The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season

Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season
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Whether you’re a seasoned festival-goer or have yet to tick the ultimate festival experience off your bucket list, South Africa’s festival scene is the perfect playground. On top of the country’s pleasant climate, top local fare and friendly people, South Africa provides a full calendar of festivals – from music to food and culture – during its warmer months. Be sure to attend one of these unique events, should you visit any time from September to March. [Photo Courtesy Rocking The Daisies]

By Elsa LaCock

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
White Mountain
White Mountain Festival, 27-30 September 2018 – Looking to relax and unwind in a spectacular setting? The annual White Mountain Festival, held in Giants Castle, KwaZulu-Natal, offers the perfect opportunity to escape the city while enjoying a great line-up of mostly local acoustic acts. Aside from the music, festival-goers can look forward to a variety of delicious regional food and drink, unique arts and crafts, and a range of fun outdoor activities – everything from a zip line with breathtaking views, to guided hikes and volleyball with the locals. Have a specific preference when it comes to accommodation? No problem! Here you have a choice between camping, chalet accommodation or a cosy ‘tent hotel’.

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
Hermanus
Hermanus Whale Festival, 28-30 September 2018 – Hermanus is a picturesque town along the country’s South Coast, and a popular spot to catch a glimpse of southern right whales during the whale migration season. In fact, the town’s famous Cliff Path offers 12 km of the best whale-watching viewpoints in the world! It’s no wonder, then, that they hold an annual Whale Festival here. One of the oldest and largest festivals on the Cape Whale Coast, and a celebration of marine life in general, this is the perfect event for enjoying the sunny coastal town while watching the giants of the ocean at play. [Photo: Sandra Hoerbst]

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
Aardklop
Aardklop National Arts Festival, 2-7 October 2018 – Are you a lover of all things arts and culture? Get to Potchefstroom, in the North West province, for Aardklop National Arts Festival – a celebration of theatre, dance, debate, music and the visual arts. The event has been around since 1998 and is a favourite among both locals and tourists looking for a decent dose of culture.

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
Daisies
Rocking the Daisies, 5-7 October 2018 – Get ready to rock! Rocking the Daisies is the perfect event for anyone looking to explore new music, whether local or international. Held on a picturesque farm in the charming town of Darling, the festival is one of the largest of its kind on the African continent, drawing free spirits from all over the world who come together to dance, swim, enjoy delicious food and take part in the talks and workshops on the packed line-up. The event’s world-class production is truly incredible, and gets bigger and better every year. The tickets are known to sell out fast, so make sure you get them early! [Photo courtesy of Rocking the Daisies]

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
Vortex
Vortex: Open Source, 13-17 December 2018 – The psytrance community comes together a few times a year for various Vortex trance adventures; during the summer event, Vortex Open Source Festival, festival-goers celebrate the Southern Hemisphere summer solstice through music and dance. Just outside of Riviersonderend on the Western Cape, the Circle of Dreams venue is decorated by the festival organisers and volunteers, creating a magical atmosphere. Grab your camping gear, and get ready to enjoy a wonderful weekend with like-minded people from all over the world – and marvel at the beautiful scenery the venue has to offer.

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
Smoking Dragon
Smoking Dragon Festival, 29-31 December 2018 – Looking for a new year’s festival that will exceed every year-end party you’ve ever attended? Give the Smoking Dragon Festival a try. It’s an end-of-year celebration unlike any other! The event is hosted by Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge, situated at the foothills of the Northern Drakensberg, and home to the second-highest waterfall in the world. The venue comes alive with a musical celebration that will make you want to go back year after year. It’s a special event for anyone – young and old – keen to meet new people, catch unique performances and explore the natural surroundings.

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
Up the creek
Up The Creek, 7-10 February 2019 – How does this sound: A weekend away from the city, spending your days floating along a river on a colourful inflatable, listening to South Africa’s top artists? Sounds good? Then Up The Creek is for you. The ultimate summer experience, this much-loved event takes place along the Breede River outside of the beautiful town of Swellendam, around 200 km from Cape Town. Be sure to get tickets early, because attendance is capped at just 2,000.

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
Woordfees
Woordfees, 1-10 March 2019 – The annual art and literary festival of the University of Stellenbosch, Woordfees has gained a lot of popularity since its inception in 2000. Every year, the event attracts art and literature lovers from all over the country, showcasing not only the written, visual and performing arts, but also celebrating the culture, cuisine and people of its beautiful host town, Stellenbosch. With a focus on one of South Africa’s eleven languages, Afrikaans, the event also features works in a variety of African languages, as well as Dutch.

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
Cape Town Jazz
Cape Town International Jazz Festival, March 2019 (Dates TBC) – Did you know that Cape Town hosts one of the best jazz festivals on the African continent? That’s right! First held at the Good Hope Centre in 2003, the event quickly outgrew the venue and moved to the trendy Cape Town International Convention Centre. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is not just for jazz lovers – it’s for music enthusiasts of all sorts, as established legends and up-and-coming artists all converge to produce a spectacular musical extravaganza made for every ear!

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The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
CTEMF
Cape Town Electronic Music Festival, April 2019 (Dates TBC) – If you’re an electronic music fan, the annual Cape Town Electronic Music Festival (CTEMF) might be your scene. Held over a full weekend each year, CTEMF offers attendees the most diverse line-up of electronic music available in the Mother City. Big international names share the stage with South Africa’s best and brightest stars, while this fast-growing genre – and the music industry in general – are explored and discussed through a comprehensive workshop and discourse programme.

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Special South Africa
The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season.
Elsa
About The Writer: Elsa Lacock is the owner of Dirty Pink City, a popular lifestyle and entertainment blog based in South Africa. With an innovative and fresh outlook, the platform provides news, reviews and interviews to a young market, creating awareness around all the top-class events – from music to fashion, sport and lifestyle – happening throughout the country.

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The Top 10 South African Festivals Of The Season

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