THE THUMP of bass finally faded at 4am on Monday, ending a marathon Diamonds & Dorings Festival that for the first time unfolded inside the Kimberley Diamond Oval cricket stadium.
Forced from its traditional Vaal‑side home at Langley Resort by flooding, the 26‑year‑old music showcase swapped river views for floodlights – and discovered the joys and jolts of life in a suburb.
A packed Oval, a quiet street
Organisers confirm that 8,000 tickets were scanned at the gates. “Attendance was substantially higher than last year’s post‑Covid comeback,” said Shantelle Engelbrecht, head of marketing for Exilite Holdings, the festival licence holder.
Security, she added, “was exceptionally tight with a visible SAPS presence, private guards, traffic officials and marshals”, resulting in an incident‑free event and no serious medical call‑outs.
A late‑night drive‑by…