Cross River State government has promised tourists and fun seekers 32 days of fun-filled activities with the infusion of innovations to the 2023 Carnival Calabar International Festival beginning in December.

Speaking to newsmen after the maiden meeting of the 2023 carnival, held at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs in Calabar, the Special Adviser on Event Management and Chairman of the Committee, Effiong Ekpenyong, said the high-level planning team was set up by Governor Bassey Otu, saddled with the mandate of putting up the most amazing and breathtaking show of 32 days of nonstop fun.

Ekpenyong revealed that activities for the 2023 Calabar carnival will begin on November 30 with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Millennium Park Calabar, with simultaneous occurrences at Ikom and Ogoja to avail those in the Central and Northern part of the State the feel of season.

He also hinted that the children carnival would be reintroduced to the schedule, night of carnival kings and queens, where the bands would parade their respective kings/queens, as well as boat regatta, and an innovation called the ‘Queen of Humanity Cross Pageant, among other programmes for tourists and guests in the 2023 edition.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Cross River State Carnival Commission, Gabe Onah, reminded fun seekers that Carnival Calabar is, indeed, looming, adding that its 2023 theme, ‘Season of Sweetness,’ was carefully chosen to offer the state the opportunity to ride on its rich cultural heritage to host the world.

“The warmth that is not seen anywhere in the world is evident on the streets of Calabar during the festival,” Onah boasted, while calling on young people to key into the sector to derive that which would positively influence tourists and investors in the state.”