South Africa has so many festivals that a visitor has to choose the most traditional ones if what they are interested in is the heritage of this multiracial nationas well as African traditions. Many of the South Africa festivals are specially packaged in order to cater for the needs of the culturally diverse communities that live here.
The Prickly Pear Festival is always held at the end of February in the Uitenhage area in Eastern Cape. Traditional foods available include pancakes, homemade jam, bunny-chow and pudding that is made using locally available fruits. Come March and the Cape West Coast comes to life. It is now the second week of March and the Lambert’s Bay Crayfish Festival becomes the talk of the whole region especially among visitors.
The last week of March is when the most amazing festival takes place. It is known as the National Festival of Science. It is always held in Grahams Town, an Eastern Cape suburb. Imagine 600 events taking place in 6 days of Festival of Science. Lectures, a laser show, sunset shows, workshops and robotics competitions all take place within such a short space of time.
Cheese Festival
Western Cape always hosts the Cheese Festival. This is the time when one gets to know what African traditions are all about. Great fun takes shape as new cheese makers strive to outdo seasoned ones. If you’re interested in tasting a variety of high quality cheese as well as having a great fun with music and shows, you shouldn’t miss cheese festival which lasts for four days. The theater promises great fun in the form of new plays, events and rib-tickling commentaries. African traditions are represented through a family day out into the open after such carnival moments in the hands of excellent flashy performers donned in magnificent carnival costumes.
Come June, and it is time for the Wacky Wine Weekend. You know what to expect during this event. Wineries throughout the region get to participate in competitions that bring out the best in each one of them at the Wacky Wine Weekend. Wine and fun lovers cannot miss Wacky Wine Weekend that they can take the opportunity of tasting beautiful wines of Robertson wine valley. It is amazing that there emerges an eventual winner whose selection leaves all parties satisfied. Olive tasting events are done within the backdrop of more activities that still have to be done such as quad biking, hiking trail competitions, festival fun runs, and numerous traditional African music shows.
National Arts Festival
The Franschhoek Bastille Day also happens in June but towards mid-month. Franschhoek is a small village close to Cape Town lying in a valley. On the Bastille Day, they decorate the village in red, blue and white colors of French flag. If you thought Africa has never produced award-winning chefs, come and see a host of them competing for supremacy. Find all about what it means to have locally produced cheese in South Africa. Imported cheeses also have their place here in South Africa. You can also taste award winning wines of the valley on the Bastille Day of Franschhoek. Handmade chocolates are a perennial feature during this great fun festival which no visitor to Africa should miss.
For the best shopping during traditional fun festivals such as the Franschhoek Bastille Day, there are many craft shops, boutiques, and more importantly, restaurants and galleries. You therefore have a choice between sitting behind some drinks and strolling up the streets, looking for the best souvenirs to take home.
South Africa offers a festival for jazz music lovers as well as wine and cheese lovers. One of the biggest festivals in South Africa is the Cape Town Jazz Festival. With the participation of many loval and international artists, Cape Town Jazz Festival is one of the biggest in the world today. Every year the participation of the artists and audiences is increasing dramatically and the organisers are planning to make the Cape Town Jazz Festival a ten days event in 2010.
Whether you are after a great fun, cheese, wine, traditional African music and African dances or arts in all forms, Sout Africa offers all you may expect with a busy calender of festivals. South Africa festivals offer a great opportunity for those who would like to know more about every aspect of African culture.
Tags: Eastern Cape suburb, festivals, africa festivals, Robertson wine valley, South Africa festival fun