The highly anticipated 32nd Hermanus Whale Festival – set to kick off today (Friday, September 29) until Sunday (October 1) – has been cancelled.
According to a press statement by the organisers, the decision was taken yesterday (Thursday, September 28) following a meeting with the Overstrand Municipality’s events team and Mayor.
“A full risk assessment was done, taking into account the fact that as of September 28 there was no water in the CBD taps, and an evaluation of the potential impact on public health and safety. During the meeting, officials informed us that this is now a disaster area. This, and an assessment of all the variables prompted the decision to cancel,” read the press statement.
The statement continued: “The health and well-being of our visitors, role-players, stallholders and volunteers are of utmost importance to us. Given the ongoing challenges and uncertainties related to the aftermath of the Cape Storm of the previous weekend, we believe it is the responsible and prudent choice to cancel the Hermanus Whale Festival this year.”
The organisers said that while they would not be able to hold the traditional festival this year, they would explore alternative ways to celebrate and educate the public about the magnificent marine life that frequents the shores.
This iconic festival has been firmly positioned as an internationally recognised brand that has grown from humble beginnings 32 years ago to attract 75 000-130 000 visitors annually over a three-day period.
All events and activities during the whale festival are focused on creating awareness on how to protect the whales and all marine wildlife sharing coastal waters.
