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. Bring 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.
Supported by
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
Our ambitions for the festival are high, but the final scale of the event will depend on available funding. While some attractions are costly, others are more affordable. We are confident that the first edition in 2026 will be a success, providing a strong foundation for the festival to grow and evolve over time.
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.
The festival uses solar-powered lights, recycled materials, and integrates the natural beauty of Clarens into its displays to ensure minimal environmental impact. This means no generators are used in case of loadshedding.
It’s the first-of-its-kind light festival in South Africa, featuring eco-friendly installations, promoting social themes, and providing a platform for local talent from all nine South African provinces.
The festival is fee of charge. However for some events we will charge a small fee to cover a part of the costs of the festival.
Tickets will be available soon
Want to make this festival happen? You can donate via our Thundafund Crowfunding via this link.
Artists can participate through an Open Art Call, where one artist from each province will be selected to showcase their work. More information will be available once the festival has secured its funding.
The Clarens Festival of Lights is an initiative from Worldvisuals SA in collaboration with several volunteers and partners. We will work together with local businesses, the community and schools to set up the project.
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 the Lantern Parade, Choir Performance, Interactive Art Installations, Glow-in-the-dark Art, Campfire Stories, Immersive Forest Light Tour, Candle Light Concert, LED Staff Performance, Neon Tribal Dance, Projection Mapping on Titanic Rock, and Silent Disco.
The festival is open to everyone—families, tourists, local residents, corporate groups, and art enthusiasts of all ages.
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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