It’s been six years since the WWF co–founded Earth Hour in Sydney and we are still as passionate about it as when we flicked our first light switches off in 2007. This year Earth Hour is on 23 March at 20h30 and once again people have brought forth their best and most creative ideas to spend this electricity-free hour. Check out the official video:

How to spend Earth Hour 2013

Things to do outdoors

Dans van die Vlamme, Paarl

If you feel like spending Earth Hour outdoors, The Psychedelic Theatre’s fire troupe is performing Dans van die Vlamme: a picnic on fire at the Taalmonument’s Garden Theatre in Paarl. The performance relies on the human body, fire and live acoustic music to tell the story. You can bring your own picnic basket or order it from the Volksmond Coffee Shop.

Tel 021-863-2800

Picnic at Steenberg Vineyards, Constantia

Steenberg Vineyards in Constantia is also hosting a picnic which will be lit up by communal fires, torches and floating candles on the pools. You can pre-order a basket from the winery’s restaurant, Bistro Sixteen82.

Tel 021-713-2211

Candle-lit dinner at Maropeng Hotel, Krugersdorp

If you prefer the comfort of a restaurant, Maropeng hotel in Krugersdorp, a green accommodation establishment, is celebrating this hour with a candle lit dinner. The dinner starts at 18h00 and all the food will be prepared before 20h30 when the lights will be switched off. If you’d rather make a day of it, there will be an Earth Hour event at Hutchinson Park in Amanzimtoti where you can enjoy markets, bands and a ‘trashion’ show, where the models will walk in outfits made from trash,

Open from 12h00 – 22h00
Email [email protected], tel 082-535-1966

Photo: Sarako

For the adventurous at heart

Go stargazing

Can you think of a better time to look at our breathtaking constellations than when there are absolutely no lights to disturb your view? Find the South African Large Telescope (SALT) in Sutherland, Northern Cape, where the stars outnumber the endless fields of wildflowers of Namaqualand, the Karoo National Park in the Western Cape provides guided night tours and you can enjoy the brightest stargazing experience you’ve ever had at Entabeni Private Game Reserve in Limpopo.

Visit the South African Tourism website for more options.

Have your own Drum Cafe

Imagine how amazing it would be to beat one of a dozen or more drums in the dark, creating the most enchanting rhythms under the beautiful stars. All you need to do is provide the venue and bring your friends.

Contact Drum Cafe for more information

Photo: Aine D

Things to do at home

If you are a house-mouse and looking for some cool ideas to avoid sitting alone in the dark, invite some friends over and have a fondue, play board games and charades by candlelight and set sky lanterns free and see how it lights up the night.

For more ideas for things to do in the dark visit WWF South Africa on Facebook or check out Earth Hour on the WWF South Africa website

Photo: Yksin

Think of your future

Earth Hour is meant to be a reality check on how much electricity your household uses. It should inspire you to be more eco-conscious in the long run. Start off by exchanging your electrical lights for solar lights; get a Solar Buddy (a portable solar-powered lantern), a Consol Solar Jar available at Maddox and Meyers, Fanaticus Hobbies and Games and Melissa’s Cape Town stores or online at Gift Gardens, hang solar fairy lights or snowballs in your garden available at Gift Gardens or exchange your candles for eco-friendly flameless candles available at www.epromo.co.za.

Photo: TreasureAgain

So stop fretting about whether the traffic lights will be off, what will happen if the aeroplanes can’t find the runway in the dark or what your view will be like when Table Mountain turns off its display lights and start focusing on Earth Hour’s true importance and its unending potential.