(Slindo
Zondo (Carols under the Stars), Danielle Visser (Miss uMhlanga), Charys–Mari
Botha (Miss uMhlanga), Pinkie Mtshali & Marion Loudon.
Photos by Val
Adamson. Styled by Kevin Ellis & Gareth Greaves)
The annual uMhlanga Summer Festival takes
place from December 14 to 23, 2019 and comprises day-time beach activities, a Carols under the Stars concert and a
Miss and Mr uMhlanga pageant.
The season, as always, is about goodwill,
family and community. The theme for this year’s festival is Colours of Africa: Embracing all that is
Beautiful.
Kevin Ellis – experienced eventor, creative
and multi-awarded international champion dancer - will be leading the daily
activities, together with Gareth Greaves – stylist, creative and designer. This
year they are working in collaboration with Wozani Africa Events who will be
adding value to the season with a bouquet of additional events and thousands of
prizes.
The Beach Festival starts on Saturday December
14 and continues until Monday December 23. People are encouraged to participate
and join in the fun and games on the uMhlanga Millennium Stage with daily
activities planned around the main beach as well as on the stage from 10am
until 2pm daily.
Always a crowd favourite, the annual
al-fresco uMhlanga Carols under the Stars,
takes place at the Granada Square in uMhlanga Rocks on December 19 from 18h00
in the courtyard of one of the favourite shopping and dining destination on the
uMhlanga Strip. The concert is co-ordinated by Shelley McLean featuring a host
of guest artists. The popular, versatile Marion Loudon will be one of the
vocalists and the MC for the evening.
The annual Miss / Mr uMhlanga Beauty
Pageant will take place at noon on December 21 at the Millennium Stage,
co-ordinated by Kevin Ellis and Gareth Greaves. There are great prizes up for
grabs: cash prizes to the value of R18,000, as well as in-kind prizes of
bespoke, tiaras, sashes and medals, all hand-made by Gareth Greaves.
This year there is one open age group: 16
and older. No children will be competing this year. Participants can enter
beforehand, and on the day itself subject to availability. Registration on the
day from 10h30 until 11h30, the event itself will be on stage from noon until
14h00 featuring a bevy of the best men and women ambassadors to represent
uMhlanga. Ages are taken as of December 17. Participants are asked to please
bring picture ID.
A big part of the festival is to encourage
awareness about our natural beauty spots in uMhlanga and to actively keep them
beautiful – there will be daily beach clean-ups, and the organisers are
encouraging a “No plastic straw policy” to avoid unnecessary plastic finding
its way into the ocean.
Although many of the season events are
formally free of charge, visitors and participants are encouraged to bring
along a gift suitable to give to an underprivileged child for Christmas.
Collection points are the Millennium Stage during the festival and at the Carol Under the Stars event – which
uMhlanga Rotary will distribute to needy children over Christmas.
uMhlanga Tourism would like to acknowledge
their partners, supporters and stakeholders: Durban Tourism; Granada Square;
Coca Cola Beverages South Africa; Vodacom; Bon Aqua, Island Tribe; Tsogo Sun;
Hirsch’s, Chempac; Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom; Nivea,
Vodacom; Bon Aqua, Brenda Quin from Diva
Designs, and Cocos at uMhlanga Sands Hotel.
For more information visit
www.umhlangatourism.co.za
Posts
