Your Garden Route Event Guide - 3 September

Hey everyone,

Spring arrives with a genuinely full calendar.

Spring opens with a full fortnight. SA National Parks Week runs 7 to 13 September, giving South Africans free day access to the Garden Route National Park at Wilderness, Knysna, Nature's Valley and Storms River.

George has the busiest calendar in the region: a candlelit violin tribute to The Phantom of the Opera, the improvisational cellist HA!Man, comedian Sifiso Nene and two Friday nights of Rock in die Tuin. Elsewhere, supercars take to the sand at Santos Beach, Café Gannet pours its Festival of Wine, and Sedgefield stages a wearable art fashion show with live music.

Let's dive in!

Mossel Bay

Santos Beach Auto Extremo

The third running of the Southern Cape Old Car Club's beach motoring spectacle, now moved to a Saturday. Retro classics, modern supercars and motorcycles line up on the sand at De Bakke, with a Portuguese culinary theme added this year in a nod to the town's heritage. Adults R100, school-going children accompanied by parents free.

• Date: Saturday, 5 September
• Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Venue: De Bakke, Santos Beach, Mossel Bay

The Spring Affair

Erica Primary School's fundraising car show, followed by a parents' dance, with boerewors rolls and chips on sale. Combo tickets include a free cooler box on entry.

• Date: Saturday, 5 September
• Time: 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Venue: Erica Primary School, Mossel Bay

Friemersheim Heritage Outing

The Simon van der Stel Foundation invites the public on a guided walk through the historic mission village, taking in its story and the colourful murals by Fourie Ackermann. A braai lunch under the old oak tree follows for those who RSVP. R100 per person, cash on registration. Enquiries 083 268 6708.

• Date: Saturday 12 September
• Time: Registration 10:00 to 10:30
• Venue: The church in Kretzen Street, Friemersheim, near Great Brak River, Mossel Bay

George

Mama's Escape: Line Dancing

A social line-dancing evening for beginners and regulars alike, with music, laughter and a friendly crowd.

• Date: Friday, 4 September
• Time: 6:30 PM
• Venue: Laerskool Denneoord, George

Music of the Night

Nineteen-year-old violinist Maja Snyman, known online as Maja Rey, presents her first live concert: a candlelit tribute to The Phantom of the Opera and other cinematic masterpieces, joined by the South Cape Children's Choir, a ballerina and an organist. R150 adults, R100 children, on Quicket.

• Date: Friday, 4 September
• Time: 7:30 PM (doors 7:00 PM)
• Venue: Moedergemeente Kerk, George

HA!Man

Internationally acclaimed creative cellist, multi-instrumentalist and improvisational performance artist Francois le Roux brings his interactive live show to George. R190 public, R150 members, R50 learners, available at the door from 14:30.

• Date: Sunday, 6 September
• Time: 3:30 PM
• Venue: NG Moederkerk, George.

Shakespeare Schools Festival

Seven Garden Route schools stage their own creative adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, with each production running around 30 minutes, over three days of youth theatre.

• Date: Friday, 11 September
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Venue: Market Community Theatre, George

Because of Success

Multi-award-winning comedian Sifiso Nene brings his new one-man stand-up tour to George.

• Date: Saturday, 12 September
• Time: 8:00 PM
• Venue: George Arts Theatre, George

Jak de Priester: Van Sally tot Somerset-Wes

Twenty-five years after his breakout hit "Sally Williams Nougat," singer-songwriter Jak de Priester looks back on his career with a concert of favourite songs old and new, backed by guitarist Ruben Davis and drummer Rickardo van der Horst, and stories along the way.

• Date: Thursday, 17 September
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Venue: George Arts Theatre, George

Scava Art Exhibition: Almost

The Southern Cape Art Association's latest group exhibition explores the space between what is and what could be, on display through the middle of the month.

• Date: Ongoing until 17 September
• Time: Museum hours
• Venue: Sayers Auditorium, George Museum, 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

Iconic Fashion Show

Former model Melissa Watson of ecofashion label MANTRA reveals a collection of one-of-a-kind wearable art, with headpieces by ZANATOA, live music from Garden Route musician Shomon and a guest collection from Anahi of Timberlake Village. Dress to express; prizes for the best-dressed.

• Date: Saturday, 12 September
• Time: 3:30 PM
• Venue: St Anthony Catholic Church Hall, Sedgefield

Knysna

Hats of Hope: A Ladies' High Tea

Find your most fabulous hat and gather a table of ten for an afternoon of savoury delicacies, desserts, premium teas and prizes, with a cash bar and a surprise for rugby fans afterwards.

• Date: Saturday, 5 September
• Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
• Venue: Simola Hotel Country Club & Spa, Knysna

Andre the Hilarious Hypnotist: Planned Pandemonium

After 35 years on stage, Andre returns with unscripted, interactive comedy that turns ordinary audience members into the stars of the show — no two performances are ever the same.

• Date: Thursday, 17 September
• Time: 7:30 PM (doors 6:30 PM)
• Venue: Simola Hotel, Knysna

That’s a wrap!

