Your Garden Route Event Guide - 27 August

A quick welcome to everyone who's joined us since the last issue. The closing weekend of August is the busiest of the winter: the George Landbouskou, the Kaskar Race down Marsh Street, Springbok Nude Girls unplugged at Blend and Fancourt's Winter Wine Festival. September opens with cars on the sand at Santos Beach.

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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

Portraits of a Woman: Colours of Her Soul

Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Violina Anguelov leads an evening tracing the emotional range of women's lives through opera, song and chamber music, joined by soprano Phyllis Goldblatt for a set of duets. Jacques Lakey and Annette Strydom accompany on piano, with Johan Engelbrecht on violin and Mariaan Bester on cello. Tickets R160, available at the door by cash or card.

• Date: Friday 28 August
• Time: 18:30
• Venue: DR Church Hartenbos, Hartenbos, 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

Santos Beach Auto Extremo

The third running of Mossel Bay's beach motorsport spectacle, hosted by the Southern Cape Old Car Club. Supercars, classics and modified machines take to the sand at De Bakke for a full day of runs along the beach.

• Date: Saturday 5 September
• Time: From 09:00
• Venue: De Bakke, Santos Beach, 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: Refer to the show programme for the stage time
• Venue: George Landbou Skou, George Show Grounds, George

Redberry Farm Trail Run

A scenic 5km or 9km route winding through Redberry's strawberry and kiwi fields, hosted in collaboration with the Genius Academy Group of Schools, Klouterwoud, Sonskynland and Mountview. Suitable for runners, walkers and families.

• Date: Saturday 29 August
• Time: 08:00
• Venue: Redberry Farm, Geelhoutboom Road, 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

The Phantom of the Opera

A local staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's best-known score, set alongside other cinematic music, in the acoustics of the Moedergemeente church.

• Date: Friday 4 September
• Venue: Moedergemeente Kerk, George

Rock in die Tuin

The annual outdoor rock festival opens its run, bringing top South African rock acts to a garden stage across a series of nights.

• Date: From Friday 4 September, running to 11 September
• Venue: Eden Gemeente, George

The Ultimate RNB and Jazz Festival

A regional festival built around smooth jazz and R&B, with national headliners on an outdoor stage and food and drink through the day.

• Date: Sunday 6 September
• Venue: Outeniqua Park, George

Sedgefield

SPONSORED

Now in its 17th year, Sedgefield's highest-earning annual fundraiser brings an all-local amateur cast — doctors, teachers and lawyers included — to the stage for a night of side-splitting, lip-synced antics. Picnic-style with table seating, so bring your own snacks and drinks (not suitable for under 16s). Two acts with an interval, followed by an American Auction where the top three songs are repeated in an even funnier encore. All proceeds go to local organisations serving the Sedgefield community.

• Dates: 27 August, 28 August, 1 September, 3 September, 4 September
• Time: 19:00
• Venue: Sedgefield Primary

Buy Tickets and Learn more

Precious Paws Animal Quiz Night

An evening of animal trivia at the bowling club, hosted by the Precious Paws team. Teams of two to eight, prizes to be won, cash bar on site. Bring your own snacks or order a platter in advance, with four days' notice required.

• Date: Thursday 27 August
• Time: Arrival 18:00 for an 18:30 start
• Venue: Sedgefield Bowling Club, Sedgefield

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

Botanique: A Dance Beneath the Milkwood

The Node reopens its season with a dancefloor tucked in beneath the milkwoods. An evening rather than a late night, running from late afternoon through to midnight.

• Date: Saturday 29 August
• Time: 17:00 to 00:00
• Venue: The Node, Shop 8, Oaks on Main, 28 Main Road, Knysna

Hats of Hope Ladies' High Tea

Dress up, find your best hat and gather a table for an afternoon of high tea and prizes at Simola, with all proceeds going to Eden House.

• Date: Saturday 5 September
• Time: 14:00 to 17:00
• Venue: Simola Hotel, Country Club and Spa, Knysna

Plettenberg Bay

The Bassline Society: Quarter Club Takeover

A night given over entirely to vinyl house music, played by DJs who have spent decades building their record collections. No laptops, no shortcuts, and a room set up around the sound rather than the spectacle.

• Date: Friday 28 August
• Time: 20:00 to 02:00
• Venue: The Quarter Club, 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

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. 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
• Time: 06:00 to 19:00
• Venue: Storms River Petroport on the N2 to Covie Church, Storms River

That’s a wrap!

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Listen Live

Save The Date

• Café Gannet Festival of Wine — Tastings, food and a gift bag included with entry. Mossel Bay. 12 September.
• Because of Success — Multi award-winning comedian Sifiso Nene on his new one-man tour. George Arts Theatre, George. 12 September.
• Andre the Hilarious Hypnotist — Unscripted comedy where the audience becomes the act. Simola Hotel, Knysna. 17 September.
• Jak de Priester: Van Sally tot Somerset-Wes — Twenty-five years on from "Sally Williams Nougat", a look back over the career it started. George. 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.
• Roan Ash at Twin Trees — The Nashville-based South African songwriter plays an intimate acoustic set. Great Brak River, Mossel Bay. 23 September.
• Droomwoud Heritage Trail Run — Trail running and a family festival in the forest on Heritage Day. Mossel Bay. 24 September.
• Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Knysna Pride — Rescheduled 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.
• ACVV Business Relay — Teams of six take on an evening relay in support of ACVV George. Halfway Toyota, Knysna Road, George. 29 September.
• Psyshores Festival — Four days of music, art and coastal camping on the bay. Buffalo Bay, Knysna. 1 to 5 October.
• Roan Ash at Simola — A second Garden Route date for the country-rock songwriter. Simola Hotel, Knysna. 2 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.
• Moonshine Distill Oktoberfest — Beer specials, live music, dancing and German-inspired food, free entry from 15:00 until late. Sedgefield. 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.
• Sasfin Plett Wine and Bubbly Festival — Two days of Plett's cool-climate wines and Cap Classique on the sand, with wine farm events in the days before. Central Beach, Plettenberg Bay. 9 to 10 October.
• Jo Black at ReedValley — An evening of Afrikaans songwriting on the wine estate. Mossel Bay. 10 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.
• Wilderness Chess960 Tournament — A five-round freestyle Chess960 tournament for adults and juniors. Fairy Knowe Hotel, Wilderness. 11 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.
• Hollard Daredevil Run — Seventeen years of purple Speedos in aid of prostate cancer awareness, finishing at Central Beach. Plettenberg Bay. 23 October.
• Christmas Festival George — Lights, stalls and entertainment across four evenings at the showgrounds. George. 23 to 26 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.
• Rest and Restore — A three-day women's retreat on a sustainability farm in The Crags. Good Earth Farm, Plettenberg Bay. 20 to 22 November.
• Woodstock and Beyond: 1965-1975 — RockSteady's nostalgia-steeped tour through folk, psychedelia and protest song. Simola Hotel, Knysna. 21 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 5 December.
• Garden Route Rare Plant Festival — Third annual gathering of rare and unusual plant growers. Garden Route Botanical Garden, George. 12 to 13 December.
• Float Fest Groot Brak — A full day of floating, live music, DJs and food on the river. Great Brak River, Mossel Bay. 18 December.
• Tower2Sea Trail Run — Sunrise start at the Buffelsnek Fire Tower, finishing at the sea. Knysna. 20 December.