Ekurhuleni Spring Fiesta 2026: 16 years in and still Joburg's biggest party

There are festivals, and then there is Spring Fiesta.

Back for its 16th year, the iconic festival returned to Wild Waters in Boksburg this past Saturday, 3 October, and reminded us why it remains the one to attend in Joburg. 

The sun was out, the stages were stacked and the people brought the energy, all while looking fashionable.

A line-up that had something for everyone

From the heavyweight Main Stage featuring Scorpion Kings, Msaki, Cassper Nyovest, Kelvin Momo and K.O, to the soulful corners of Soul Candi Classics and Stay True Sounds, through to the unapologetic bars at the Hip Hop Stage hosted by Speedsta and the unstoppable groove at Piano Dreamland and Bakone AfroTech, it was a day-long journey through the sounds moving South Africa right now.

The highlight for me was definitely Scorpion Kings on the main stage. They performed right after Cassper Nyovest, who also gave a brilliant performance. Both Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa performed their catalogue with added Maskandi songs, which got the crowd screaming with excitement because it was so unexpected.

Good food, great sound

Attendees not only had options for music but also for food. There were many food trucks and a seating area where guests could cool off and grab a bite while still hearing the music, without feeling like they were missing out.

The sound was very impressive across all stages, which was a big plus because the whole point of the festival is the music.

Safety was taken seriously

As I was leaving, traffic was well controlled and I saw security confronting alleged phone snatchers. 

This actually made the overall experience even better for me. It showed that crime was not tolerated and security acted quickly, especially given the current climate in the country.

Where it fell short

However, I do wish there was more signage to help people find their way between stages.

Another downside was the VIP and VVIP area. Both were packed with very limited seating. It felt more like a general experience. The only real benefit was the toilets, which did not have long queues like the general ones.

The venue looked nice with summer balls and butterfly balloons around. The screen on the main stage also mimicked a butterfly, with beautiful graphics that changed throughout the day.

It looked amazing at night, but the problem is it stayed like that even when artists were performing. 

If you were not close to the stage, you could not see who was playing, what they were wearing or their dance moves. It would have been much better if they had shown the artists on the screens during their sets.

But overall, Spring Fiesta delivered exactly what it promised – great music, good energy and a proper start to summer. With a few small improvements here and there, the event proved why it is still running the Joburg scene 16 years later. 

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