Summer Season Programme was first implemented 26 years ago, with the aim of officially “opening the summer season” and to position the city as a preferred events city within the region. It consisted of a music concerts, family entertainment, water sport games and a fireworks display.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Summer season programme consists of a number of key events, spread throughout the City for the duration of the summer holidays, from 16 December – 2 January. Hobie Beach and Wells Estate provide prime activation opportunities as they enjoy extremely high visitor numbers for the events (as listed below) and for general beach visitors.

All events feature a national headline act as well as top talent from Nelson Mandela Bay. A much-anticipated new addition to this year's programme is the hosting of a New Year’s Eve Concert on the Uitenhage Market Square.

The events are as follows:

Opening: Summer Season will be held on 16 December at Hobie Beach. This will be a music festival where a national artist will perform. A crowd of approximately 50 000 people is expected.

The Phola Festival  will be held on 18 December at the Walmer High School. This will be a picnic-style event, with music and poetry entertaining about 3000 people.

New Year’s Eve Uitenhage​

This first-ever New Years celebrations at the Uitenhage Market Square, comprising a concert and fireworks,  will be attended by about 6000 people. A national music act/s will share the stage with local musicians, with other entertainment elements like poetry, comedy and family entertainment added to the mix.  

New Year’s Eve celebrations at Hobie Beach. The celebrations will include a concert and fireworks, lasting from 31 December into the early hours of 1 January, 2015. This will see the biggest music concert and entertainment stage of the Programme, with different national acts sharing a stage with local artists. Award-winning and internationally traveled dance groups will also entertain the crowds, who are expected to count in the region of 50000.​

The community of Motherwell, the biggest township in the City, and surrounding areas like Cholchester and the peri-urban areas as far as Addo, Kirkwood, Cradock and Grahamstown, are expected to flock to Wells Estate on 31 December for a similar concert. At all events scheduled for 31 December, fireworks displays are expected to be a highlight.

The official Summer Season 2014/15 Programme will close with a Jazz Picnic at The Donkin Reserve on 2 January, 2015. About 3000 people are expected to attend this event.

During and in between all these events, the Programme will also offer beach and family entertainment. Jumping castles, magicians, comedians, beach soccer, beach slides, beach volley ball and other entertainment items will be on offer.  

The main stage is situated at Hobie Beach, where the Opening of the Season will be held.

As part of the programme, events will be designed to run for the duration of the peak holiday season, using the said stage at Hobie Beach every day, providing sponsors with valuable activation opportunities.

Selected sponsors will be allowed the use of the stage from 08h00 – 17h00 on certain days.