It started with the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions followed by the blessing of rain and then two and a half days of clear Karoo skies – the 2022 SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees is back on the Eastern Cape entertainment and tourism map.
“Friday got off to a slow start due to the rain which thankfully let up after lunch. Saturday was a near-record crowd, and it was delightful to see family and friends enjoying themselves on the Sunday,” says SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees director Jenni Honsbein.
“For me, it was wonderful seeing people getting together again in the spirit of friendship,” says SPAR Eastern Cape sponsorships and events manager Alan Stapleton.
“We saw people celebrating friendship, and the community coming together to celebrate the end of two years of Covid restrictions.
“Congratulations to the Wildsfees team for pulling everything together under very difficult conditions and uncertainty right up to the last minute,” he added.
The annual SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, with a skeleton team keeping it alive.
“We had the finances to continue thanks to the foresight of the Wildsfees board, who were determined to keep the community-owned festival alive.
“Also, thanks to the artists, who kept their diaries open for the festival for two years,” says Honsbein.
“This year was a foretaste of great things to come. We have shaken off the cobwebs and will start planning 2023 within the next month.
“We already have plenty of plans to make it an even better experience in 2023,” she adds.
