Clear skies and relatively warm nights are predicted for the Eastern Cape’s wildest festival, which will be held over the weekend from Friday, June 29 to Sunday, July 1.
Festinos going to the 17th annual SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees are promised comfortable day temperatures of around 22 degrees, with night-time minimums of six degrees.
“This is perfect weather for the family wanting to make the most of all the day-time activities, as well as those who want to party late into the night with a galaxy of more than 30 of the country’s top artists on the giant Adventure Province stage,” said festival director Jenni Honsbein.
All ages are catered for at the festival. Santa is coming to town as part of a full programme of wild and exciting experiences and activities for kids at the Wildsfees.
“We are one of South Africa’s only festivals to include activities and experiences for the whole family, and this year we will be bringing Santa and his helpers to the SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees,” said Honsbein.
“Special experiences for those ‘Born to Be Wild’ include a Santa’s Secret Winter Workshop for kids, themed Wild West pony rides, pedal go-karts, paintball, and a chance to meet and greet all your favourite cartoon characters,” she said.
There is plenty of other live entertainment during the weekend.
In addition to the live performances on the Friday and Saturday nights and during Sunday there will be performances in the Vodacom Pavilion by Friesian horses, anti-poaching exercise demonstrations by the Addo Elephant National Park Ranger Corps and the police K9 unit, and a dog show featuring the recently-recognised black Boerboel breed.
In the Coca-Cola fun zone, there will be rhythmic gymnastics, a yo-yo competition, the Coca-Cola soccer challenge, a kids’ game show with funnyman Roland Gaspar, a drumming demonstration and workshop, and a juggling demonstration and workshop.
There are also more than 350 specialist stalls to browse through, as well as a selection of food trucks stalls that will make any visitor’s taste-buds go wild.
Another highlight of the festival is the Friday game auction, which will feature “the biggest bull ever put on auction at the Kirkwood Game Auction” says auction co-ordinator Johan Swart.
This year the game auction will be offering 45 disease-free buffalo from the Addo Elephant and Camdeboo National Parks, according to Addo Elephant National Park Conservation Manager John Adendorff.
The buffalo have been captured and are being kept in bomas at Addo and Camdeboo.
“An additional 75 Cape mountain zebra will be sold on catalogue, all to be caught in Mountain Zebra National Park after the auction if sold,” he said.
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