Your Garden Route Event Guide - 20 August

Member Photo by Willie - Sunrise at The Point, Mossel Bay

A quick welcome to everyone who's joined us in the last while — glad to have you along. The next fortnight is a good one to arrive for. Craig Hinds of Watershed plays three towns in four days, starting in Wilderness on Wednesday and working east to Knysna and Great Brak. The George Landbouskou takes over the Show Grounds from 27 to 29 August, and the closing weekend is the busiest we've seen in months: Arno Carstens and Theo Crous do a stripped-back Springbok Nude Girls set at Blend on the Saturday afternoon, Fancourt pours at its Winter Wine Festival, and Marsh Street shuts down for the Kaskar Race in Mossel Bay.

Let's dive in!

Mossel Bay

Craig Hinds Live at Pinnacle Point

The second leg of Craig Hinds's Garden Route run, this time on the clifftops at Pinnacle Point. Intimate readings of "Indigo Girl", "Letters" and the rest, with stories from nearly 25 years on the road.

Date: Thursday 20 August
Time: 19:30
Venue: Pinnacle Point Estate, Mossel Bay

Craig Hinds Live at Twin Trees

Craig Hinds, frontman of one of South Africa's most enduring rock acts, brings his acoustic tour to Twin Trees in Great Brak River. Expect stripped-back versions of the songs that have carried Watershed through nearly 25 years, delivered in a room small enough to hear every word.

Date: Saturday 22 August
Time: 19:00
Venue: Twin Trees, 29 Long Street, Great Brak River, Mossel Bay

CPF Kaskar Race

Mossel Bay's soapbox racing weekend returns, run in aid of the Community Police Forum. Friday evening is the show parade at Harry Giddy Park, where the carts are displayed before racing. Saturday sees Marsh Street closed off for the main event, with market stalls back at Harry Giddy Park for the day.

Date: Friday 28 August and Saturday 29 August
Time: Parade 18:00 to 22:00 on Friday; racing 09:00 to 17:00 on Saturday
Venue: Harry Giddy Park and Marsh Street, Mossel Bay

Mel die Storieverteller: Chaos is Gratis

Mel brings her talk to the Mossel Bay Town Hall, offering a frank and personal take on the noise and hurry of modern life, and what she does to ride the swells rather than fight them. Delivered in Afrikaans.

Date: Saturday 29 August
Time: 10:00
Venue: Mossel Bay Town Hall (Stadsaal), Mossel Bay

Petra Meerkat at ReedValley

Petra Meerkat takes to the ReedValley stage for the first time, bringing her sharp comic timing and unfiltered personality to a full evening of Afrikaans entertainment on the wine estate.

Date: Saturday 29 August
Time: 20:00
Venue: ReedValley Wine Estate, R327, Mossel Bay

George

George Landbouskou

The Western Cape's biggest agricultural show returns for its 164th year. Three days of livestock judging across cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and horses, alongside the SA Jersey Championships, a display of vintage tractors, food and craft stalls, a cheese and wine tent, live performers, children's entertainment and a fun fair.

Date: Thursday 27 August to Saturday 29 August
Venue: George Show Grounds (Skougronde), George

Demi Lee Moore Live

The Afrikaans singer-songwriter headlines the Landbouskou's Saturday programme, bringing the hits that have made her one of the country's most reliably packed live draws.

Date: Saturday 29 August
Time: 20:20
Venue: George Landbou Skou, George Show Grounds, George

Fancourt Winter Wine Festival

Fancourt turns the quiet season into an excuse to gather, with award-winning wines poured by the producers themselves, food to match and the estate's hospitality on full display. A good one to make a day of.

Date: Saturday 29 August
Time: From 11:00
Venue: Fancourt, Montagu Street, George

Hansel and Gretel

A fresh, comedic retelling of the fairy tale in which the siblings find their way home with help from the Three Little Pigs. Built for families, pitched at the children, and short enough to hold them.

Date: Wednesday 19, Thursday 20 and Friday 21 August
Time: Shows at 12:00, 16:00 and 18:30
Venue: Market Community Theatre, George

Change the World

The Melissa Page School of Dance's annual showcase, spanning modern, tap and hip-hop, performed by dancers aged six to twenty-five and built around a message of hope carried through music and movement.

Date: Friday 21 August
Time: 15:00
Venue: George Arts Theatre, 125 York Street, George

Abristo Half Marathon

The inaugural Abristo Road Race launches at the Outeniqua Lifestyle Centre, with distances to suit both those chasing a personal best and those out for a social morning with family. A new fixture on the George running calendar.

