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A feast of South African festivals
Compiled by Mary Alexander
Festivals, festivals, festivals ... South Africa has a celebration for every event, place, art form, food, drink and agricultural commodity. There's the Ficksburg Cherry Festival, the National Arts Festival, countless mud-and-dust music festivals, the Hermanus Whale Festival, the Lambert's Bay Kreeffees and more.
Here's a comprehensive month-by-month guide to some of South Africa's best excuses for a party. You can browse the whole list, browse by province from the page list at right, or click on the links below to jump to a specific month:
FEBRUARY
 FNB Dance Umbrella
Where: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Website: www.fnb.co.za …
A festival of contemporary choreography and dance, the FNB Dance Umbrella presents work ranging from community-based dance troupes to international companies. 1988. It's launched many South African choreographers into international dance, including Vincent Mantsoe, Robyn Orlin and Boyzie Cekwana.
 Prickly Pear Festival
Where: Uitenhage, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape
Website: www.nmbt.co.za
The Prickly Pear
Festival held in late February or early March every at Cuyler Hofstede farm near Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape's Nelson Mandela Bay. It's a day of traditional food such as ginger beer, pancakes, potjiekos, home-made jam, a spit braai and fish braai, bunnychow and home-made pudding.
MARCH
 Cape Town Jazz Festival
Where: Cape Town, Western Cape
Website: www.capetownjazzfest.com
Cape Town International Jazz is a two-day festival featuring some 40 international and African acts performing on five stages to an audience of 15 000. It also features photographic and art exhibitions.
 Lambert's Bay Kreeffees
Where: Lambert's Bay, West Coast, Western Cape
Website: www.kreeffeeslambertsbaai.co.za
Kreef is Afrikaans for crayfish, and a fees can be both festival and feast. At the Kreeffees, held every March in the West Coast town of Lambert's Bay, you'll feast on fresh crayfish and get festive at rock concerts by some of South Africa's favourite musicians. There's also bungee jumping, aerial displays, a half-marathon, beer tents and more.
Oppikoppi Easter Festival
Where: Northam, North West
Website: www.oppikoppi.co.za
Smaller than the Oppikoppi bushveld bash in August, the Oppikoppi Easter Festival, held over the Easter holidays, has one stage only and draws a traditional blues-and-folk crowd of roughly 1 500 people.
Tonteldoos Peach Festival
Where: Tonteldoos, Mpumalanga
Website: www.dullstroom.co.za
Email: tonteldoos.conservancy@icon.co.za
The Tonteldoos Peach Festival happens in late March or early April in the village of Tonteldoos, some 20km northwest of Dullstroom and two hours from Johannesburg. It offers peaches and pretty much everything that can be made from the fruit, including peach mampoer.
Sasol Scifest
Where: Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
Website: www.scifest.org.za
Sasol SciFest, or the National Festival of Science, Engineering and Technology, is held in late March in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. Over seven days it features some 600 events: lectures, game drives, a laser show, workshops, sunset shows, robotics competitions, science olympics, school quizzes, interactive exhibitions, the PlayFair, field trips, talkshops and a film festival. Attendance now exceeds 35 000 visitors every year.
APRIL
 Klein
Karoo Nationale Kunstefees
Where: Oudtshoorn, Western Cape
Website: www.kknk.co.za
The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees in Oudtshoorn features well-known and young up-and-coming artists in dance and theatre. Started as an Afrikaans alternative to the mainly English National Arts Festival, KKNK has 200 different shows on three different stages.
 Splashy Fen
Where: Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Website: www.splashyfen.co.za
Every year the Splashy Fen music festival attracts thousands of people to a farm near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal for a feast of mainstream and alternative rock and pop. The site has electricity, telephones, ablutions, market stalls,
three stages, and medical and security personnel. There are great bed-and-breakfasts in nearby towns for those who believe music festivals can be enjoyed without mud.
 The wet Underberg climate guarantees lots of mud - and splashing - at Splashy Fen. (Photo: Splashy Fen)
 Tulbagh Goes Dutch
Where: Tulbagh, Western Cape
Website: www.tulbaghtourism.org.za
Tulbagh Tourism describes its two-day Dutch Festival as "a Gezellig Feestje for the whole family". In April the town's Church Street with its beautiful Cape Dutch architecture hosts cultural activities,
appetising spijs en drank temptations and authentic treasures. It includes a traditional Dutch beer garden and a tulip exhibition at the Volksmuseum.
