Splash Festival Attracts Over 200,000 Visitors in a Safe and Successful Celebration of Culture, Creativity and Entertainment
Published: April 21, 2025<< BACK TO NEWS
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Nelson Mandela Bay’s beloved Splash Festival made a triumphant return this Easter weekend, attracting more than 200,000 attendees to the city’s vibrant beachfront. The 2025 edition stands out as one of the most successful in recent years, offering four days of non-stop family fun, world-class entertainment, and community spirit. Early estimates suggest a significant economic boost for the local tourism, hospitality, and retail sectors, with accommodation fully booked and informal and formal traders enjoying increased foot traffic and revenue.
Crucially, the entire event was completely crime-free, thanks to effective planning and collaboration between the municipality, law enforcement agencies, security personnel, and community safety structures. This secure, family-friendly environment was a key contributor to the festival’s positive atmosphere and widespread success.
The festival wowed crowds with a diverse and engaging programme of entertainment and activities that included:
- Live Music & Entertainment Across Four Stages: Festival goers were treated to electrifying performances, including Sun-El Musician lighting up the stage on Saturday night, and the legendary Mango Groove delivering a high-energy, crowd-pleasing show on Sunday evening.
- SPAR WE’RE FOR FLAVOURS Food Demonstration Tent: Food lovers flocked to see top chefs Pete Gaffe-Wood and Justine Drake share their culinary ability in live cooking demonstrations.
- The GALAXY BINGO Beach Arena: Action and energy abounded with five-a-side soccer and beach volleyball tournaments that kept sports fans engaged and entertained.
- Family Fun: The beachfront was alive with family-focused experiences, including the thrilling FUN4U Fun Fair and the hugely popular SPAR Easter Egg Treasure Hunt, which brought smiles to children and parents alike.
- Live Comedy & More: Comedy lovers enjoyed a standout set by Stuart Taylor, while visitors also explored bustling craft markets, indulged in gourmet street food from food trucks, and discovered a variety of lifestyle pop-ups.
- Local Talent Showcase: With 40 performance slots allocated to up-and-coming artists, the festival proudly celebrated the creativity and vibrancy of Nelson Mandela Bay’s local talent.
- Secret Sunrise Party: Early risers joined the beachfront Secret Sunrise Party on Saturday morning, a unique dance and mindfulness experience that set the tone for an energetic weekend.
While the festival ran smoothly overall, the City responded swiftly to manage a sewage spill that occurred near the precinct. Thanks to the rapid and coordinated response of municipal teams, the issue was contained with minimal disruption. Importantly, there was no significant impact on public health, safety, or festival attendance, and clear, transparent communication helped maintain public confidence.
Executive Mayor Cllr Babalwa Lobishe expressed her appreciation,” We are incredibly proud of what the 2025 Splash Festival has achieved. I want to sincerely thank the thousands of residents and visitors who came out in support, the hardworking organisers and City teams behind the scenes, and our incredible performers—especially Sun-El Musician and Mango Groove— and local artists who made this event so special. This was more than just a festival; it was a celebration of unity, culture, and the spirit of Nelson Mandela Bay.”
The success of the 2025 Splash Festival reaffirms Nelson Mandela Bay’s standing as a premier events destination and highlights the city’s growing ability to host large-scale, inclusive, and secure public celebrations that deliver lasting social and economic benefits.
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