Festival vibes hit high notes

[caption id="attachment_37262" align="alignright" width="300"] VERSATILE MUSICIAN: Talented multi-instrumentalist Sami Pageaux Waro performs at the festival. Picture: JUDY DE VEGA[/caption]

THERE was a party mood at the annual Richmond Hill Street Festival in Stanley Street, Port Elizabeth, at the weekend.

For 12 hours, thousands of revellers had their pick of entertainment at the festival, which also included fine food, beverages and craft stalls.

Now in its fifth year and hosted by the Alliance Francaise in Port Elizabeth, the festival featured 25 national and international artists.

Nothathu Nkqayini, 32, who lives in the Richmond Hill area, said she "could not miss the festival for anything".

She added: "I am attending the festival for the third time and it has definitely grown a lot. I enjoyed the performance by the NMMU [Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University] Big Band and other artists as well.

"There is also a lot of good things that one can buy from the stalls," she said.

Ezra van Vuuren, 22, of Cotswold, attended the festival with his friends.

"I like the music and vibe of the festival.

"Last year I was here but this year they have upped the standard.

The music has definitely improved and I enjoyed the performance by Dawn by Law, which is a hip-hop group," he said.

Marlene Booth, 43, of Johannesburg, attended the event with her partner, Raymond Heinee, 53. "We are having a good time and the festival is absolutely incredible.

"It is a good day's entertainment and I like the fact that they also cater for the oldies," Booth said.

Darren Mungur, of Soul Good, the company that organised the event, said they were happy with the turnout.

"This has been the best festival with much stronger participation from all the restaurants in the area. There were also no injuries that were reported," Mungur said. - Yoliswa Sobuwa