Date: Saturday 22 August
Time: 08:00
Venue: Outeniqua Lifestyle Centre, 1 Cradock Peak Street, George

Art in the Garden

Il Giardino opens its garden to local artists for a relaxed day of exhibition and sales. Live piano through the day, a Sip and Paint session for those who would rather make than browse, face painting and a jumping castle for children, and food throughout. Artists are welcome to bring a canvas and paint in the garden.

Date: Saturday 22 August
Time: Running through the day; start time to be confirmed with the venue
Venue: Il Giardino Restaurant, George

Lugkasteel Fundraising Dance

A fundraising dance in a converted potato shed, which is exactly as good a venue as it sounds. Doors open from late afternoon and a floor that stays busy.

Date: Saturday 22 August
Time: From 17:00
Venue: 4Brothers Aartappelstoor, Blanco, George

Koos van der Merwe: A Tribute

Koos van der Merwe returns to the storytelling and song that made his name, threading Afrikaans classics through an evening built on longing and memory. A tribute show for anyone who came of age with a Philips record player in the room.

Date: Saturday 22 August
Time: 18:00
Venue: Protea Hotel by Marriott George King George, George

Knysna

Crous and Carstens: Springbok Nude Girls Unplugged

Theo Crous and Arno Carstens have been making music together since they met in Bellville in the early 1990s, founding Springbok Nude Girls in 1994 and building a catalogue that defined a generation of South African rock. This is that catalogue stripped back to two players, with the stories behind the songs. Gates stay open afterwards for the Springboks against the All Blacks at 15:00.

Date: Saturday 29 August
Time: Gates 12:00, show starts 13:00 sharp
Venue: Blend Country Restaurant, Knysna

Craig Hinds Live at Simola Hotel

The middle leg of Craig Hinds's Garden Route run lands at Simola, where the lagoon views and the hotel's intimate performance space suit an acoustic set of Watershed's best-known material.

Date: Friday 21 August
Time: 20:00
Venue: Simola Hotel, Country Club and Spa, Knysna

Plettenberg Bay

Craig Hinds Live at Slops

Craig Hinds returns to Slops for a lunchtime acoustic set, closing out his run through the region. An afternoon show rather than an evening one, so it pairs well with a slow Saturday.

Date: Saturday 22 August
Time: 12:00
Venue: Slops, Plettenberg Bay

Land of the Low: Automotive and Lifestyle Festival

A weekend festival built around car culture, with the main show day falling on the Saturday. Music, food and lifestyle stalls run alongside the vehicle displays, and on-site accommodation makes it viable as a full weekend rather than a day trip.

Date: Friday 28 August to Sunday 30 August
Time: Main day Saturday 29 August, 10:00 to 22:00
Venue: Forever Resort, Plettenberg Bay

Wilderness

Cape Country MTB

A multi-day mountain bike stage race that starts inland at Beaumont Family Wines in Bot River and works its way east through the Garden Route forests, finishing in Wilderness. The closing stages land in town midweek.

Date: Sunday 16 August to Friday 21 August
Venue: Finishes at the Wilderness Hotel, Wilderness

Storms River and Tsitsikamma

Tsitsikamma Ultra

A 50km point-to-point trail race from the cliffs above Storms River to the hidden mountain hamlet of Covie, following ancient footpaths and forestry roads through indigenous forest, across rivers and over fynbos ridges, with the Indian Ocean on one side and deep gorges on the other. Two aid stations at 29km and 40km, entry covers conservation and forestry permits, and a shuttle runs from the finish back to the start. Entrants must be 18 or older.

Date: Saturday 29 August
Venue: Starts at the TotalEnergies Petroport on the N2, Storms River, and finishes at Covie

That’s a wrap!