 Philippolis Witblits Festival
Where: Philippolis, Free State
Website: www.philippolis.org.za
The Philippolis Witblits Festival, held in early April, will give you a taste of a proud local tradition - witblits (Afrikaans for "white lightning") is South African moonshine. Held in the oldest town in the Free State, the festival has boeresports for the kids, food, drink and more witblits.
 Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival
Where: Prince Albert, Western Cape
Website: www.patourism.co.za
The Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival, held in the Swartberg region of the Western Cape in April, offers a whole lot more than just the region's famous olives and wine. There's an art exhibition, beer tents, live music, witblits tastings, crafts for kids, historic tours, a cycle race, an olive pip-spitting competition, culinary demonstrations, a midnight ghost walk, stalls, cabaret, a dance and more.
MAY
 Pink Loerie Mardi Gras
Where: Knysna, Western Cape
Website: www.pinkloerie.com
The Knysna loerie is a green bird, but the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras is different. A gay festival held in the beautiful coastal town of Knysna in May, the Mardi Gras offers four days of non-stop entertainment for anyone who enjoys a party.
 On parade at the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras. (Photo: Pink Loerie Mardi Gras)
 Riebeek Kasteel Olive Festival
Where: Riebeek Kasteel, Western Cape
Website: www.riebeekvalley.info
The Riebeek Kasteel Olive Festival takes place in the Swartland area of the Western Cape in
May. A feast of wine and the best olives in SA, the festival also has an art competition, live entertainment, stalls and lots of food.
JUNE
 National Arts Festival
Where: Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
Website: www.nafest.co.za
The Grahamstown National Arts Festival, held in late June or early July every year, is South Africa's oldest, biggest and best-known arts festival. The 10-day event offers culture hounds every indulgence of theatre, music, song, dance, film and a whole lot more. If there's one South African festival you have to attend, this is it.
JULY
 Knysna Oyster Festival
Where: Knysna, Western Cape
Website: www.oysterfestival.co.za
The coastal town of Knysna is famous for its oysters, and increasingly famous for the July festival that celebrates them. In addition to oyster braais, oyster tasting, oyster-eating competitions and other molluscular activities, there's live entertainment and lots of sporting events.
 Ellisras Bushveld Festival
Where: Lephalele (Ellisras), Limpopo
Website: www.lephalale.com
Email:
p4p@telkomsa.net
The Ellisras Bushveld Festival takes place in early July in the heart of the bushveld, in the Waterberg district of Limpopo. The festival includes cattle shows, a game auction, horse jumping, dog shows, agricultural activities, a three-day battle for the best 4x4 competition, a game farms expo, hunting opportunities, bird- and tree-identification competitions, traditional food, a beer tent and huge camp fires.
 Calitzdorp Port Festival
Where: Calitzdorp, Western Cape
Website: www.sappa.co.za
The Klein Karoo town of Calitzdorp is the port-wine capital of South Africa. Its annual port festival, held over a weekend in July, showcases the top 15 South African port makers. There's a blind port
tasting judged by SA's top wine critics, a potjiekos competition and ostrich farm tours, as well as the annual South African boules championships.
 Madame Zingara's
Christmas in July
Where: Cape Town, Western Cape
Website: www.madamezingara.com
Over two weeks in July, sumptuous Cape Town restaurant Madame Zingara hosts up to 10 000 people in a mid-year celebration of Christmas, in aid of the children's charity Ikamva Labantu. The restaurant offers a three-course set menu for around R150, and guests are encouraged to bring small gifts to put under the Christmas tree for the children of Ikamva Labantu. The festival culminates in a huge party, with the best of local food and entertainment, where
all the roads around the restaurant are closed off to accommodate 1 500 guests.
AUGUST
Oppikoppi Bushveld Festival
Where: Northam, North West
Website: www.oppikoppi.co.za
Held on the bushveld farm of Oppikoppi ("op die koppie" in Afrikaans, or "on the hill"), this festival offers three permanent thatched stages, a smaller comedy stage and a stage for more chilled music at the top of the koppie. Oppikoppi has helped establish many South African musicians' careers, but it's not for the faint-hearted. This is real bushveld: hot and dry, and everywhere red dust and thorn trees. Expect to shower a lot when you get home. (Oppikoppi also hosts an Easter Festival in March.)
