Berlin November is more than a horse-racing event
While more than 30,000 horseracing fans, socialites and fashionistas from across the country await the Berlin November, local businesspeople, artists and community members are equally keen to make the most of it.
This year’s Berlin November is also about community upliftment.
The event will run for three days, and local artists, entrepreneurs and residents have been granted an opportunity to showcase what they do best.
One of the organisers, Sinethemba Gayiya, said the intention was to give people a platform to demonstrate their talents.
“We opted to make Berlin November not to be fully focused on making money, but also to offer services that will benefit residents of the Eastern Cape.”
Gayiya said the organisers took pride in this year’s initiative of reaching out to people and giving them a chance to benefit.
“Projects we take pride in include the food festival and we have requested people to apply and so far we have over 15 vendors.”
Luthando Bara, who is the brains behind the event, said the organisers were excited to welcome visitors to the small town.
Bara one of greatest things about the
Berlin
November was the impact it had on the local economy.
“We are extra excited because this year is in preparation for our 10th year annual event.”
Bara said for its 10th anniversary, the organisers planned to double the size of the event.
“We want to grow the tourism economy.
“We need to have more people staying in this area longer, that is the reason we have a Berlin weekend proposition.
“We see ourselves as a driver of economic development.
“We provide a number of different elements from sports, to heritage, to fashion, creative arts and all these coming together.
“We want to create a platform for the local economy.
“We now want to see Mdantsane here — that is why we have Mthombo’s Palace, we want it to be a Mdantsane signature lounge.
“We have about eight private marquees. It means locals are benefiting. We have hundreds of suppliers and all those people get to benefit through the event.”
A local resident who is tasked with managing technical issues, Dambile Mkobeni, said the participants were happy to be part of the showpiece.
Dambile, who is working at the Berlin November for the second time, leads a team of 10.