Back to Work

Events · Campaign

L.I.F.E Fest 2025: sponsoring a family festival.

One day of South African music, food, family fun and sport at the Northerns Sports Complex in Benoni, Gauteng, on 28 June 2025. The collaboration and sponsorship campaign by Hello Brand put brands face to face with an expected 4,000 festival-goers, with media before, during and after the day.

  • Sponsorship
  • Brand activations
  • Product sampling
  • Social media
  • Influencer partnerships
  • Radio and press
  • Event app
Festival day
28 June 2025
Expected attendance
4,000
Open
10 am to 8 pm
Sponsor tiers
4
A venue TV squeeze back: the L.I.F.E Fest key art fills the window and the L-frame, with the L.I.F.E Fest logo, a QR code and the words Scan to take part.

QR code that opens this L.I.F.E Fest case study on hellobrand.co.za.

A collaboration and sponsorship campaign by Hello Brand, Pablo's Playground and African Spirits for L.I.F.E Fest, which ran on 28 June 2025.

Chapter 1 of 7

The brief

L.I.F.E (Live, Integrated, Family, Experience) is a festival that celebrates South African music, food, sport and entertainment. The campaign invited brands to collaborate and sponsor it, and to use it to reach a diverse, community-driven audience.

The campaign positioned L.I.F.E as a modern cultural experience, built to appeal to a broad range of consumers and to give brands authentic connections with diverse communities.

  • 4,000 attendees to meet through brand activations, product sampling and event experiences.
  • Media exposure through radio, social media campaigns, digital advertising and press releases.
  • A cross-section of urban professionals, students, young adults and families.

Insight

An authentic South African experience, with music, food and community at its core, lets a brand stand for inclusivity, nostalgia and a shared South African identity.

Date
Saturday, 28 June 2025
Hours
10 am to 8 pm
Venue
Northerns Sports Complex, Benoni
Region
Gauteng
Expected attendance
4,000
Audience
LSM 7 to 9

The idea

L.I.F.E Fest key art: the silver L.I.F.E lettering and a turquoise fest wordmark over a painted landscape of blue sky, white clouds, orange trees and a green meadow with orange flowers.

Live. Integrated. Family. Experience.

An immersive, modern festival that echoes South African culture, community and heritage through music, food and family-friendly activities. Inclusive by design, for people of all backgrounds and all ages, it gives brands a platform to engage with a diverse, community-driven audience.

  • Celebrate South African music, food, sport and entertainment
  • Bring people of every background and age together for one day
  • Give brands authentic connections with diverse communities
  • Let brands stand for inclusivity, nostalgia and a shared South African identity

Chapter 2 of 7

A festival for the whole family

An unforgettable day for all ages, blending music, culture, adventure and relaxation in a vibrant setting: live acts and DJs, picnic spots, a VVIP backstage lounge, food and craft stalls, and a Fam Zone of games, rides and sport.

Around the grounds

Picnic spots

Relaxed seating with shaded picnic set-ups, for groups, couples and families to enjoy the live music.

VVIP backstage lounge

Exclusive access for VIPs, artists and sponsors, with a private bar, premium food and shaded lounge areas, and the chance to network with celebrities, influencers and key industry figures.

Food and craft stalls

Gourmet food trucks, local vendors and craft stalls, with curated menus of South African favourites and international flavours, and an artisan market of locally made goods, clothing and art.

The Fam Zone, for all ages

A multi-activity space for families, children and adventure-seekers.

Gaming and mini-cinemas

Interactive gaming booths with the latest PlayStation releases, and mini-cinema zones showing short films, music videos and animation.

Carnival rides

Classic thrill rides and carnival attractions: a Ferris wheel, bumper cars and family-friendly rollercoasters.

Kiddies play area

Supervised inflatable jungle gyms, climbing zones and obstacle courses, with interactive play areas for younger children.

Sport for every level

Touch rugby, cricket, rock-wall climbing and racing simulators: fun, physical activities for all skill levels.

