MUSIC FESTIVALS

FEBRUARY

• The FNB Dance Umbrella in Johannesburg, Gauteng is a celebration of contemporary choreography and dance. The show presents work ranging from community-based dance troupes to international companies.

MARCH

• Cape Town Jazz Festival is a two-day festival featuring 40 international and African acts performing on five stages to an audience of 15 000. It also features photographic and art exhibitions.

APRIL

• Splashy Fen in the Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal is feast of mainstream and alternative rock and pop.

JULY

• South Africa’s oldest and largest festival, the National Arts Festival is held in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. Held in late June or early July every year, the 10-day event offers an indulgence of theatre, music, song, dance, film and a whole lot more.

AUGUST

• Joy of Jazz in Johannesburg, is an annual jazz festival, ideal for the whole family. It features a range of musical styles but with a strong emphasis on jazz. Over 200 local and international artists perform at different venues across the city, particularly in Newtown.

SEPTEMBER

• Woodstock at Hartbeeshoek in the North West province is the largest youth-oriented music and lifestyle festival in South Africa. In addition to mainstream music, the festival offers a market of crafters and alternative lifestyle products over four days.
• The Awesome Africa Music Festival in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal has three stages of non-stop music, with over 200 artists from more than 20 countries.
• The Southern Cross Music Festival in Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal showcases South African music over three days. In addition to music, there's fishing, swimming, white water rafting, abseiling, hikes, walks, mountain biking and 4x4 courses. The farm caters for 6 000 festival-goers.
• Macufe in Bloemfontein, is a 10-day Mangaung African Cultural Festival, showcasing 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.
• The White Mountain Folk Festival in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal features acoustic performances by some of the South Africa's top folk musicians. The festival is held at White Mountain Lodge in the foothills of the Giant's Castle Nature Reserve. There's also a variety of food stalls, and a beer market offering naturally brewed local ales and lagers.

DECEMBER

• Rustler's Valley New Year's Gathering in the Free State hosts some of its best trance, dance and drumming festivals in late November and December, including a New Year celebration. It also offers the African Sweat Hut, permaculture design courses, a game reserve, the Saucery Restaurant and Marimba House.