Macufe

The Free State Flower Festival – scheduled to take place in Parys, a small, vibrant town on the banks of the Vaal River – will be the flower event of the year. The event is a joint venture between the governments of the Free State and Madeira in Portugal, who host the world’s largest flower festival. Included in this extravaganza are 500 dancers, five massive floats and giant flower puppets performing around a spectacular flower precinct in a Disney-like flower story. It is the first time a fully-fledged, massive flower parade takes to the streets, anywhere in South Africa. The Flower Precinct is the area where several floral exhibits will be located. These will include regional exhibitors, wholesalers, retailers and delicious food and drink vendors. Various activities and fun-themed events will be staged over the two days of the festival, and will provide entertainment for the entire family. Among the highlights will be a fully-flower production narrated by the renowned Gina Hlope, musical performances, kid shows and various floral competitions.

The National Arts Festival is an important event on the South African cultural calendar, and the biggest annual celebration of the arts on the African continent. It has become the home for artists from different corners of the creative world. Whether you are a dancer, musician, painter or a mere art lover, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival is where you belong. From theatre to dance, opera to cabaret, fine art to craft art, classical music to jazz, poetry readings to lectures, every art form imaginable is represented in one of the most diverse festivals in the world. For 11 days every year, the Eastern Cape town of Grahamstown transforms from a sleepy haven of academics, students and entrepreneurs into the heart of South Africa’s arts scene.