Rejoice, for festival season is here. Coachella might not quite have delivered this year, but, never fear, as there are more unique festivals on the horizon.
Behold the Corona sunsets festival. Yes, that’s right, curated by the folks who bring you lime-in-a-bottle style beer.
Now, the Mexican beverage brand has another summery offering; a festival dedicated to the best sunsets around the world.
Having already established sunset festivals in Mexico’s Tulum and the Dominican Republic’s Santa Domingo since 2016, this month Corona is taking the event global.
Kicking things off in Cape Town, South Africa, the festivities will then begin their tour around the world, heading to Chile, Peru, Italy, Canada, Japan, China, India, Dominican Republic, and the UK (let’s hope the sun shows up for that).
I got the opportunity to experience the global festival’s inaugural event in Cape Town, which, with its exquisite sunsets, became the ideal destination to start things off,.
The one-day event, which might be smaller than other festivals, packed a punch, situated in front of the beach, ready for the sun to take its rightful place as the headliner.
A country club on the seafront offered spectacular views of both the unmissable main stage, and the glittering views of the Atlantic Ocean in front.
The main grounds were also incased between Cape Town’s cultural landmarks; the Lion’s Head and Twelve Apostles mountain range, so wherever you look was a perfect photo op.
While the sunset was the definite headliner, when it came to the entertainment, though I wasn’t familiar with some of the South African musicians performing in one of two stages dotted around the site, it’s hard not to be entranced by the dulcet tones of South African artist Msaki, or the energy of American house DJ Louis Vega.
Unlike other events though, there was a real anticipation of the main act – the sunset itself. It would have been a bummer if the sun didn’t deliver, but thankfully on the actual day there were no weatherly hiccups whatsoever.
The sun did what it had to, glistening upon the face art-adorned festival goers, trapeze artists, and dancers in attendance.
Then, as evening approached, a cascade of orange filled the entire premise, aptly colouring in the ubiquitous Corona branding in a yellowy glow.
To mark the sunset’s significance, bubble machines dotted around the site all went off, in beautiful harmony as ‘eco fog’ danced around the stage, with lights, fire dancers, and performances all in tow.
My only worry is how the festival hopes to match up in destinations known for temperamental weather (what might we expect of the UK, for example).
Corona’s sunset festivals wasn’t just to marvel at the sun, but also inspire a more eco-conscious approach to festivals.
The brand has been partnering with sustainability brand Oceanic Global to achieve recognition as a plastic-free and environmentally-friendly event.
To that end, no single-use plastic was used at the event, with attendees having to use paper cups and straws for drinks, and separated bins to compost food on site.
A series of immersive experiences were also available to encourage people to learn and participate in respecting natural beauty and ecosystems.
Workshops included upcycling sessions with a local creator, exploring urban sustainability-low cost solutions, carpet-weaving, drum circles, art classes and more.
For food, Corona considered eco-friendly culinary experiences, incorporating natural ingredients and plant-based options, and working with local, sustainable businesses where possible.
This looked like vegan dumplings, halal-certified Indian street food, vegan ice creams, and garnishes put together from local farm-to-table businesses.
I can’t wait to see the line-up for the UK festival and the amenities on offer when it’s the sunset event comes to our shores.
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