The mechanical bull

A crowd-favourite challenge for adults and teens alike.

Chapter 3 of 7

In the venue, and before and after it

On the day, sponsors' brands were built into the grounds: activation zones, signage and video screens carrying their logos, branding on tickets and promotional material, and a live radio broadcast from the festival.

A screen showing the L.I.F.E Fest key art in an L-frame, with the L.I.F.E Fest logo, a QR code and the words Scan to take part.
The festival key art on a screen, with a code to scan.

On-site branding: activation zones, signage and video screens prominently featuring the Presenting sponsor's logo and branding, and its branding on all event signage, tickets and promotional materials.

Activation space: every tier came with its own space on the grounds, from the most prime and visible locations for the Presenting sponsor to a designated activation space for Bronze.

On air from the grounds: live outdoor radio broadcasts through a Mix FM partnership, with sponsor mentions during the broadcast.

Before, on the day, after

  • Before

    • A campaign on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok
    • Influencer partnerships and artist promotion
    • Targeted email and website promotions
    • Pre-event radio interviews and promotions
    • National and regional press coverage
  • On the day

    • Direct interaction with 4,000+ attendees
    • Brand activations, giveaways and product sampling
    • Live radio broadcasts and sponsor mentions
    • Event-day signage and video screens
  • After

    • Post-event promotions
    • Influencer content
    • Social media discussion
    • Post-event surveys

Chapter 4 of 7

The festival-goer's day

From the first post in their feed to the conversation after the day: seven moments where a sponsor meets the crowd.

  1. Hear about it

    On social media, from influencers and the artists, by email, in the press and in pre-event interviews on Mix FM.

  2. Arrive in Benoni

    Saturday, 28 June 2025, at the Northerns Sports Complex, open from 10 am to 8 pm.

  3. Settle in

    A shaded picnic spot in front of the live music, with food trucks and the artisan market close by.

  4. Play in the Fam Zone

    Gaming booths, rides, touch rugby and cricket, the climbing wall and the mechanical bull, with a supervised play area for the youngest.

  5. Meet the brands

    Sponsor activations, giveaways and product sampling across the grounds, with branding on signage and screens.

  6. Have their say

    The event app and post-event surveys give sponsors in-depth consumer data.

  7. Keep it going

    Post-event promotions, influencer content and social media discussion carry the festival beyond the day.

Chapter 5 of 7

Four ways to sponsor it

Presenting, Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsor tiers set what each partner gets: category exclusivity, the size and position of its activation space, branding on signage, tickets and promotional material, social and radio mentions, and tickets for its guests.

  1. Tier 1 · Presenting sponsor R200,000

    Category exclusivity and the most prime, visible locations in the venue. Prominent branding on all event signage, tickets and promotional materials, and on activation zones and video screens. Dedicated posts on all the festival's social media, email and digital platforms. Artist meet-and-greets for its guests or employees, exclusive radio and media interviews before the event and live mentions on the day, and 100 general-admission tickets.

  2. Tier 2 · Gold sponsor R100,000

    Category exclusivity and a tier 2 activation zone in a prime location. Tier 2 social media coverage and digital marketing, interviews and mentions on the pre-event radio broadcasts and during the live outdoor broadcast at the event, and 40 general-admission tickets.

  3. Tier 3 · Silver sponsor R50,000

    Priority pouring rights as the festival's exclusive beverage provider, a tier 3 location on the festival grounds, branding visible across all marketing platforms, and 20 general-admission tickets.

  4. Tier 4 · Bronze sponsor R30,000

    Designated activation rights and activation space during the festival, and 10 general-admission tickets.

