10 Arts Festivals You Have to Attend in 2018

Tired of scrolling through your friends Facebook and Instagram accounts all year round? Well, don’t worry; this guide has rounded up the top 10 arts festivals worth attending this year. So whether you are just looking for the sheer joy of a film festival or you are looking for an amazing cultural experience, there is something here for you.

1. The Knysna Literary Festival

The Knysna Literary Festival will take place from the 9th-11th March. The festival was founded by Pam Golding Properties in aid of promoting South Africa’s rich and diverse literary, artistic and  cultural heritage. This year the Knysna Literary Festival is nine years old and is the only festival along the Garden Route that hosts exclusive groups of hand selected authors. The theme of each festival is usually focused around hot topics and each platform creates a space for readers to interact with the authors present.

2. The Klein Karoo National Arts Festival

Well known as the KKNK festival, the Klein Karoo festival is an Afrikaans’ festival that has developed over the years into an all-round arts event that caters to all communities. This year the festival will take place from the 29th-4th April 2018 in Oudtshoorn, and it will showcase the Afrikaans culture through dance, music and theatre. The festival also rewards best performers with trophies and cash prizes.

3. The Franschhoek Literary Festival

If you are a book lover, heading to the thrilling town of Franschhoek between the 18-20th May will definitely make your year. The town hosts the famous Franschhoek Literary festival annually where renowned authors and writers come to share ideas and stories.The festival also features spirited debates and informal discussions between writers, book launches and writing workshops.

4. The Grahamstown National Arts Festival

The renowned Grahamstown National Arts Festival takes place on the 28 June to the 8th July 2018. Anyone who appreciates art will fall in love with this festival. The event not only honors art but also brings different people from different cultures together through art. The festival usually features, craft tours, workshops and fairs. Most revelers opt for car hire and carpool to the festival.

5. The Vrystaat Kunstefees

The Vrystaat Kunstefees takes place on the 8th-14th of July 2018, at the University of the Free State, in Bloemfontein. The event is focused on celebrating the beauty of the Afrikaans language and is commonly referred to as a ‘taal fees’, which aims to bring people together, promote their art forms and celebrate local creativity.

6. The McGregor Poetry Festival

The McGregor poetry festival happens annually in the small town of McGregor, nestled in between the Riviersonderend and Langenberg mountains. Hundreds of upcoming and world renowned poets come together and share their ideas, poetry and stories at this festival. If you’re looking for a well-seasoned collective of poets, the McGregor Poetry festival is where you’ll find them.

7. Lowveld Book Festival

The Lowveld Book Festival will take place at the CasterBridge Lifestyle Centre in Mpumalanga, from the 18th to 20th of August. The festival is known for showcasing some of South Africa’s best literary talents and creating a space for an array of poetry and stories from publishers, authors and poets. Festival goers will be treated to panel discussions, workshops and live poetry readings.

8. The Open Book Festival

The Open Book Festival will be hosted by the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town, between the 5th-9th September 2018. The main aim of this literary festival is to attract not only local but an international audience, showcase the best of South African writing and make a significant contribution to the future of literature, particularly in Cape Town.

9. The Tulbagh Arts Festival

The Tulbagh Arts Festival takes place in the Cape Winelands annually. This year will be no different, as the festival commences on the 29 September to the 1st of October 2018. The weekend is filled with collaborative installations, classical music concerts, architectural lectures and art exhibitions.

10. The Aardklop Festival

The Aardklop festival usually takes places along the streets of Potchefstroom. This year the festival will take place on the 2nd to the 7th of October 2017. The festival is well known for bringing together distinguished and new talents on one stage. This year, the festival promises to be jam packed with amazing theatre performances.