With this in mind, we did some digging to bring you 7 of the best lesser known festivals that are worth a visit.
1. Clarens Craft Beer Festival
Free State
Set in the beautiful Maluti Mountains, this is fast becoming the most sought after beer festival on the calendar. Raise your glass with more than 70 of South Africa’s finest handcrafted brews and savour tasty market food while grooving to the tunes of some of SA’s finest musos. Fun fact: unlike many other beer festivals, the brewers have to be present to display their product, meaning beer buffs can satisfy their thirst for both knowledge and a cold one.
Tip: Book early – launched only recently in 2011, this little gem has exploded into the consciousness of beer enthusiasts and tends to sell out quickly.
Where: Clarens Town Square
When: 26 – 27 February 2016
Cost: A 2015 weekend pass set you back R165
Revellers: 4 500
Book your accommodation in Clarens
2. Lamberts Bay Crayfish and Cultural Festival
West Coast
Crustacean lovers grab your napkins and head to Lamberts Bay for their annual ‘kreeffees’ (crayfish festival or feast in Afrikaans) – a gloriously sticky fingered affair that pairs bucketloads of crayfish with SA’s best loved Afrikaans music artists to celebrate seafood and small town culture. For the duration of the festival, crayfish are sold at ludicrously cheap prices, giving your taste buds and your wallet an experience to remember. Kids will have a ball in the action packed kiddies corner while you put the worlds to right over a few tipples at the over 18s bar.
Tip: Head over to Weskus Kombuis or Muiisbosskerm Restaurant for a fresh seafood meal, cooked just the way the locals do it.
Where: Lambert’s Bay caravan park
When: March 2016 (Exact dates TBC)
Cost: From free up to R175 pp depending on the day you go
Book your accommodation on the Cape West Coast
3. SA Cheese Festival
Cape Winelands
Cheese and wine is certainly not a hard sell, and this foodie fiesta has both in spades. The focus is on showcasing artisan and boutique cheesemakers alongside world class local and international cheeses, but it’s really just an excuse to spend the day eating your body weight in delectable cheesy samples, washed down with local harvest wines, all against the lush backdrop of the Stellies mountains. Get your masterchef on with a celeb chef-hosted master class, take in a cheesy cooking demonstration or visit the Carnival where you can lounge in the autumn sunshine eating all the snacks you just bought to take home.
Tip: Given the time of year, the rain has been known to cause havoc at this outdoor event. Take waterproof clothing and wellies, as well as sunscreen and hats in case the sun is particularly friendly.
Where: Sandringham Farm, Stellenbosch
When: April 2016 (Exact dates TBC)
Cost: R130pp for single day access
Revellers: 30 000
Book your accommodation in the Cape Winelands
4. Dullstroom Winter Festival
Mpumalanga
Midwinter Christmas events have long been a firm favourite in a country where people often spend Christmas around a pool. Dullstroom doesn’t disappoint, with a winter festival that is jam packed with music, stalls, outdoor activities and – most importantly – Christmas decorations. In addition to scores of excellent shopping discounts, you’ll find clay pigeon shoots, fly fishing events, themed restaurant evenings and plenty of cheese, wine, chocolate and coffee tastings. The highlight of the weekend is the concert in the park on Saturday, featuring Roots, Blues and Folk music performances from top South African singers and song writers.
Tip: Dullstroom is one of the coldest towns in SA, so pack your winter woollies.
Where: Dullstroom town
When: 3-5 July 2015
Cost: R70 – R90 for entry into the concert in the park on Saturday
Book your accommodation in Dullstroom
5. Philippolis Witblits Festival
Free State
This gathering of brave souls celebrates a proud local tradition – the brewing and consuming of witblits (Afrikaans for "white lightning"), aka South African moonshine. Held in the oldest town in the Free State, this is not for the faint hearted. Expect almost instant intoxication – witblits has an alcohol content of 60 – 80% depending on brand – ‘boeresport’ (literally ‘farmers’ sport) for families, food stalls and more witlblits. Make sure you designate a driver before you get stuck in.
Tip: Often bypassed by travellers for the N1 route, Philippolis’ best kept secret is that the detour through the town is actually a shorter route than the N1.
Where: Philippolis town
When: April 2016 (Exact dates TBC)
Cost: Free
Book your accomodation in the Free State
7. Rastafari Earth Festival
Garden Route
Don your red, yellow and green and head down to this vibrant Rastafari festival, which invites Rastas and visitors from all over to celebrate the Rastafarian way of life - their food, art, music and philosophy. Held in Judah Square, the administrative Rasta capital of the Southern Cape, you will receive an especially warm welcome from the Rastafari residents. Don’t miss the final day of the festival - the Day of Emancipation, dedicated to the abolition of slavery – where everyone, regardless of colour or creed, is encouraged to celebrate their freedom through dance and sharing a meal.
Tip: Take a walk along the Khayalethu River, the site of the Rasta community’s inspired rehabilitation project - the re-introduction of indigenous plant and animal species to an area previously overgrown with alien vegetation.
Where: Judah Square
When: 22-28 July 2015
Cost: Free
Book your accommodation in the Garden Route
7. Arts Alive
Joburg
If you’re a culture vulture, you won’t want to miss Arts Alive, the annual event in Jozi that celebrates arts and culture through homegrown theatre, dance, music, poetry and visual art. Joburg, the vibrant pulse of South Africa, is the perfect place to host this fiesta of colour and culture. For 10 days the city is transformed into a massive stage, drawing an international crowd in addition to locals from all over SA. With many events happening concurrently, you can feast your senses on as many performances as there are hours in the day. Expect exquisite productions, visual treats beyond the imagination and a meeting of some of the most creative and exciting minds in the country.
Tip: Don’t miss Jazz On The Lake at Zoo Lake in Parkview – the hugely popular free music concert held on the 2nd Sunday of Spring.
Where: Various venues, Joburg
When: 31 August – 10 September 2015
Cost: Varies
Book your accommodation in Johannesburg
WOW what a line up of cool, quirky festivals to visit around South Africa. We hope you''re feeling inspired to plan your next trip around one of these. Which one caught your eye? Tell us in the comments below. Alternatively let us know if you have visited a festival which you think should be on this list!
Compiled by Lauren Austin