Visitors of all ages to the 16th annual SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees are invited to “Embrace your Wild in the Adventure Province,” says festival director Jennifer Honsbein.
This year’s three-day festival at the end of June includes a unique “festival for all seasons” for kids, the Eastern Cape’s premier game auction, “wild rides” and “wild shopping” at over 350 specialist stalls, as well as a galaxy of stars performing under the Karoo sky on the province’s biggest stage.
“This festival bridges the gap between the farming community, on whom we are dependent for many of our products and the retail outlets where our shoppers see the final merchandise,” says SPAR Eastern Cape marketing director Abri Swart.
Kirkwood is situated in the picturesque Sundays River Valley of the Eastern Cape.
It is the heart of the Eastern Cape’s citrus and wildlife industries.
An integral part of the Valley is the Addo Elephant National Park, which this year will be selling 50 disease-free prime buffalo from its herd at the Kirkwood Wildsfees Game Auction on Friday, June 30.
Hosted in partnership with the organisers of the annual Wildsfees, the auction gives breeders from the whole region an opportunity to purchase prime game from Addo, other national parks and accredited breeders.
Citrus has been grown commercially in the Valley since 1908, and this heritage is being celebrated for the first time at the ATKV-Lemoenstasie stall in the craft arena.
ATKV award winning chefs Francois Ferreira and Annelie Oosthuizen, founder of Petronella Fine Dining, will be sharing some of their favourite citrus dishes with festival goers.
There is an adventure zone where families can embrace their wild together.
These include little pony rides, enchanted walks through the Faeries for all Seasons Wonderland, and meeting favourite characters from Paw Patrol for the youngsters, while parents and the older kids enjoy giant games such as dominos, jenga and croquet, and the more adventurous try their hand at paint ball.
Families are encouraged to venture into the Walk on the Wildside marquee to discover endless opportunities available for nature enthusiasts to interact with nature and find a career in the wildlife industry.
Top South African artists will be on the all new giant Adventure Province Main Stage for the three day duration of the festival.
Artists include; the hunky Brendan Peyper, the energetic Radio Kalahari Orkes, the oversized hat rapper Jack Parow, the stunning Riana Nel, the Kaptain Kurt Darren, the leeulooper Robbie Wessels, Emo Adams, as well as legends PJ Powers and Sonja Herholdt.
Other favourite attractions include 350 selected stalls, wine tasting all weekend, South Africa’s White Gold Mohair expo, agri expo, a Coca-Cola comedy show featuring funny man Roland Gaspar, and the Flavourfontein beach bar with lots of exciting activities from South African Breweries and the kykNET Leefstyl Plein.
A first for the Adventure Province is the opportunity to test drive a luxury vehicle on a special track, as well as get close to the action in an extreme endurocross event.
The SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees takes place from Friday, June 30 until Sunday, July 2.
Gates open from 9am and festinos can party late into the night.
Alan Straton
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