I am pleased to note that the tender number SCM 384/S for the hosting of the Splash Festival was finally awarded to Go Big Events on 5 March 2012.
My 16 year old daughter had the following to say in her most sarcastic tone; “Wow, but the Splash Festival is next month, how not intelligent of them. They should win a Noddy Badge!” – out of the mouths of babes!
Easter this year is from 6 to 9 April – which gives Go Big 31 days to put Port Elizabeth’s premier summer event together FOR THE FIRST TIME.
When I compare the 31 days of planning left for the Splash Festival with the months of planning that has gone into the Boardwalk Hobie 16 Nationals at the end of April 2012 I begin to feel extreme anxiety for these new kids on the block.
I sincerely hope that the bumbling fools at the Metro have NOT set up Go Big for a spectacular fall by only granting them the right to host the event a mere 31 days before it is supposed to take place.
For 21 years the Splash Festival was hosted by Magnetic Storm and then in later years they hosted the event in partnership with Zports and Frontier Events. We have seen that residents are particularly resistant to change – we stayed away our droves when the Splash Festival was moved to the harbour.
I am aware that even with 21 years experience Magnetic Storm started planning for the next Splash Festival 12 months in advance.
I would like to ask the Nelson Mandela Bay Communications department just how they expect Go Big to put this event together within 31 days, BUT, that hard working and vital department, populated with employees that work for a pittance seems to have chosen to ignore me and any questions I pose.
Maybe Roland Williams, Kupido Baron et al will deign to inform the public via the comments section below?
