THOUSANDS of Cape Town revellers soaked up the sun at two major festivals in celebration of the end to the two-year-long national state of disaster brought on by Covid-19.
Scores of music lovers flocked to the Corona Sunsets festival in Clifton and the Liefde by die dam fiesta in Durbanville in the northern suburbs.
“I’m super amped to be at Liefde by die dam,” Chris Beukes said, adding that he was excited that masks were not a requirement as the event was hosted outside.
It’s Beukes’s first time at a festival since the start of Covid-19. His friends joined him as they danced to the music of artists like Bernice West, Robbie Wessels, Die Heuwels Fantasties and Spoegwolf.
“To not wear a mask is the best thing that ever happened to me,” said Jannel van der Merwe, who is hearing-impaired.
“I can now read lips and hear much better with my hearing aids,” she said while sipping a beer.
The artists in the line-up were just as appreciative.
“The days where one had to do two shows instead of one are gone,” comedian Schalk Bezuidenhout said.
“During severe levels of lockdown, some of us really had to do two or more shows just to survive.
“I’m really excited for my colleagues in the industry to be able to work again but more so for the people, the festive-goers.
“They were so hungry for just a little bit of entertainment and I’m glad we can now fulfil their needs.”
At the Corona Sunsets festival, the bank band Goodluck entertained the crowd.
Lead singer Jules Harding said it was refreshing to perform live and heal the souls of people through music.
“I had the best time ever. It is so nice to play live music again and see people smiling and enjoying music and connecting again.
“It is so magical to be here. We have a lot of music coming out, which we are really excited about. Our song with Craig Lucas is called Better.”
Another single will be out in June, a collaboration with Ice Prince from Nigeria called June.
A director at South African Breweries, the organiser of the festival Thomas Lawrence, said: “The Corona Sunset festival is important because our consumers in South Africa need eventing.
After a nearly two year long hiatus the Corona Sunsets Festival returned in Clifton, Cape Town on Saturday. @WeekendArgus pic.twitter.com/W6x45VHkwd
— Brandon (@brandonn_journo) April 9, 2022
“We are happy that we are able to do eventing again, and our consumers are quite happy that their favourite brand is putting out this event."
Chelzia Vuemba from Angola, who is a student at Damelin College, said she was ecstatic about this event.
“It feels good and I feel free to be outside and have fun without the mask after two depressing years where we had to stay indoors.”