The Cross River State government has promised fun seekers that the 2024 Calabar Festival will be one with new vitality and greater excitement.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser, Events Management, Mr. Effiong Ekpenyong shortly after a meeting with key stakeholders in Calabar.
Mr. Ekpenyong who doubles as the chairman of the Calabar Festival Committee stressed on the need for stakeholders to work assiduously to surpass the success of the previous year.
“This year’s festival promises to be one with new vitality, excitement and greater fun. Interestingly, our dear governor has promised to continue to provide us with everything so as to ensure we have a successful festival as well as an interesting Calabar carnival 2024
“Our first dry run will soon commence with the second season of the Pre Calabar Festival Concert, which will start immediately after the bands commence movement into the Carnival route, we call on all stakeholders to please come together and work as a team. This is the season of sweetness and it must be felt in everything we do,” he maintained.
He also hinted that the Carnival in Ikom and Ogoja will take place in November and not December. The aim, according to him is to give residents in the northern and central parts of the state, a sense of belonging during the festival in December.
Also speaking, Executive Secretary of the Carnival Commission, Mr. Austin Cobham expressed the commission’s readiness to host the world again, maintaining that the first dry run for the 2024 carnival will take place on the 13th of October, 2024. He however, expressed frustration at the level of damage done to some of the commission’s infrastructures located at strategic areas within the carnival route.
In his address, chairman of the Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, said he was excited and confident that the 2024 Calabar carnival will offer tourists and fun seekers around the world another opportunity to see Cross River State as the destination of choice.
Amongst those who attended the meeting were heads and representatives of key MDAs including the Tourism Bureau, State Electrification Agency, office of the State Security Adviser, State Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Health,, Traffic regulatory agency amongst others.