Festivals and Events in the Garden Route over the Festive Season

Summer Fun Festival

We are heading into the festive season, time to take some time off, spend some quality time with family and friends and a popular holiday destination to do this in is the Garden Route, with many towns and interesting sites to explore.

I thought I’d give you a bit of a head start on your holiday plans and let you know which festivals and events are taking place over the festive season along the Garden Route. For starters, the Summer Sun Festival happens in Mossel Bay and runs from Tuesday 8 December right into the second week of 2010 (8 January 2010). It’s time to sizzle with summer and the Diaz Strand Hotel during this jam packed festival … Continued

Johannesburg Mozart Festival Programme

Mozart Festival

Lovers of classical music will be glad to know that the programme line up for the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival has been announced. So here is just a little taste of what you can expect from 23 January to 9 February 2010.

Originally organised in 2006 in celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 250th birthday anniversary this year’s festival will see almost 20 performances in various venues around Johannesburg … Continued

More Events to attend in November

Global Diabetes Run

Oh boy, November is still jam packed with fun things to do, so if you are running out of ideas to keep yourself entertained this month then why not take a look at what you can still look forward to?

The Western Cape certainly has been busy this month and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down as there is still plenty to keep you occupied. I know the weather hasn’t been that fantastic this week, but why not dust off your running (in my case walking) shoes and take part in the Global Diabetes Run / Walk on Saturday 14 November 2009.

Take part in either the 5km or 10km option and you can decide if you’d like to run it or walk it, either way is fine. Continued

Sisters with Blisters taking place 28 November

We’ve all had them, that extremely painful blister after a fun night out wearing your favourite pair of stilettos. But this doesn’t really give us a sense of achievement or make much difference to anyone but ourselves. So why not get a blister on 28 November 2009 that will actually mean something?

Sisters with Blisters in an annual event that has been taking place for the past 3 years. Jacaranda 94.2 and First for Women have joined forces to raise awareness on the abuse suffered by many women and children Continued

It’s the Ficksburg Festival, my cherry!

Cherry Festival

Ficksburg didn’t mean that much to me until I visited the pretty little town set on the banks of the Caledon River. It lies at the foot of the beautiful Imperani Mountain in the Free State, for those of you who didn’t know, and I had only heard of it before the festival because a school friend of mine hailed from there (and since we were at school in Durban at the time, you can understand how she was regarded with a fair amount of  incredulity).

First off let me say that if you’re a fan of cherries, then this is the festival to attend. For the last couple of years at least, cherries seem to have given the shelves of my local Pick n Pay the run around. That, or they were in and off the shelves so fast that I didn’t even catch a whiff of the dainty red stoned fruit! Thus a trip to the Eastern Free State around the third week of November may be the closest you will get to this delectable dainty … Continued

Pinocchio Pantomime in Johannesburg from 4 November

Adventures of Pinocchio

We have all heard of the story of the little wooden boy who was carved from a piece of pine by the woodcarver Geppetto and who was created as a puppet but dreamt of becoming a “real boy” named Pinocchio. This fictional character has been around since 1883 and has become a well loved tale and was certainly a firm favourite of mine whilst I was growing up.

And if you are in Johannesburg or its surrounding areas you will be happy to know that Pinocchio will be the biggest pantomime ever this year with 60 artists taking part. If you already au fait with pantomimes you probably call them panto’s and already have your tickets booked. However, if you do not fall into this category let me give you a little refresher in what the pantomime is … Continued

November Events

It’s that time again, the end of the month and you are wondering what you will do next month. The festive season is almost upon us and before you get overwhelmed by all of those end of year functions make some space in your diary for some of these fantastic events happening all around South Africa this November.

FNB Whisky Live

Western Cape Events
Cape Town is the first to host the FNB Whisky Live Festival from 4-6 November 2009 (Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre hosts it from 11-14 November). The Cape Town Convention Centre is where you will fine connoisseurs and novices alike sipping and tastings more than 180 top brands from all around the world … Continued

Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts

It is that time again Cape Town – The Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts are right on our doorstep so it is time to phone your friends, dust off that picnic blanket and take the basket off the top shelf and make sure you have tickets for the Sunday concerts …

The Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concerts have been taking place for as long as I can remember, they are such a highlight on the Cape Town calendar and it is a fantastic opportunity to wind down the weekend, sitting on the beautiful grassy banks in front of the stage at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, while listening to some of the best South African musicians and bands we have to offer. Continued

More October Events

What can you do for the rest of October you are wondering? If your calendar isn’t filled yet, why not take a look at some of the events taking place around South Africa for the rest of this month.

MTB Races

in the Free State …
Bloemfontein hosts the MTN OFM MTB Race on 31 October 2009, if that is a bit of a mouthful the important information you need to know is that this is a mountain bike race for the adventurous.

Take part in either the 25 or 50km race, entries close on Monday 19 October so get yours in today. Telephone +27 (0)82 791-6003 for more information … Continued

Gun Run fun …

Gun Run fun

After grinding to a halt at the 67km mark of last years Comrades Marathon, I vowed that I would never, ever run again!  Sunday morning however saw my return to running as I very ambitiously hit the pavement for the Outsurance 94.5 Gun Run 5km event!  It was a spur of the moment decision (hence no pre registration for us) and after roping in two willing friends we found ourselves walking along the Sea Point promenade to the start of the event at Beach Road in Mouille Point.

The Gun Run started in 1993 and was originally only the half marathon distance of 21km.  The challenge was to complete the distance in less than two and a half hours and therefore to beat the firing of the noon day gun … the Gun Run was born!  The first runner across the line after the noon gun was given the spent shell cartridge!   Continued

Daddy Bloom

If you thought it wasn’t possible to see flowers in full bloom on top of a roof, then think again because the Grand Daddy Hotel has made this possible with the first rooftop garden show in their Airsteam Trailer Park.

The show runs from 8-11 October 2009 and won’t be just another flower show. This flower show is taking the concept to a new level and won’t just be showing natural blossoms. You can expect to see live indigenous gardens that will house a collection of creative installations carefully created with spirals of metal, wooly nests and beaded blooms … Continued

International Poetry Festival in Durban

Poetry, the stringing of words together in a rhythmical pattern that evokes emotion and reaction can be a performance, a reading of a rhyme or a completely personal experience. From 5 to 10 October 2009 the 13th International Poetry festival in Durban will showcase poetry from all around South Africa, Africa and the world. Continued

Heritage Day Events – What will you be doing?

Thursday 24 September is a public holiday in South Africa (Heritage day) which means that you should have the day off – What are you going to do with your time? If you are lucky enough to have Friday off as well have a look at some of these ideas on how you can make the most of your long weekend … Continued

Heritage Week at Iziko Museums

SA national Gallery

Heritage Day is one of the more recent public holidays added to the South African calendar and it celebrates some concepts that are rather hard to pin down. These being creative expression, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat and the land on which we live. Now if that sounds like a mouthful, I like to think of Heritage Day as a time to celebrate where I come from and everything around me that makes me, me.

As South African’s we have a unique culture and creativity and this should not only be celebrated once a year, we should endeavour to celebrate this every day. Heritage Day is a great reminder to each of us to celebrate these concepts … Continued