The youth of South Africa are fortunate enough to enjoy a medley of music festivals organised in and around the busiest local cities throughout the year. Rocking The Daisies, Ramfest, Splashy Fen and Oppikoppi are just a few of the well-managed musical celebrations that happen every year on SA’s colourful soil.
This weekend will see trance-party Earthdance Cape Town attract thousands of avid music-lovers flocking to the Nekkies Resort in Worcestor for three days of camping, drinking and dancing.
As the largest synchronized music and dance festival in the world, it’s no wonder it’s so popular. The event has been going strong since 1997 and around the globe has been held at over 500 locations in 80 countries, with each event a symbol of peace and unity. The event culminates on the Sunday at 1pm (South African time) with every Earthdance event linking via meditation called “Prayer for Peace”. The idea is the song is played at every festival at exactly the same time around the world, uniting Earthdance-goers across the globe in solidarity for Peace.
The Earthdance festival stands apart from others in that 50% of its profit is, without fail, committed to one of the following categories:
- The Welfare of Children and Urban Youth
- Indigenous Peoples and Cultures
- International Relief and Development
- Environmental Sustainability and Protection
- Organisations that Promote Peace
With 2010’s theme focusing on Embracing All Traditions – acknowledging and honouring the diversity of faiths and cultures that make up our human family – Cape Town’s Earthdance is bound to be a reflection of its true self: a diverse collection of people of all colours, ages, sizes and religions, joining together to have one helluva party.
The gates open at 1pm on Friday, and between the campsite and festival organisers the list of available facilities includes multiple entertainment areas/stages, lots of camping space, a variety of food stalls, river and swimming pool for cooling off, on site medical services, vigilant yet helpful security, clean toilets & showers, a craft market and healing area.
The event is also as Green as it can get making this party a clean conscience experience. They use Biodiesel Generators & Solar Power, print all their flyers on recycled paper, they use Biodegradable cups, plates & cutlery, they recycle their water and replant any waterwise trees used in the decorating of their Peace Camp. They are also introducing a Hydration Station where festival-goers can buy a waterbottle and fill up as many times as they like from the station. This reduces the plastics waste created by Spring Water being bought at the bars. Even their website is hosted by a Carbon Neutral webhosting company.
If you are thinking about enjoying this festival (or have already bought yoursaelf a ticket) there are a few items you should definitely pack in:
- Sun cream
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Warm clothes
- Money
- Sunglasses
- Torch
- Swimming costume
- Party/silly costume
- Ready-made meals if you want to save some cash
- Cushions or throws to make your weekend more comfy.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
