Free State

Macufe is a cultural-based festival that showcases a wide range of African arts and culture to the world. It is held in Bloemfontein every year. Macufe, the ten-day Mangaung African Cultural Festival, showcases the cream of African and international talent. It features jazz, gospel, kwaito, hip-hop, R&B, rock and classical music, as well as dance, drama, cabaret, musical theatre, poetry, fine art and traditional arts and crafts. First held in 1997 before an audience of 30 000, Macufe now attracts over 140 000 people from South Africa, Africa and the world. The festival is presented in late September and early October by the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State.

The first Cherry Festival was held in 1968 and is the longest-running festival in South Africa. You can indulge on fresh, succulent cherries – harvested from October to December. The festival stretches over three days and attracts up to 30 000 people. The festival offers quality family shows and activities such as the herding of sheep, horse rides, camel rides, helicopter flips, steam train rides at Sandstone Estate, and tours through the town to see the beautiful sandstone buildings and architecture. Ficksburg is situated on the scenic landscape of the eastern Free State, nestled between the foot of the Imperani Mountain and the banks of the Caledon River. It is known as the cherry capital of the world, and to celebrate this fact, the town hosts the annual cherry festival. It is the largest cherry-producing area in South Africa, and the first successful cherry trees were planted in this area in 1905.