Smoking Dragon Returns For a Fifth Unmissable New Year’s Eve Festival

Smoking Dragon will be celebrating its Fifth New Year’s Eve Festival this year with a three day event (29 December to 1 January) hosted by Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge, set in the beautiful Northern Drakensberg. The Smoking Dragon New Year’s Eve Festival 2015 is unique in that it offers families the opportunity to celebrate the parting of the old year and the arrival of the new one in a safe, beautiful environment whilst listening to top South African artists. From the success of the last four years we can expect a dynamic festival for family revellers of conscious festival goers and many international tourists. “The line-up is always very carefully selected where we try and take the audience on an auditory journey, seamlessly crossing through the different music categories from folk all the way to electronic, in this way no genre dominates so everyone is catered for. Smoking Dragon is all about community and partners with RAISE an NGO to run three days of workshops before the event in an attempt to capitalize on the influx of trained and dynamic individuals in the industry."

"The idea also being to increase exposure and revenue for local musicians and crafters over the period. The festival tries to support local more established businesses in the Northern Berg by encouraging people to support the wide range of accommodation and activities on offer. As the first and second of January are in fact a Friday and a Saturday we are hoping that families will chill with us for a while longer than normal.” comments organiser, Ilsa Roberts. What sets this festival apart from others, is that there is so much to do in the area. From lounging in the pool, mountain biking through the Northern Berg, hot air ballooning from the festival grounds or listening to the top SA talent, the Smoking Dragon New Year’s Eve Festival 2015 is not only off the beaten path, it’s on a whole groove of its own.

The incredible entertainment line-up includes: The Kiffness, Albert Frost, Haezer, Das Kapital, Majozi and many more. Camping with a festival ticket is free with access to two dams, a river, clean ablutions, a kid's zone and food and craft stalls as well as that fabulous view of the Amphitheatre all the way to Cathkin Peak. For those who would like a bit of extra comfort there is also the option to stay in the Amphitheatre Backpacker's Lodge campground at R135 per night. Here you can enjoy their restaurant, bar, free sauna, jacuzzi, bouldering cave, internet cafe and rock pool.