My whimsical weekend

Imagine a group of young-at-heart people running and twirling and frolicking around Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Imagine a fun-filled atmosphere with laughter, music and dancing and a small market selling delicious snacks and interesting trinkets.

Imagine the group of young people interacting with each other by playing games that encourage lots of movement and getting to know each other.

These are all the things that did NOT happen at the 9th Cosplay which took place on 18 October 2014.

In theory this concept should have been a roaring success; so what went wrong?

1. The Cosplayers (I use this term loosely) don't seem very open and accommodating of any new Cosplayers who, ON INVITATION, decided to join in the fun. Those that have been part of the event from the beginning flocked together on their picnic blankets under the trees and completely disregarded the few blankets surrounding their orbit (despite the fact that those people were obviously there for the event). It was like the popular table at high school all over again!
2. The event seemed a bit disorganized. Organizers were still falling over their feet at the event while trying to hand out bingo cards and pencils (thank heavens those were in place). I asked one of them to walk me through the event but she came across a little ditsy and distracted - almost as if she didn't know what was happening herself! Like children organizing their first event without adult supervision, they demanded the attention of everyone present at the event in order to make a start but in stead of doing that, they still congregated and made little jokes among themselves. 
3. Voice projection was also a massive problem and, as there were no mics available, they had to shout (which, to them, involves raising their voices slightly above the sound of a whispering wind). Also, when the event made a proper start (eventually) the "main speaker" was constantly interrupted by some of his supporting staff 'offering' corrections and missing information - thereby confusing the audience and, I think, even themselves (I still don't know whether the next picnic is on the 13th, 20th or 25th of December - not that I will be attending).
4. There were no games. Just Bingo. That's it...and after the 'photo shoot,' the event was basically over. My disappointment knew no bounds!

Luckily for me and my friends Kirstenbosch offers a lot of distractions for those willing to look for it. So we stumbled upon The Enchanted Forest not so far from the Cosplay picnic ground that will actually make you believe in magic. Feeling whimsical, we climbed a tree that could easily have appeared out of a story book (that's how high and thick it was). We took photos high up on a bridge that shook every time someone took a step (now that's what I call living on the edge). We even found a natural spring where water came bubbling forth, ice-cold and good enough to drink without it having to go through any kind of processing.

Dressed up in our costumes while frolicking around in the ice cold water and exploring the rest of Kirstenbosch (and getting lost in there at some point: note to self, get a guide) it warmed the heart every time we passed a child whose eyes lit up when they saw an actual magical creature pass them as if it were the most normal thing on earth...and I think that is what the idea behind Cosplay and every other fantasy inspired event should be: to spread a little bit of magic in the everyday humdrum of our lives and to spread a bit of happiness to each other and those around them - albeit only for the five or so hours they are allowed to inhabit that small picnic spot in the middle of Kirstenbosch Gardens.