Parys – Here’s what you can look forward to for first ever FS Flower Festival

It’s for real and it’s almost here – the Free State Flower Festival to be hosted for the first time ever not only in South Africa but in Parys in the heart of the Free State Province on 11 and 12 November 2016.

This spectacular event will decorate the main street with over 5 000 plants but will also give local businesses the opportunity to take initiative and use the event to their own benefit with original ideas. The official programme will turn the main street into a colourful festive atmosphere. Let’s make it a proud Parys initiative making the most of it,  making sure  the festival returns to Parys in 2017.

Here’s what you can expect of the programme for the festival:

Friday 11 November

9am – 3pm:   Flower Festival Forum (Conference) – 200 delegates – The Patuma Hotel – Gathering of local and international  speakers discussing key issues in the flower industry and unlocking opportunities for business.

6pm – 7:30pm:  Palesa Precinct Activations – including marimba bands, steel drum bands, dance, drum-circles, clowns,  face painting, local artists and cultural groups.

7:30pm – 9:00pm:     The Gathering of the Flowers – a musical theatre  production specially created for the Free State Madeira  Flower Festival starring  Gcina Mhlophe as the Africa storyteller. It tells the tale of the flowers that gather to celebrate our heritage and deliberate the drought  that has been ravaging the land. With toe-tapping new music, giant talking flower puppets, dancers, singers and spectacular costumes and lighting effects .

Saturday 12 November

1pm – 2pm:   Carnival Parade – featuring Madeiran dancers, a Flower wall and carpet decoration, 5 big Flower floats, giant puppets, stilt walkers, over 600 participants in spectacular carnival costumes dancing and jiving through the main street of Parys.

2pm – 7:30pm:   Palesa Precinct Activations – The Precinct will also  include colourful floral exhibitions, fun stalls, a Miss  Free State Flower 2016 contest, a kiddies village and great food and beverage outlets.

7:30pm – 9:00pm:       Gathering of the Flowers – Repeat performance.

All activities on the Saturday will take place in the main street of Parys from Klipspruit Mall up to the robot c/r of Breë and Van Coller.