The seventh edition of Picnic in the North (PiTN) is set to rock Clarens on 5 December 2026 for its annual summer gathering.
Launched in 2020 the popular 500-guest event has grown into a major multi-day tourism attraction that has added a unique nightlife offering to the Clarens travel and leisure experience.
Speaking exclusively to Journal News Network (JNN) ahead of the showpiece, popular DJ, entrepreneur and PITN founder, Shaxe Khumalo, shared that the initial concept stemmed from a trip he took to the scenic mountainous Eastern Free State, noting that he was amazed by the beauty of Clarens and wanted to create a getaway for people to take a break and shake off year-end fatigue.
This year features a Caribbean Island theme, backed by corporate partners such as Vodacom, Mitsubishi, Martell, SAB, and Arabella Wines, with a strict no-cooler-box rule enforced.
A multi-city promotional campaign leading up to the main event includes stops at Cappello Bloem, IZA Rooftop, Mokone Lifestyle in Kimberley, and Black Spade in Thaba Nchu.
Khumalo highlighted that the event prioritises local youth empowerment by hiring runners, security, and event crews directly from surrounding areas like Bethlehem, Fouriesburg and Paul Roux.
“We want to make the people of the Eastern Free State feel completely integrated into the brand. But more importantly, it's about youth empowerment.
“We don’t want to bus in staff from Bloemfontein. The runners, cleaning crews, event security, and parking marshals are all hired locally from the surrounding areas,” he added.
Khumalo shared that his musical set relies on reading the crowd in real time rather than using a fixed tracklist.
“Unapologetically, I play for the women. When the ladies are happy, the vibe is right. I don’t plan a rigid tracklist. I assess the room, feel the energy, and choose my first song. Once they sing along, I know exactly where to take them. Whether it’s smooth RnB, classic Kwaito, or the latest Afrobeat anthems, it’s just about delivering good music,” he said.
To execute the event smoothly, Khumalo also revealed that he relies substantively on a dedicated operations team comprising his brother, Pablo Khumalo, as well as event specialist, Lesley Jennings, to execute the show smoothly.
“On the day of the event, I’m just the happiest guy there because I trust my team completely. My phone can even be off,” said the popular jock.
Supported by the Dihlabeng Municipality and the Free State Department of Economic Development and Tourism, ticket sales are currently open via Webtickets.