 The Oppikoppi Bushveld Festival is not for the faint-hearted ... (Photo: Oppikoppi)
 Joy of Jazz
Where: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Website: www.joyofjazz.co.za
Johannesburg's biggest annual jazz festival is an ideal family outing, featuring a range of musical styles but with a strong emphasis on jazz. Over 200 local and international artists perform at different venues across the city, particularly in Newtown.
 Hantam Vleisfees
Where: Calvinia, Northern Cape
Website: www.vleisfees.co.za
Calvinia in the Northern Cape is sheep country, and this festival celebrates meat. There's meat braaied, stewed, curried, in pita, on sosaties, in potjies - you can even pick up a done-to-perfection sheep's head for a mere R30. First held in 1989, the three-day Hantam Vleisfees has a music concert, street party, vintage car rally and, a highlight for many, the Miss Vleisfees competition - a glittering affair with dinner and dancing.
 Calvinia in the Northern Cape is sheep country, and the Hantam Vleisfees celebrates meat. (Photo: Hantam Vleisfees)
 Cellar Rats Wine Festival
Where: Magaliesberg, Gauteng
Website: www.cellarrats.co.za
Taste South Africa's best wines in a tranquil outdoor setting in Magaliesberg. Held every year in August, the Cellar Rats Wine Festival is a day of wine tasting, with picnic baskets for sale and many activities for the kids. Enjoy huge shady trees, lush green grass and an abundance of birdlife on the banks of the picturesque Magalies River. Designated drivers get in for free.
SEPTEMBER
Arts Alive
Where: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Website: www.artsalive.co.za
Arts Alive, held every September since 1992, features a heady mix of dance, visual art, poetry and music at venues in the Joburg inner city. The main concert, held at the Johannesburg Stadium, headlines international superstars such as 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes. Over 600 artists perform during the four-day festival, with most shows at various venues in Newtown. The ever-popular Jazz on the Lake is held on the final day.
 Aardklop Arts Festival
Where: Potchefstroom, Free State
Website: www.aardklop.co.za
Aardklop Arts Festival offers a feast of arts and an all-round good jol for five days in late September and early October. First held in 1998,
Aardklop - Afrikaans roughly translated as "earth beat" - has over 90 productions, with classical music, jazz, hard rock, cabaret, visual arts, theatre, circus performances, opera, African and World music, poetry and more, ending with the OppiAarde rock festival on the final day.
 Woodstock
Where: Hartbeeshoek, North West
Website: www.woodstock.co.za
Woodstock, first held in 1999, is the largest youth-oriented music and lifestyle festival in South Africa. In addition to mainstream music, the festival offers a market of crafters and alternative lifestyle products over four days. It is held at Hartbeeshoek Holiday resort near Hartbeespoort Dam in North West.
 Gariep Kunstefees
Where: Kimberley, Northern Cape
Website: www.gariepfees.co.za
Now in its sixth year, the Gariep Kunstefees (arts festival) has an impressive line-up of local musicians, a film festival showcasing South Africa's new film-makers, as well as art exhibitions and children's theatre.
 Hermanus Whale Festival
Where: Hermanus, Western Cape
Website: www.whalefestival.co.za
Every year, southern right whales travel thousands of miles to the Cape south coast to mate and calve in the bays. Join the
villagers of Hermanus for an entertainment-packed festival, in the town with the best land-based whale watching in the world.
 Awesome Africa Music Festival
Where: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Website: www.awesomeafricafestival.co.za
The Standard Bank Awesome Africa Music Festival, first held in 1999, takes place in Durban's Albert Park. It has three stages of non-stop music, with over 200 artists from more than 20 countries. The focus is on collaboration with musicians from Africa and beyond.
 Knysna Gastronomica
Where: Knysna, Western Cape
Website: www.gastronomicakny.co.za
A new addition to South Africa's festival circuit, the Knysna Gastronomica is a celebration of good food, wine and culture in the coastal town of Knysna.
Prince Albert Agricultural Show
Where: Prince Albert, Western Cape
Website: www.patourism.co.za
Join the people of Prince Albert as they celebrate their agricultural heritage in September. The show offers homecrafts, art and flowers, horses on show, motorbike obstacle route, sheep and angora goat competitions, local products, delicious food, bar facilities and entertainment for young and old. The farm breakfast and steak braai are a must.
