Picture the most ambitious culinary theatre you’ve ever imagined – where world-class gastronomy meets spectacular entertainment in perfect harmony. That was The Luxurious Marble Circus, which transformed Muldersdrift’s Ground the Venue into an epicurean wonderland this October.

Now in its second year, this two-day festival welcomed over 12 000 guests across 75 000 square metres of meticulously curated dining and entertainment spaces. Mixing live music, design and fine dining, the festival was ambitious, but in no way intimidating.

A taste of things to come

Our journey began at the exclusive pre-event Pink Table Dinner at Saint Restaurant, where the Marble Group showcased a taster of what David Higgs, the Head Chef behind Marble’s food direction, had lined up for the festival. The evening set expectations sky-high for the main event, and those expectations were not just met – they were surpassed entirely.

Culinary craftsmanship at scale

Armed with Playground in the Field tickets, we explored all the different themed spaces and dining areas that made up the Luxurious Marble Circus, each housing carefully curated food stations that were churning out all sorts of tasty small plates and sharing bites. From sliders and sushi to more upmarket festival food, like BBC Food’s lobster rolls, the food offering challenged traditional event catering boundaries, and all the focus was on flavour and presentation.

Entertainment that delivers

The entertainment lineup featured South Africa’s finest: DJ Zinhle, Shekhinah, Mörda, and Mi Casa all delivered standout performances, while the Soweto Gospel Choir stole the show. The main stage was really something else, with impressive projection mapping and pyrotechnics that landed a host of goosebump moments throughout the festival weekend.

Purpose beyond pleasure

Beyond the spectacle, the Luxurious Marble Circus, together with Investec and via the LMC Legacy initiative, aimed to raise R1.5 million for food, fashion, and creative education projects. This philanthropic element added extra meaning to the festival’s luxury positioning, with their goal being to set a benchmark for events in South Africa and to truly ‘leave a legacy beyond luxury.’

Looking ahead

Pre-registration for 2026 is already open, and social media buzz suggests next year’s edition will surpass even these impressive standards. For South Africa’s culinary and entertainment landscape, The Luxurious Marble Circus has established itself as an unmissable annual celebration. And there’s talk of a Family Festival too!

It just gets better and better. Don’t miss this fantastic outdoor affair in 2026.

About The Luxurious Marble Circus partners

The Luxurious Marble Circus is a grand collaboration between The Marble Group, Grid Worldwide, G&G – The Goosebumps Company and title partner, Investec. A fantazma of feastery, finery and funnery, this two-day event fuses fine dining with an elaborate outdoor experience, entertainment and theatrics.

Official partner brands adding flair to this fabulicious affair include Mercedes-Benz, Savanna, Heineken, Hennesy, Don Julio, Johnnie Walker, Moët & Chandon, Schweppes and 947.