(The beautiful surroundings of the festival)
Smoking Dragon will
celebrate its Fifth New Year’s Eve Festival this year with a three day event (December
29 to January 1) hosted by Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge, set in the beautiful
Northern Drakensberg.
The Smoking Dragon
New Year’s Eve Festival 2015 is unique in that it offers families the
opportunity to celebrate the parting of the old year and the arrival of the new
one in a safe, beautiful environment whilst listening to top South African
artists. From the success of the last four years patrons can expect a dynamic
festival for family revellers of conscious festival goers and many
international tourists.
“The line-up is
always very carefully selected where we try and take the audience on an
auditory journey, seamlessly crossing through the different music categories
from folk all the way to electronic, in this way no genre dominates so everyone
is catered for,” comments organiser, Ilsa Roberts.
“Smoking Dragon is
all about community and partners with RAISE an NGO to run three days of
workshops before the event in an attempt to capitalize on the influx of trained
and dynamic individuals in the industry. The idea also being to increase
exposure and revenue for local musicians and crafters over the period. The
festival tries to support local more established businesses in the Northern
Berg by encouraging people to support the wide range of accommodation and
activities on offer. As the first and second of January are in fact a Friday
and a Saturday we are hoping that families will chill with us for a while
longer than normal,” Roberts adds
What sets this
festival apart from others, is that there is so much to do in the area. From
lounging in the pool, mountain biking through the Northern Berg, hot air
ballooning from the festival grounds or listening to the top SA talent, the
Smoking Dragon New Year’s Eve Festival 2015 is not only off the beaten path,
it’s on a whole groove of its own.
The incredible
entertainment line-up includes: The Kiffness; Haezer; Das Kapital; Majozi; Albert
Frost; Damage Inc; Phizisist; Household Funk; Ruby Gill; We Are Charlie; The
Accidentals; The Meditators; Tidal Waves; Existing Consciousness; BCUC; The
Brother Moves On; Devin Harmer; Tim Parr; Gugz&The Bam Bam; Acoustic Groove
Machine; The Hezron Chetty Band; Sutherland; BOO!; Yorke; Heroine; Diamond Thug;
Jack Rolling Dandy's; Zebra & Giraffe; Napalma; Diamond
Thug.
Also on the
programme are Michael Lesar; Icurus and Rain; 2lani The Warrior; The General; Nomad;
Headroom; Hippie Mafia; Chee; Damage inc; T-Stack amd VinGroovin
Camping with a
festival ticket is free with access to two dams, a river, clean ablutions, a
kid's zone and food and craft stalls as well as the fabulous view of the
Amphitheatre all the way to Cathkin Peak. For those who prefer a bit of extra
comfort there is also the option to stay in the Amphitheatre Backpacker's Lodge
campground at R135 per night. Here you can enjoy their restaurant, bar, free
sauna, jacuzzi, bouldering cave, internet cafe and rock pool.
Smoking Dragon New
Year’s Eve Festival 2015 takes place from December 29 at 10h00 to January 1 at
13h00 at the Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge - Amphitheatre Lodge, R74, 3354
Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal.
Tickets R700 pre-sale
and R800 at the gate. (children under 12 years old: R25). Day tickets are also
available at R300 per day which includes one night free camping. Arrive at any
time on the date of arrival, but depart by 10h00 on the next day.
Tickets and more
information on http://www.smokingdragon.co.za/
For accommodation
options, go to http://www.smokingdragon.co.za/product-category/accommodation/
SHUTTLE SERVICE: The
Bazbus is a hop on hop off personalised door to door bus service that links all
the backpacking venues throughout the country together. Although used primarily
by foreign tourists without their own vehicles, why not jump on and enjoy being
driven? It drops you right at the festival. There is also a shuttle service for
those travelling by mainline coach from Cape Town, Jhb or Durban (Harrismith
being the pick up town) bookings can be made through the smoking Dragon Travel
store.
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