Coimbatore District Collector Kranthi Kumar, Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner Sivaguru Prabhakaran, Coimbatore City Police Commissioner Balakrishnan IPS announced the launch date of the 17th edition of Coimbatore Vizha on Tuesday along with the Vizha committee at Coimbatore District Collectorate.

This edition of the Coimbatore Vizha is scheduled to begin on November 23rd - Coimbatore Day and end on December 1st, 2024.

Arun Senthilnathan, Chair and Saumya Gayathri, Co-Chair of Coimbatore Vizha shared that more than 200 events have been planned besides a dozen new events like 'Grassroot Motorsport', 'Polo Premier League', 'Wild Warriors - Obstacle Race', 'Vizha on Wheels', 'Unavu Thiruvizha', 'Vizha Awards', 'Vizha's Own Parade' and much more by the Vizha Committee.

Of course, the Vizha will include its iconic Double Decker Bus Rides, Art Street, Exotic Car Rally, Isai Mazhai, Coimbatore Vizha Marathon and other signature events.

As Coimbatore Vizha is a celebration of the Spirit of Coimbatore, the organizers have changed the usual launch period to coincide with Coimbatore Day this time, in order to make the event a memorable one for every Coimbatorean. 

The nine-day celebratory events (Nov.23rd to Dec 1st) are expected to attract thousands of residents and visitors. The festivities will kick off with a spectacular music concert that is expected to draw a crowd of 15,000 enthusiasts. The names of the featured singers will be announced soon.

The popular Double Decker Bus rides will be back this year, running for 15 days starting from November 15th. These rides will traverse the four zones of the Coimbatore Corporation, offering residents and tourists a unique perspective of the city's landmarks and attractions.

The Vizha Parade, a highlight first introduced in 2019, will once again enchant spectators with a procession of beautifully decorated floats. Each float will represent various aspects of Coimbatore’s rich culture, history, and achievements. Traditional music and dance performances will enhance the vibrant atmosphere. Major cultural organizations, along with schools and colleges, will actively participate in this grand display of local heritage.

In a bid to honor the unsung heroes of Coimbatore, the Vizha Awards will be presented. Nominees will be selected from public recommendations based on their contributions to society, with a jury finalizing the awardees.

Food enthusiasts can look forward to the Unavu Thiruvizha, held in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Catering Association. This event will showcase 200 caterers presenting over 300 dishes, with an expected turnout of more than 20,000 visitors.

The Vizha Committee said that it is open to suggestions from the public on how to enhance the events and ensure that the celebration truly reflects the spirit of Coimbatore and its people.

Speaking at the event, Coimbatore City Corporation Commissioner, Sivaguru Prabhakaran said that the corporation is the major partner for the Vizha, and since all the events will highlight the city, the corporation will eventually become the major beneficiary of Vizha. He assured to provide all the support to the programs.

City Police Commissioner, Balakrishnan IPS appreciated the idea to begin Coimbatore Vizha on Coimbatore Day, and opined that the events such as Obstacle Race and Polo will surely attract lot of people.

Adding to that, District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati said that the new events will surely keep everyone excited as the event-concepts are refreshing. He appreciated the Vizha committee for coming forward to run an anti-drug campaign during the Vizha period.