A Festival with Purpose
The Clarens Festival of Lights is a celebration of Sustainability and Creativity built with the community.
The Clarens Festival of Lights is the family event of the year, taking place over the weekend of Heritage Day. It offers a unique experience where the entire town transforms into a living artwork, from immersive light installations in nature to intimate encounters, workshops, and performances. Bringing people and cultures together.
REFLECTIONS
This first edition of the Clarens Festival of Lights is centered around the theme ‘Reflections’, an invitation to pause, look inward, and see the world through new perspectives. In a time marked by uncertainty and division, reflection becomes a powerful tool for connection, helping us better understand ourselves and each other. Through light, art, and shared experiences, the festival creates moments where stories meet, perspectives shift, and people come closer together.
A THREE-DAY PROGRAM, DAY & NIGHT
From 24 to 26 September 2026, The Clarens Festival of Lights invites you to experience a magical celebration of light, art, creativity, and community.
At the heart of the festival is the House of Lights — a welcoming space for inspiring talks, live music, creative encounters, and meaningful connections.
Explore stunning light installations and artworks across the town, join the enchanting Lantern Parade, and experience candlelit concerts beneath the Free State sky. A diverse programme of light, art, music, and interactive experiences transforms Clarens into a place of wonder for visitors of all ages. Take part in hands-on activities, discover inspiring local stories, and enjoy community experiences that bring people together. Families can also enjoy a special programme for children, filled with creative workshops, playful light experiences, and activities designed to spark imagination.
Come together, be inspired, and see Clarens in a whole new light.
SQUARE OF LIGHTS
The heart of the festival, a welcoming space for talks, music, light art and connection.
LIGHT INSTALLATIONS
Discover powerful outdoor artworks, where light meets nature and storytelling.
INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES
From glow-in-the-dark painting to lantern-making, hands-on activities for all ages.
MUSIC & PERFORMANCES
Live performances, candlelight concerts, the opening event on the mainstage and much more.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
From campfire stories to soccer matches. Enjoy one of the great community events.
Partner with us and make an impact
Join us. Sponsor the Clarens Festival of Lights and align your brand with creativity, innovation, and sustainability. Gain unmatched visibility through a wide array of promotional opportunities, from event naming rights to digital marketing exposure. Whether you are a corporate leader, a local business, or a passionate advocate for community growth, our sponsorship packages are designed to offer you meaningful engagement and recognition.
MEET Our SPONSORS & PARTNERS
OPEN CALL FOR SA ARTISTS ’27
The Clarens Festival of Lights invites artists from South Africa and beyond to submit proposals for innovative light-based artworks for its 2027 edition.
We are looking for bold, imaginative artists who explore light as a medium for storytelling, connection, and reflection. Artists are encouraged to develop installations that not only captivate visually, but also engage with meaningful social themes such as identity, community, inequality, sustainability, or transformation. Or showcase existing work that incorporates light.
Selected artists will have the opportunity to present their work within the unique natural landscape of Clarens, and to be part of a growing platform that connects art, community upliftment, and long-term impact. Through the festival and its wider programs, artists may also benefit from mentorship, visibility, and collaboration opportunities.
Please submit your idea and during the upcoming festival of 2026, we will launch the official kick-off.
Frequently asked questions
If you experience any technical or payment issues while booking your tickets, please contact Tixsa directly. Their support team will be happy to assist you: tixsa.co.za/contact.
Unfortunately, tickets are non-refundable. However, if the same event takes place on another day—such as the Square of Lights and the Immersive Forest Light Tour, please contact us at worldvisualssa@gmail.com to discuss the possibility of changing your booking.
The Clarens Festival of Lights is a unique, sustainable, and educational light festival held in Clarens, Free State, South Africa, from 24-26 September 2026. It combines art, music, storytelling, and eco-friendly practices to create a magical experience for all ages.
Visitors can enjoy many events spread out threw Clarens.
The festival is open to everyone—families, tourists, local residents, corporate groups, and art enthusiasts of all ages.
We want the Clarens Festival of Lights to be welcoming and accessible to everyone. For this reason we work together with the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) to make the festival as welcoming and accessible as possible for everyone. Many festival locations offer step-free or wheelchair-friendly access, including the Square of Lights and the Immersive Forest Light Tour. Accessible parking, reserved seating, quiet spaces and assistance are available at selected events.
As accessibility varies between venues and activities, please check the information on each event page or contact us in advance to discuss your specific needs.
As this is the first edition of the festival, we do not yet have photographs from previous editions. The images on our website are visual impressions created from the artists’ original sketches and artwork concepts, using a combination of AI-generated imagery and selected stock photography. They are intended to give visitors an impression of the festival experience; the final installations may differ slightly.
The festival will continue in rain, so please dress appropriately and bring a raincoat or umbrella. Many events are insight, so there is always a place to stay warm and dry.
In the event of severe weather, certain outdoor activities may be delayed, relocated or cancelled for safety reasons. Any updates will be shared on our website and social media channels.
Clarens offers a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, lodges and self-catering accommodation and camp sittes. We recommend booking early, as accommodation may fill up quickly during the festival. Visit the accommodation section so see all options
Yes! We would love your help during the festival. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us using the contact form on our website.
The Clarens Festival of Lights transforms the entire village into a celebration of light, art, music, nature and community. Unlike traditional light festivals, it brings together spectacular installations, immersive experiences and local stories against the breathtaking backdrop of Clarens and the Maluti Mountains. It is a community-driven experience that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Yes the festival’s edition for 2026 is confirmed.
Businesses can support the festival through Main Sponsorship, Silver Sponsorship, or Community Sponsorship packages, each providing various levels of exposure and benefits. We can send you our sponsor brochure of get in contact with you directly. Like to know more about sponsor possibilities contact Kenny Khati: kenny.khati@yahoo.com
The festival is committed to minimising its environmental impact. We use solar-powered lighting and recycled materials, reuse lights across multiple events, incorporate Clarens’ natural beauty into our displays, provide shared taxi services, and ensure that all festival areas are thoroughly cleaned afterwards.
The festival is fee of charge, in the sense that the festival premisses, the town itself is accesible and some events are free. However events we will charge an entrance fee. You can not buy one ticket for all events, you pay per seperate event.
Book tickets online here: https://clarensfestivaloflights.co.za/tickets/
During the festival their will also be a tickets sales point.
Artists can participate through an Open Art Call for 2027 edition, see application button on the website.
The Clarens Festival of Lights is organised by Worldvisuals South Africa in collaboration with local organisations, businesses, artists and community partners.
Get In Touch With Us
The Clarens Festival of Lights is an initiative by Worldvisuals South Africa, based in Clarens. Reach out to us via email for questions regarding jobs, programmes, partnerships, or otherwise.
18 Larola Street, Clarens, 9707
Free State, South Africa
Registration No.: K2025523120
Telephone: +27 71 3664630
E-mail: worldvisualssa@gmail.com
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