Bakel: The coastlines of Bakel are once again gearing up for a beach festival, with the Bakel Beach Park set to host the third edition of the event. The Beach Fest, previously held in 2022 and 2023, could not be staged last year in view of the Wayanad landslides.

This year’s 10-day-long festival, scheduled from December 21 to 31, will showcase art and cultural programmes alongside a tourism fest that blends taste, sight and rhythm. A meeting to form the Organising Committee will be held at 3 PM today at Bakel Beach Park.

As in previous years, the festival will be organised by a people’s committee led by Uduma MLA C H Kunjambu. The event is being held with the active support of BRDC, Kudumbashree, local self-government bodies, various government departments, cultural collectives and several voluntary organisations across the district.

Earlier editions of the festival featured street performances, fashion shows, amusement and shopping streets and food courts. Renowned artistes such as K S Chithra, Shobhana and Shivamani headlined these events, which also included sand sculpture exhibitions, flower shows, kayaking, canoeing, scuba diving, helicopter rides, drone flying, cultural showcases, and water sports.

This year too, cultural programmes highlighting young talent will be staged. Kudumbashree has been allotted five acres for the festival and is planning to set up a mall for indigenous products and a food court with 120 stalls. Efforts are also on to bring in regional cuisines from across India, including specialties from Kashmir.

MLA C H Kunjambu said the Bakel Beach Festival seeks to position Bakel as a major tourism destination while also celebrating the spirit of togetherness.