When preparation meets opportunity, the result is the ever-growing Calabar Carnival which although yearly billed to hold during the Yuletide season, preparations are already underway for this year’s festival with the 2024 theme “Our Shared Prosperity” unveiled in March alongside a mini theme of ‘Sweetness Continues’ taken from 2023

While unveiling lined up activities for this year’s festival at a press briefing last week in Lagos, the Chairman of the Carnival Calabar Commission, Sir Gabe Onah said the idea of early preparation is to engage the entire 12 Calendar months. “The carnival is a win-win for Nigeria. It is a strong base to strengthen the country’s economy. It is quicker to make ends meet through tourism as long as you have data and relationship capital. Carnival Calabar has created over 50,000 direct jobs in the tourism sector. This is why the people of Cross River see the Carnival as their own oil.”

Onah further noted that this year’s Carnival Calabar has made preparations for the children and young adults in order to create an experience for all.

Also speaking Ambassador IkechiUko, the Carnival Calabar International Consultant who revealed that Calabar Carnival is the only standing festival still running 20 years after four governors. “The only viable tourism product that Nigeria can showcase to the world is Carnival Calabar.”

Uko who emphasised the necessity to separate the spiritual from entertainment said Carnival Calabar unlike a number of carnivals in the country is purely a tourism entertainment product. It is the biggest Tourism product that Nigeria has to sell.”

The lineup of 2024 Carnival Calabar according to the organisers would unveil each 32 days of the carnival as an experience. The festival would see the first dry run of the carnival commence on October 20, second dry run on November 2nd while the third dry run on December 8 and the newly infused Junior dry run would be held on December 15.

Also, November 30 will feature lighting up of the cities and Christmas trees in the south, central and northern parts of Calabar. The cultural carnival will be held on December 26, as well as the Kings and Queens performance; the children’s carnival, now called the junior carnival, will take place on December 27, the Carnival Calabar will be held on December 28, Bikers Parade would hold December 29 and street party December 30. The festival will feature comedy night, reggae night, A-list artists, boat regatta at the Marina Resort Waterfront, barbecue night, and more.

Speaking, Managing Director of OkhmaOkhma Mary Ephraim-Egbas who appreciated all the sponsors for last year 2023 “Season of Sweetness” success said, “This year’s theme represents our relationship with everyone who participates in the carnival. This year we are looking at an infrastructure partnership to aid the festival. The Carnival Calabar has a total attendance of about two million people. The carnival is also featured via DSTV in 42 countries. So it is a viable platform for sponsors and partners to come on board. More importantly to be a part of something that is significant and impactful as this.”

She further said: The impact of Carnival Calabar to the economy is immense for the entire country. It also represents what is good in Nigeria. Carnival Calabar has clearly distinguished itself as an international product. Carnival Calabar Commission has set stage for a grand 2024 event with unveiling of the theme of the event, timetable for programmes, partnerships and other activities lined for the 2024 event on time. The unveiling of 2024 theme, ‘Our shared prosperity’ and many other activities lined up for the grand event is a clear indication that the 2024 edition will be a bang. With this move, the participants, guests, tourists, and others now know what to expect during the festival.”