Over 20 000 expected to attend
DAY 1:
“We are excited about our programme, this is the biggest and best event to date. The festival is sold out. It’s going to be three days of magical energy.”
MALKERNS – “We are expecting over 20 000 a day to attend the 16th edition of the MTN Bushfire Festival.”
This is according to festival Director Jiggs Thorne, as he shared his excitement at the turnout at the very first day.
He said they were expecting a huge turnout as they are operating at full capacity this year, unlike last year where COVID-19 regulations saw them operate at 50 per cent capacity.
This publication caught up with Thorne half an hour before the gates were officially opened at 4pm.
He said: “We are excited about our programme, this is the biggest and best event to date. The festival is sold out. It’s going to be three days of magical energy. We are expecting people from all over the world to come to Eswatini. If you got your tickets we can’t wait to see you.”
It has been reliably gathered that since 2014 the festival managed to sell out their tickets.
Tickets
According to Thorne, tickets sold out on Monday but were available on other digital platforms which were also sold out by Tuesday.
This year saw three campsites being put up for tourists attending the 16th Edition of MTN Bushfire Festival. These are; Rush Luxury Adventure camping site, which is situated 1km away from the main area, Haram Bee camping site.
This year there is also a new camping site that was constructed by the turn of the road to Mahlanya. There is also a designated family area, where campers can bring their children as well. There are also four stages namely; Main Stage, Ballantines Stage, Amphitheatre and Jagermaster.
Addition
However, this year saw an addition of the Amstel stage where local DJs The Bishops were the first opening act of the night.
A Medical Assist 0113 ambulance was spotted at the venue.
Phumulani Dlamini from the medical fraternity, shared with this publication that they have been at the venue since Wednesday and they have set-up a mini clinic at the venue that has a stretch bed. They also have one doctor but they are expecting to have two doctors throughout the festival including nurses.
Dlamini said that so far they have only treated minor ailments such as, headaches and stomaches.
Fire personnel were also spotted at the venue to ensure safety of patrons. Firefighter Phetsile Fakudze shared with this publication that since they arrived at 1pm, they had not responded to any fire emergencies.
She shared that it’s usually the cooking stalls that were prone to fire break outs because of cooking oil. They advise food vendors to always have fire extinguishers and a fire blanket just in case there’s a fire that breaks out.
Various stalls were also spotted at the venue such as corporate and different food stalls.
MTN Bushfire Director Jiggs Thorne (C), artist KrTC of Hip Hop (L) and other festival goers listening to Rumba Tumba’s set at the The Amphitheatre.
There’s also a designated family area, where campers can bring their children.