07 Aug 2023

Francistown Colour festival, which was held at Limpopo Leissure gardens near Shashemooke over the weekend was one of the most colourful and vibrant festivals celebrated with great enthusiasm and joy by patrons of all ages.

The festival, a joyful occasion, brought both old and young who came in large numbers to celebrate life and happiness.

The festival was characterised by splashing of coloured powders and water on participants, with plenty of music and food.

In addition, there was also beach volleyball and five aside games played on Ntshe River side while quad bike entertained the children.

The festival marks the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring, and gives children and their parents a chance to shake off the winter blues in a spectacular fashion.

“The Francistown colour festival is an event that paints not just skin but also the hearts with colour of happiness,”
said Oratile Keleboletse, one of those who attended the festival for the first time following a long break after the last one held in 2014.

She explained that the festival came at the right time despite the chilling cold in the northern part of the country.

One of the event organisers, Pablo Tshambani said the event went as planned.

“I am grateful at the number of people who attended the event.

We had expected close to 1 000 people but the number increased dramatically to double itself,” said Tshambani.

He explained that people started trickling in as early as 10am and the queer was still visible in the late afternoon.

Tshambani said what was most interesting was the fact that the event attracted not only residents of neighbouring villages, but people from as far as Tutume.

He explained that they were planning to include more sporting codes such as netball  in next year’s event, adding that colour festival was celebrated across the world.

He said the main objective of the Francistown Colour Festival was to foster harmony amongst the district’s various ethnic groups.

Tshambani said the festival was a family event but also catered for friends and the corporate world for business networking in a pleasurable manner.

He thanked revellers for honouring the all white theme to be finished off with colourful paints.

Activities at the event included colour flashing, face painting, zipline and quad biking.

DJs in the likes of DJ Que, DJ Missy, DJ Chen and others wrap up the day’s festivities. ENDS