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The ONTHEROUTE Team

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Save The Date

Windhoek Home of Golf Cup, Round 9 — Round nine of the national series on the lagoon's edge. Knysna Golf Club, Knysna. 4 September.
The Phantom of the Opera — A local staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's best-known music alongside other cinematic scores. Moedergemeente Kerk, George. 4 September.
Rock in die Tuin — The annual outdoor rock festival, with top South African bands across a run of stage nights. George. 4 to 11 September.
Santos Beach Auto Extremo — Third running of the beach motorsport spectacle, with supercars, classics and Portuguese food. Santos Beach, Mossel Bay. 5 September.
Hats of Hope Ladies' High Tea — Hats, high tea and prizes, with all proceeds to Eden House. Simola Hotel, Knysna. 5 September.
The Ultimate RNB and Jazz Festival — A regional music festival built around smooth jazz and R&B, with national headliners. Outeniqua Park, George. 6 September.
Café Gannet Festival of Wine — Tastings, food and a gift bag included with entry. Mossel Bay. 12 September.
Andre the Hilarious Hypnotist — Unscripted comedy where the audience becomes the act. Simola Hotel, Knysna. 17 September.
Maskerbal — A masked ball with dinner and dancing. Oudtshoorn. 18 September.
Raphaeli Seven Lively Arts Festival — Performances, workshops and hands-on crafting across the seven arts. Olive Hill Estate, Plettenberg Bay. 19 September.
Dalin Oliver: Stuck in Dubai — Stand-up from the man who survived the cancelled flight. Blend Country Restaurant, Knysna. 19 September.
Garden Route Triathlon — A new addition to the South African Triathlon Series, with ultra, standard and sprint options. Mossel Bay. 20 September.
Cape Pioneer Trek — An elite multi-stage mountain bike race across Karoo landscapes and Garden Route forest. Oudtshoorn. 22 to 26 September.
Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Knysna Pride — Rescheduled from autumn to align with Heritage Day, with parades, performances, exhibitions and workshops. Knysna. 24 to 27 September.
Garden Route Wedding Expo — Four days of suppliers, venues and styling at the NG Church grounds. Mossel Bay. 24 to 27 September.
Plett Arts Festival — Ten days of music, jazz, fine art, land art, workshops and performance, opening with the Twilight Meander down Main Street. Plettenberg Bay. 25 September to 4 October.
kykNET Buite Ekspo Suid-Kaap — The outdoor, adventure and camping expo returns to the amphitheatre. ATKV Hartenbos, Mossel Bay. 25 to 27 September.
Lions Karoo to Coast — The 25th edition of the 97km point-to-point MTB, gravel and e-bike challenge. Uniondale to Knysna. 27 September.
Psyshores Festival — Four days of music, art and coastal camping on the bay. Buffalo Bay, Knysna. 1 to 5 October.
Tsitsikamma Adventure Festival — A weekend of trail runs, mountain bike races, street markets, art exhibitions and live music. Storms River and Tsitsikamma. 2 to 4 October.
Hartenbos Oktoberfest — Oompah bands and German fare, raising funds for Heuwelsrust and Hartenbos Bejaardes. Mossel Bay. 3 October.
George Musical Festival: Eden Soul and Jazz Reimagined — An outdoor showcase of regional soul and jazz, with food stalls and art displays. George. 3 October.
Wilderness Arts Festival — Four days of visual, musical and literary work from local creatives, free to the public. Fairy Knowe Hotel and venues across Wilderness. 8 to 11 October.
Meiringspoort Half Marathon — One of the country's most scenic road races, run through the rock cliffs of Meiringspoort. De Rust and Oudtshoorn. 10 October.
Fancourt Marathon — Full and half marathon distances through Fancourt and the George hills. George. 17 October.
Klein Karoo Dust 4 Glory Challenge — Obstacle course racing over raw Klein Karoo terrain and natural obstacles. Oudtshoorn. 17 October.
Pink Walk Sedgefield — A community walk raising awareness and funds for breast cancer support. Sedgefield. 17 October.
RE/MAX Garden Route Kite Festival — Tenth edition, with kite flyers and makers from nine countries. Scarab Village, Sedgefield. 18 October.
Schalk Bezuidenhout: Hey Hey Divorce — Raw stand-up, cheaper than therapy. Simola Hotel, Knysna. 20 October.
Louvain Burn Music and Arts Festival — Four days of music, art and camping in a forested valley in the Outeniquas. Louvain Guest Farm, Oudtshoorn. 6 to 9 November.
Leisure Isle Festival — Twenty-first anniversary of the island's charity craft and food weekend. Leisure Isle, Knysna. 7 to 8 November.
Plett Rage — The school-leavers' festival returns, with live music, beach days and celebrations. Plettenberg Bay. 27 November to 3 December.
Die Grootvoël Rally — A gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts, with custom bike displays, social rides and entertainment. Oudtshoorn. 2 to 7 December.
Garden Route Rare Plant Festival — Third annual gathering of rare and unusual plant growers. Garden Route Botanical Garden, George. 12 to 13 December.
Tower2Sea Trail Run — Sunrise start at the Buffelsnek Fire Tower, finishing at the sea. Knysna. 20 December.