South Africa Blog

The Cape Town Carnival was conceived as a community project aimed at bringing together the diverse communities of the City of Cape Town through music, dance, and cultural expression, culminating in a weekend of inclusive fun for Capetonians and visitors alike. The Cape Town Carnival is a celebration of diversity. Over centuries very many people from the four corners of planet earth were drawn together, at the foot of the finest table in the whole world.

Cape Town Carnival will seek to harness this compelling diversity and commitment to the soil in a celebration of SONG, DANCE and CREATIVE abundance.

The lack of a unifying event in Cape Town was identified during a visit to the Rio Carnival. Although Cape Town has no shortage of cultural offerings combining music, dance and other kinds of creativity, these all seem to be catering for particular niches. One thus never sees the rich tapestry of music genres, dance styles together, as an expression of the heart of Cape Town, rich in its diversity.

The beauty of a Carnival is that it allows participation of all, from rich to poor from children to the elderly. It would engage dancers, artists, musicians, engineers – people from every strata of the community in a project that will cross cultural and racial boundaries. It is also aimed at socio-economic development, drawing more tourists to the city and extending the tourist season.

For additional information see the Cape Town Carnival website: http://www.capetowncarnival.com/
For accommodation see Cape Town Accommodation.

The 5th Cape Country PICNIC FESTIVAL at Bien Donné Farm in Simondium near Franschhoek will be staged on 13, 14 and 15 February 2009. The festival is open during Valentines Weekend and romance is a definite focus point at this year’s festival. The addition of a new 800m2 tented food & wine market will ensure that festival goers will have access to a spread of local foods and wine.

As a visitor, you arrive empty handed, browse through the food and wine stalls and get your picnic goodies from stall to stall. You then return to the big lawn area and enjoy your picnic while relaxing to the sounds of great live music. There are both lunch and evening concert sessions. Kids are well catered for over the weekend (Saturday and Sunday).

The original McCully Workshop’s 60 Something Show will be staged on Friday and Saturday evening (13th & 14th February). Both evenings will consist of the great 60′s music as well as something from the 70′s and 80′s. Lovers can expect to see a special love songs 60 something edition on valentines evening!

The festival offers a great opportunity to spend quality time with family, friends and your loved ones while discovering great food and wine. Entrance fees are R50.00 per person for daytime sessions and R100.00 per person for the evening concerts. Kids under 16 enter for free but must be accompanied by their own parents. A full programme is available on the websites www.picnicfestival.co.za and from the organizers, CADEK Media, on 021 855 4750.

Destination Pages & Links:
Picnic Festival Web Site: www.picnicfestival.co.za
Franschhoek Tourism Web Site: www.franschhoek.org.za
Find Accommodation: Franschhoek Accommodation
Franschhoek Attractions

Preparations for next year’s Splashy Fen Music Festival – the 20th since its inception in 1990 – are already well underway and festival-goers making the annual pilgrimage to Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal can expect a special celebration to mark this major milestone in the festival’s history.

Over the years, Splashy Fen has evolved from a small get-together in the mountains into one of South Africa’s premier festivals, widely recognised for its contribution to promoting local music by providing a platform for close to 1 500 artists and helping to kick-start many a successful music career. Although continuously adapting to changing trends, Splashy Fen has nevertheless managed to retain its unique character and appeal; that special ‘something’ – the people, the vibe, the sense of family – that has allowed it to endure for nearly two decades to become the longest-running music festival in the country.

Happening over the Easter long weekend from 9-13 April, Splashy Fen 2009 will once again offer a diverse four-day programme of top and up-and-coming live acts, including featured performances by a number of Splashy ‘legends’. There’ll also be a wide choice of outdoor leisure activities for the whole family, an abundance of different food and drink outlets, colourful craft stalls and various camping options – all set against a backdrop of the scenic Drakensberg mountains. Splashy Fen has something for everyone; in fact there’s nothing else in South Africa quite like it!

Early Bird tickets are now on sale at Computicket for R350, which is a saving of R150 on the gate price. This offer is valid until the end of December only and tickets are limited, so don’t miss out! Children under 12 pay R50 – tickets at the gate only. The price includes camping for the entire festival.

Got any memories to share? If so, the organisers are looking for stories, photographs and video footage from Splashy Fen’s early years, and would also like to hear from any Splashy ‘veterans’ who’ve been to all (or many) of the previous festivals. All contributions are welcome and can be emailed to splashyfen@gmail.com.

For more information contact Pedro at 082 892 6176 or visit the website at www.splashyfen.co.za.

Book your accommodation now to avoid dissapointment. Visit Drakensberg Accommodation and find the perfect place to stay! Also see Underberg Accommodation and for other events in the KwazUlu Natal visit KwaZulu Natal Events.