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Another herd of young people are about to embark on the annual hot mess that is the aptly named Rage Festival.

Yes, the kiddos who once loved tickle-fights and rolling in the mud are about to enter the crucible of adulthood via the hormonal petri dish that is a matric vacation. God be with parents everywhere, but especially the residents of Ballito.

It’s of course in jest that I refer to the annual matric holidays as anything but a chance to emphatically celebrate the end of their first 12 years of schooling. There are still plenty of lessons in store for our naive optimists, but for now, we should let the kids have their fun and avoid seeing their future through our jaded eyes. I say this as a parent, as well as a recovering teenager – both of which are terrible yet wonderful states of being.

The 2023 Rage Festival will be unleashed in the Ballito and Umhlanga area from 1 to 10 December, with a predicted ‘abundance of joy and adventure’ on offer over the course of the ten-day bash.

 

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The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (read: boring adults) has already warned school leavers to avoid ‘dangerous’ parties, saying “As we congratulate all our pupils for reaching this milestone, we want to urge them to continue to conduct themselves appropriately beyond this point.”

“We strongly discourage the attendance of pens down celebrations and matric rage parties that are extremely dangerous.”

The Rage Festival has however been around long enough to be considerably more organised than a piss-up at your uncle’s beachhouse. Local police services and private security companies will monitor the madness, and medical services and the Red Frogs, a cool volunteer support network that acts like ‘sober buddies,’ will make sure nobody ends up as a viral TikTok video.

The safety of our Ragers is our top priority, and we have implemented numerous measures to ensure that you feel safe and secure while attending our festival.

The kids will be alright, and this is a good time for parents to remember what it was like taking off that awful brown and grey school uniform for the last time. A place called The Sound Factory stacked to the rafters with boisterous young people sounds like just the ticket. R3,700 if you want the VVIP ticket.

 

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It’s here and now where 18 years of lessons on morality, self-control, and independence take the first solo flight. It’s a terrifying thought for parents, but n moerse jol for the kids.

YOLO

[source:citizen]