 Southern Cross Music Festival
Where: Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal
Website: www.southerncrossmusic.co.za
Every September the Southern Cross Music Festival showcases South African music in a three-day event in Hidden Valley on the banks of KwaZulu-Natal's beautiful Mooi River. First held in 1998, the festival donates part of its proceeds to charity. In addition to music, there's fishing, swimming, white water rafting, abseiling, hikes, walks, mountain biking and 4x4 courses. The farm caters for 6 000 festival-goers.
 Macufe
Where: Bloemfontein, Free State
Website: www.macufe.co.za
Macufe, the 10-day Mangaung African Cultural Festival, showcases the cream of African and international talent. It features jazz, gospel, kwaito, hip-hop, R&B;, rock and classical music, as well as dance, drama, cabaret, musical theatre, poetry, fine art and traditional arts and crafts. First held in 1997 before an audience of 30 000, Macufe now attracts over 140 000 people from South Africa, Africa and the world. The festival is presented in late September and early October by the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State.
 White Mountain Folk Festival
Where: Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal
Website: www.whitemountain.co.za
The White Mountain Folk Festival in the Central Drakensberg mountain range offers great music in an awesome setting for three days in September. Featuring acoustic performances by some of the South Africa's top folk musicians, the festival is held at White Mountain Lodge in the foothills of the Giant's Castle Nature Reserve. Camping in a beautiful site at the edge of a dam is free, with brand new hot shower units at the ready plus lots of "executive" loos. There's also a variety of food stalls, and a beer market offering naturally brewed local ales and lagers.
Vrede Paddadors
Where: Vrede, Free State
Website: www.vredefees.co.za
The full name of Paddadors, the Free State town of Vrede's annual festival, is the Vrede
Paddadors Rooivleis en Kultuurfees - which translates literally as the Peace Frog-Thirst Red-Meat and Culture Festival. The story goes that the dry land on which the town was established was originally called Paddadors ("frog thirst" in Afrikaans), until peace came and place was named Vrede. The festival offers live music, traditional food, a beer garden, children's activities and more.
OCTOBER
 Bosman Weekend
Where: Groot Marico, North West
Website: www.marico.co.za
Herman Charles Bosman was one of South Africa's greatest writers, and this weekend festival celebrates his work in dry town of Groot Marico, the setting for many of his stories. Some of South Africa's top
actors read from and perform Bosman's work; there's also good food, good company - and lots of mampoer.
NOVEMBER
 Ficksburg Cherry Festival
Where: Ficksburg, Free State
Website: www.cherryfestival.co.za
One of the oldest festivals in South Africa - first held in 1969 - the Ficksburg Cherry Festival now attracts around 20 000 visitors to this small eastern Free State town every November. The scenery is magnificent, and the festival offers cherry and asparagus tastings, tours, picnics, music, and the Miss Cherry Blossom and Miss Cherry Pip competitions.
 Nottingham Road Pink Festival
Where: Nottingham Road, KwaZulu-Natal
Website: www.pinkfestival.co.za
In late November the picturesque Midlands town of Nottingham Road is painted pink. A weekend of extravagant music, song and dance, the new Pink Festival includes entertainment by some of South Africa's top performers, divine cabaret in the Cattle Arena, and fine music in the Farmers Hall. The festival also offers children's shows, horse rides, hiking trails and a visual feast of arts and crafts.
 Umdwebo Lifestyle Festival
Where: Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal
Website: www.umdwebo.co.za
The Umdwebo Lifestyle Festival celebrates the better things in life - Umdwebo is isiZulu for "to create art" or "to underline something beautiful". Held in and around Ballito on KwaDukuza’s picturesque north coast in November, the six-day event features fine dining, elegant black-tie affairs, art and photographic exhibitions, opera, classical music and more.
DECEMBER
 Rustler's Valley New Year's Gathering
Where: Fouriesburg, Free State
Website: www.rustlers.co.za
Rustler's Valley in the eastern Free State hosts some of its best trance, dance and drumming festivals in late November and December, including a New Year
celebration. It also offers the African Sweat Hut, permaculture design courses, a game reserve, the Saucery Restaurant and Marimba House. The majestic scenery on the foothills of the Maluti Mountains alone is worth the trip.
 Spier Summer Festival
Where: Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Website: www.spierarts.co.za
In the lush winelands of the Western Cape, at the amphitheatre on the Spier Estate, the annual Spier Summer Festival offers four months of music, opera, dance, stand-up comedy and theatre. First held in 1995, the festival runs from December to March.
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The Hermanus Whale Festival in September offers the best land-based whale watching in the world (Photo: Hermanus Whale Festival) |
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