Highlands echo with sound: Wakkerstroom Music Festival turns 15
Music Festival at Wakkerstroom promises to strike a high note for a magical 15th anniversary weekend.
From 20 to 22 March, the highlands of Mpumalanga will echo with strings, piano and song as the Music Festival at Wakkerstroom marks its 15th anniversary.
What began as a small gathering of classical music lovers has grown into one of the country’s most distinctive cultural weekends.
Tucked beneath the southern Drakensberg escarpment, near the KwaZulu-Natal border, Wakkerstroom was better known for its wetlands and birdlife. Yet each March, this quiet highland village now transforms into a concert hall of note.
Churches, community halls and intimate home venues host chamber concerts and recitals, offering audiences a rare proximity to performers.
This year’s edition promises world-class performances, emerging South African talent and a programme that balances classical favourites with fresh new works.
Programme details will follow soon, and artist announcements will also be available on official festival platforms.
A MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH LOCAL SOUL
The Music Festival at Wakkerstroom has always drawn strength from the town’s unique and picturesque setting. The town lies near Volksrust, roughly three hours’ drive from Johannesburg, making it easily accessible for urban visitors.
Its surrounding wetlands form part of the Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve, recognised internationally for bird conservation. The music and landscape combined create a caleidoscope of morning rehearsals, afternoon workshops and candlelit performances in the evening.
COMMUNITY AT THE HEART OF THE FESTIVAL
Beyond the headline concerts, the anniversary programme includes workshops, community events and what organisers describe as musical surprises. Local businesses, guesthouses and cafés all play their part, welcoming visitors with hospitality synonymous with the festival.
Over fifteen years, the event has contributed to both Mpumalanga’s cultural calendar and the local economy. It brought tourism to a village with fewer than a thousand residents and highlighted South Africa’s quieter cultural gems.
As autumn edges into the Highveld, the countdown to 20 March has begun. Wakkerstroom’s Music Festival is ready to celebrate a milestone year, proving that great music does not need a grand metropolis.