30 March 2026
Melville’s 7th Street and 4th Avenue were transformed into a colourful playground for the third annual “The Happening” grassroots arts and culture festival. Photos: Ihsaan Haffejee
Artists and musicians took over sections of Melville’s 7th Street and 4th Avenue for the third annual “The Happening” grassroots arts and culture festival.
The streets were closed to vehicle traffic and became canvases for artists who created works directly on the road, while local musicians, dancers and singers took turns showing their talent.
The event offered a much-needed sense of relief and togetherness for residents of the suburb and nearby areas, who have been grappling with severe water shortages in recent months.
Artists used the usually busy 7th Street as a canvas during “The Happening”.
“Melville is an amazing community. It’s a multicultural, creative, very funky suburb, and we wanted to help promote community arts here,” said Cian McClelland, one of the festival’s organisers.
McClelland said residents and local businesses support the festival, which is organised entirely by volunteers, many of whom also helped clean the streets ahead of the event.
Sebastian Oldsmith rides his quirky vehicle which he calls the Quinta Cyclic Petro Keg through the streets of Melville.
“The whole point is that there’s no branding here. It’s about creating space for community-driven activities without the involvement of big corporate sponsors,” he said.
Resident Steven Malumba said he was pleased to see the community out on the streets, enjoying themselves and showing their creative talents.
Zulu dancing group Reach SA performed in the streets of Melville as part of The Happening.
“The community really came together during the water crisis. People did their best to support one another, organise, and attend protests. So it’s good to see that same spirit of unity continuing through this festival,” he said.
Beyond the festivities, the event also plays an important role in supporting local businesses and drawing people back to Melville.
Artist Taria Dawson sketches a street scene depicting 7th Street in Melville.
Musician Struan Douglas plays his trumpet as part of the creative festivities of The Happening.
