By Nokwanda Ncwane
Last week, I attended an In the Park music festival at Chris Saunders Park in Umhlanga for the first time, and honestly, it was a splendid way to spend the day outdoors, enjoying Durban’s sunny winter.
Headlining the festival was the incredibly talented Zonke Dikana, with performances from vocalists Skye Wanda and Tugela Fairy Simmy, as well as Radio 2000 DJ Ismail Abrahams.
And, of course, the Durban weather showed up!
People arrived with blankets, cushions in tow and various picnic setups, making the park feel relaxed and festive. It was just the atmosphere where one could sit back, relax and enjoy the music in the park, as the festival is aptly named.
But there was one thing that caught me off guard – the food prices!!
There were no pass-outs, meaning once you entered the park, got your wristband strapped on, you could not leave the venue and come back into the park. Coolerboxes, beverages or food items could not be brought into the park!
While this makes sense from a business and organisers’ perspective because it ‘forces’ people to spend their coins at the event, however some of the prices were exorbitant, especially considering the drinks and the meals weren’t gourmet takeaway meals either.
Four wings with a small side portion of chips cost around R150, while a boerewors roll was R80. A bottle of water cost R28, and three cans of Gordons Gin and Tin were R350. The range of drinks on offer was quite limited too.
I also noticed there seemed to be far more alcohol options than soft drinks and juice. As someone who doesn’t drink alcoholic beverages, I felt the food and beverage offering could have been a little more balanced and catered to a wider range of people.
That said, the music definitely made up for it.
I particularly enjoyed Ismail Abrahams’ old school R&B set, that women from all age groups could sing-along to! Yes, women, the set was especially dedicated to the women! . He also threw in a few Maskandi hits, which had the crowd singing along and showed that he knew exactly what would get the Durban crowd going. It was a great way to get the crowd warmed up.
Then came Skye Wanda, who had the crowd wanting more by the time she left the stage. Simmy, was up next and brought her own energy to the performance. At one point, she even came down from the stage to interact with the crowd, singing and greeting fans. Those little moments made the performance feel more personal.
Then came the wait for the main act – Zonke.
There was a bit of a wait while her crew prepared the stage and completed the sound check.
At some point the crowd got agitated, while we all wondered what was taking so long, but it became clear that Zonke wanted everything to be just right before stepping onto the stage.
And when she finally arrived, she delivered!
Zonke performed some of her well-known songs, including Feelings, Best Days of My Life, Viva The Legend and Uyandithanda. Her soulful voice and stage presence had the crowd completely locked in.
By the end of her set, I was left with the same feeling I had after Skye Wanda and Tugela Fairy — I wanted more!
Would I go again? Definitely!
Despite my complaints about the food prices, I really enjoyed the overall experience. There’s something refreshing about spending a day outdoors, listening to live music, meeting people and simply taking a break from your usual routine.
And the best part? You don’t even need to go with a big group of friends.
If you’re worried about attending alone, don’t be. The relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to mingle, meet new people and enjoy the experience at your own pace.
So, would I attend another In the Park festival? Absolutely. Perhaps, I’d grab a bite somewhere, prior to entering the park!