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Best,

The ONTHEROUTE Team

in partnership with eradio SA

eRadio SA - Live from the Garden Route to the World - your digital home for great music, local stories, and engaging conversations.

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Save The Date

• Maskerbal – A masked ball with dinner and dancing. Location: Oudtshoorn. Date: 18 September.
• Raphaeli Seven Lively Arts Festival – A day of performances, workshops and hands-on crafting across the seven arts. Location: Raphaeli Waldorf School, Plettenberg Bay. Date: 19 September.
• Dalin Oliver: Stuck in Dubai – Stand-up comedy from the tour inspired by a four-day layover that spiralled into cancelled flights. Location: Blend Country Restaurant, Knysna. Date: 19 September.
• Garden Route Triathlon – A new addition to the South African Triathlon Series, with sprint, standard and ultra distances. Location: Mossel Bay. Date: 20 September.
• Cape Pioneer Trek (Race With Soul) – A multi-day mountain bike stage race running from the single-track of Saasveld into the heart of the Klein Karoo. Location: George to Oudtshoorn. Date: 22–26 September.
• Otter African Trail Run – South Africa's premier marathon-distance trail race, known as "The Grail of Trail," running 42km along the Otter Trail's rugged coastline with a swim across the Bloukrans River. Location: Storms River to Nature's Valley. Date: 23–25 September.
• Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival – South Africa's leading LGBTQIA+ arts and cultural festival, timed this year to align with Heritage Day, with a street parade, live performances and art exhibitions. Location: Knysna. Date: 24–27 September.
• Garden Route Wedding Expo – Four days of wedding suppliers, venues and styling inspiration. Location: NG Church grounds, Mossel Bay. Date: 24–27 September.
• KykNet Buitelug Expo – An outdoor lifestyle and recreation expo covering hunting, fishing, camping and adventure gear. Location: ATKV Hartenbos, Mossel Bay. Date: 25–27 September.
• Lions Karoo to Coast – A 25th-anniversary point-to-point mountain bike, gravel and e-bike challenge raising funds for local Lions Clubs. Location: Uniondale to Knysna. Date: 27 September.
• ACVV Business Relay – Teams of six take on an evening relay in support of ACVV George. Location: Halfway Toyota, George. Date: 29 September.
• Plett ARTS Festival – Ten days of music, fine art, jazz, theatre and the Plett Land Art Route across venues throughout the town, saved for 2026 by a community-led fundraising effort. Location: Plettenberg Bay. Date: 25 September – 4 October.
• Psyshores Festival – Four days of music, art and coastal camping on the bay. Location: Buffalo Bay, Knysna. Date: 1–5 October.
• Moonshine Distill Oktoberfest – Beer specials, live music, dancing and German-inspired food, free entry from 3:00 PM. Location: Sedgefield. Date: 3 October.
• Wilderness Arts Festival – Four days of visual, musical and literary work from local creatives, free to the public, across Fairy Knowe Hotel and venues throughout the village. Location: Wilderness. Date: 8–11 October.
• Meiringspoort Half Marathon – One of the country's most scenic road races, run through the rock cliffs of Meiringspoort. Location: De Rust and Oudtshoorn. Date: 10 October.
• Wilderness Chess960 Tournament – A five-round freestyle Chess960 tournament for adults and juniors. Location: Fairy Knowe Hotel, Wilderness. Date: 11 October.
• Fancourt Marathon – A scenic full and half marathon that has drawn elite fields including Bruce Fordyce and Alan Robb in past years. Location: George. Date: 17 October.
• RE/MAX Garden Route Kite Festival – Tenth edition, with kite flyers and makers from nine countries. Location: Scarab Village, Sedgefield. Date: 18 October.
• Schalk Bezuidenhout: Hey Hey Divorcé – Raw, personal stand-up from his acclaimed new hour. Location: Simola Hotel, Knysna. Date: 20 October.
• Matriekbaai – An annual matric send-off festival drawing school-leavers from across the country for a week of beach parties and live entertainment. Location: Mossel Bay. Date: 27 October – 5 November.
• Dryland Traverse – A multi-day endurance race running from the Cango Caves to the peaks of the Swartberg mountains. Location: Oudtshoorn. Date: 29 October – 1 November.
• Knysna Extreme Triathlon – Billed as Africa's toughest triathlon, combining a 5km estuary swim, a 174km cycle and a 50km run through forest and mountain terrain. Location: Knysna. Date: 7 November.
• Leisure Isle Festival – A community fundraising festival with stalls, food and family activities in aid of local charities. Location: Knysna. Date: 7–8 November.
• Rest and Restore – A three-day women's retreat on a sustainability farm. Location: Good Earth Farm, The Crags, Plettenberg Bay. Date: 20–22 November.
• ISUZU IRONMAN 70.3 Mossel Bay – A half-distance triathlon combining a sea swim, coastal cycle and run through the town, drawing international competitors. Location: Mossel Bay. Date: 22 November.
• Plett Rage – The school-leavers' festival returns, with live music, beach days and celebrations. Location: Plettenberg Bay. Date: 27 November – 3 December.
• MosJazz – A multi-day jazz festival featuring South African and international artists across venues in the town. Location: Mossel Bay. Date: 26–29 November.