The offer at a glance

  • 4,000

    Expected attendance

    Saturday, 28 June 2025

  • 4

    Sponsor tiers

    Presenting, Gold, Silver and Bronze

  • 10 hours

    On the day

    10 am to 8 pm

Sponsor fee by tier

Rand, as offered

Sponsor fee by tier (Rand, as offered)
TierFee
Presenting (tier 1)R200,000
Gold (tier 2)R100,000
Silver (tier 3)R50,000
Bronze (tier 4)R30,000

General-admission tickets included

For each sponsor's clients, staff or partners

General-admission tickets included (For each sponsor's clients, staff or partners)
TierTickets
Presenting (tier 1)100
Gold (tier 2)40
Silver (tier 3)20
Bronze (tier 4)10

Why a brand would sponsor it

  • Direct audience interaction: meet 4,000+ attendees face to face, driving product awareness, samples and brand impressions.
  • Media and brand visibility: stay top of mind through digital, social media, radio and event-day signage.
  • Long-term impact: reach beyond the festival with post-event promotions, influencer content and social media discussion.
  • Connection and loyalty: build deeper emotional connections with attendees, and with them trust and loyalty.

Chapter 6 of 7

Who it is for

Young professionals, families and people who enjoy music, entertainment and community events, and who value culture, family, inclusivity and local traditions.

It suits brands that speak to youth culture, family-oriented values, music lovers, sports enthusiasts and anyone engaged with South African culture.

Primary age
24 to 44
Secondary
Under 18
Gender
A balanced male and female crowd
LSM
7 to 9
Expected attendance
4,000
Mix
Urban professionals, students, young adults and families

Chapter 7 of 7

What it set out to deliver, and the results

The festival ran on 28 June 2025. These are the success measures set for sponsors; the results are still to come.

Audience reach · target
Up to 1 million+ impressions through media coverage, digital campaigns and influencer partnerships
On-site engagement · target
70% of attendees interacting with branded activations, providing valuable consumer data
Data insights
In-depth consumer data through the event app and post-event surveys

L.I.F.E Fest sponsor dashboard

What it will measure

6 weeks · sample

Example dashboard Mostly sample data, not campaign results. This campaign ran, but its results are not on file yet. The expected attendance of 4,000 is from the case study. Those figures are tagged From the case study; everything tagged Sample is made up to show how the dashboard works, and is replaced by real figures once they are reported.

  • Sample

    974,300

    Audience reach

  • Sample

    70.5%

    On-site engagement with activations

  • Sample

    2,140

    Consumer data from the app and surveys

  • From the case study

    4,000

    Expected attendance

Audience reach

  • Sample

    974,300

    Audience reach

    Impressions through media coverage, digital campaigns and influencer partnerships

  • Sample

    86

    Influencer posts

    Posts from influencer partners and the artists, before and after the day

Impressions, week by week (running total)
Impressions, week by week (running total)
ItemValue
W188,200
W2196,500
W3331,700
W4512,400
W5806,900
W6974,300
Impressions, by channel
Impressions, by channel
ItemValue
Social media campaigns412,600
Influencer partnerships236,900
Radio and press198,400
Digital advertising126,400

On-site engagement

  • From the case study

    4,000

    Expected attendance

    Festival-goers expected on Saturday, 28 June 2025

  • Sample

    3,815

    Attendance on the day

    Festival-goers through the gates, 10 am to 8 pm

  • Sample

    70.5%

    On-site engagement with activations

    Attendees who interacted with a branded activation: 2,690 people

On-site engagement with activations

of attendees interacted with a branded activation

Activation interactions, by sponsor tier
Activation interactions, by sponsor tier
ItemValue
Presenting1,920
Gold1,265
Silver980
Bronze645
Arrivals, by time of day
Arrivals, by time of day
ItemValue
10-12905
12-141,240
14-161,020
16-18480
18-20170

Data insights

  • Sample

    2,140

    Consumer data from the app and surveys

    Adult attendee profiles captured with consent through the event app

  • Sample

    1,265

    Post-event surveys completed

    Surveys answered after the day

Engaged guests who shared their data

of the 2,690 guests who met a brand left a profile

App profiles, by age
  • 24 to 44 63%
  • 18 to 23 21%
  • 45 and over 16%

Rand values excl. VAT. Figures tagged Sample are for illustration only: not results from this or any campaign.

Aligning our goals, for maximum impact.