The Free State town of Clarens will host its first Festival of Lights from 24 to 26 September, with more than 20 light art installations, music performances and community activities planned across the Heritage Day weekend.
The three-day festival, which has taken several years to develop, will be staged under the theme “Reflections” and feature experiences spread across the town centre, the Clarens Conservancy, the NG Church and neighboring Kgubetswana.
The Square of Lights will host more than ten light installations, including a 3m high Reflections Kaleidoscope Tower and a Beam of Hope projected into the night sky. Most installations were created by hand with involvement from the local community.
Shops, restaurants, guesthouses and galleries will be encouraged to illuminate their buildings, creating a lighting route through the town. The Clarens Conservancy will host an Immersive Forest Light Tour on a wheelchair-accessible night trail.
François Pieneman, co-founder of the festival and a producer at WorldVisuals Film, said the programme was designed to appeal to visitors of all ages.
The festival opens on Thursday with a Lantern Parade. In partnership with WOMAD Sub-Saharan Africa, international artists will perform a headline concert on the main stage. A Battle of the DJs disco night follows on Friday. The NG Church will host candlelight concerts each evening, including Bonjour Monsieur Brel by singer-songwriter Jannie du Toit, the festival’s Associate Artist.
Activities for children include glowing fossils at Adventure Square and a street-drawing experience at Clarens by Candlelight. Other attractions include daily Spotlight Sessions, artist-led tours, stargazing, campfire storytelling, glow-in-the-dark painting, the Clarens Cinema, An Ocean in One Drop and Ride the Light @Night, a guided ride on LED-lit bicycles between Clarens and Kgubetswana.
The CFoL Cup, a community football tournament at the Kgubetswana Community Stadium, will close with a glow-in-the-dark final.
Some events are free. Tickets for the Square Day and individual experiences are available through Tixsa.
The festival was founded by Pieneman, Rogier Bleys and Jacquie Le Roux, with Kenny Khati as festival director. It is produced by WorldVisuals South Africa, a registered public benefit organisation, as part of its year-round Light Legacy community programme.
Organisers said the festival aims to combine art, community and sustainability.
