Perfect weather (apart from isolated snow) is expected for the annual Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees over the weekend.
Running from Friday, June 28 to Sunday, June 30, the festival is housed in tent town which has been constructed on the grounds of the Kirkwood High School.
Friday’s opening at nine in the morning is expected to be greeted by sunny skies, according to the weather forecasters.
On Saturday and Sunday there is expected to be a mix of sun and cloud and a maximum of 21 degrees C, which will ensure that the more than 45 000 visitors will be able to happily spend the day outdoors with the backdrop of the magnificent Rietberg Mountains.
“With the festival catering for the whole family they are going to need all the daylight hours just to visit the car, cat, boerboel, wine, agricultural, outdoor, Walk on the Wildside, mohair and Eskom expos – not to mention browsing through the more than 300 specialist stalls and letting your taste buds run wild at the food stalls and DSTV Lifestyle Square,” says festival director Jenni Honsbein.
What the weather forecasters haven’t predicted though is that there will be snow – an “Alpine Village” full of it. “This is yet another first for our festival. We will have 10 tons of snow (similar to the snow which falls on the Alps) for all ages to go wild. There will be snow ball fights, the building of snowmen, and the making of snow angels,” predicts Honsbein.
Another highlight of the festival is the annual wildlife auction where the focus will be on the 30 buffalo being sold by the Addo Elephant National Park, as well as other prime game from top reserves in the province.
New firsts for 2013 include an “extreme fishing” tournament, and a “Skaapkop Lang Tafel” where diners will savour “smileys” (sheep heads) while being entertained by 7de Laan stars according to Honsbein.
“Hot off the floorboards” from the Absa KKNK will be Rocco de Villiers with his new show “Stunning,” and a special “Kook in jou Taal” show with 7de Laan stars Ivan Botha (Pieter) and Donnalee Roberts (Anneli).
Also making a first appearance in the Sundays River Valley is legendary singer Johnny Clegg, who will close the festival after three days of performances from many of the country’s favourite artists.
He will be on stage on afternoon of Sunday, June 30.
Friday the 28th’s line-up on the Windhoek Stage Willem Botha, Jay and Lianie May, Broers, DJ Ossewa, Ray Dylan and Band, and Heuwels Fantasties. “And, for once, the temperatures will not be hovering around zero. The forecasters predict a minimum of 7 degrees on Saturday evening,” says Honsbein.
On Saturday the 29th, Tjiff and Tjaff will be the first on the biggest stage in the Eastern Cape to entertain the youngsters.
They will be followed by Spoegwolf, Andriette, Adam, Emo Adams, Juanita du Plessis, Dr. Victor and Kurt Darren.
Joining Johnny Clegg in the Sunday entertainment line-up will be Lance James and Barbara Ray, Gerrie Pretorius, and the Campbells.
The Absa Kirkwood Wildsfees 2013 – where young and old go wild – starts off on Friday, June 28 and will end on Sunday, June 30.
Alan Straton
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