Two stages, one wonder-filled world. Best in class entertainment. That’s the promise of The Magical Marble Family Fest, a joyful storybook weekend where families move from headline-level spectacle to unexpected, intimate discovery in just a few steps.

Curated over two days, Explorers of all ages can look forward to goosebump-worthy entertainment from the Magical Marble Main Stage to the Forest Stage and at all the nooks and crannies in between. While talent offers slightly different feels on the Saturday and Sunday, Explorers are destined to dance, jiggle and jam to their favourite beats.

On Saturday, the festival opens with a bright, feel-good rush made for families. Grand Explorers get their golden-oldies moment with Me & Mr Green’s throwback cover-band joy, while Jeremy Loops delivers that big, live, crowd-lifting energy. GoodLuck blends electronic and live sounds that feel like sunshine, and Mi Casa – a Luxurious Marble Circus favourite – arrives with their signature traditional house-and-pop sound. DJ Fresh brings the unmistakable Mzansi house and afro house pulse and German duo Laura Zimmermann x Lyam Cruz (violin meets DJ in an EDM duo) add a high-voltage, live-touch rush to the kind of set that’s built for family-wide, feet-on-the-grass euphoria.

Beyond the headliners, there are moments tailor-made for the next generation of dreamers: Ethan English, the 12-year-old DJ from Dubai who recently opened for David Guetta at Ushuaia, drops the commercial dance energy and a story that teens will feel in their bones. Proof that you’re never “too young” to be extraordinary. And for the little ones (and the secretly-not-so-little ones), Vin Groovin offers a nostalgic Disney throwback that turns the day into one big singalong, where toddlers, tweens and grown-ups all know the words.

On Sunday, the festival shifts into a deeper, rhythm-driven celebration, where amapiano, 3-step, afro house and afro tech carry the story forward with a grown-up glow and all-ages energy. Babalwa M and Zee Nxumalo lead the amapiano and 3-step wave, Sun El Musician brings that immersive afro house/afro tech atmosphere, and DJ Zinhle keeps the dancefloor moving with South African house and afro house favourites. Mi Casa, Laura Zimmermann x Lyam Cruz, Ethan English, and Vin Groovin are all back in the mix for “this is my song” moments and wide-eyed, dance-driven wonder.

But beyond the music, the Magical Marble Family Fest offers a world designed for every age. Little Explorers have dedicated entertainment and playful spaces that feel safe, sensory and story-rich. Junior Explorers get nonstop discoveries, performances and moments of “I can’t believe this is happening!” Teen Explorers get big-stage energy alongside interactive sports and gaming experiences. And moms, dads and Grand Explorers can let their hair down, laugh, play and jive to the kind of live music that brings generations together for a magical weekend unlike anything that exists in real-life.

The Magical Marble Family Fest takes place 9 and 10 May 2026 at James and Ethel Gray Park, Johannesburg.