After being deconstructed, due to COVID-19 in 2021, the popular Calamari Festival is set to boast meltingly tender calamari, top-quality wine, craft beer and gin, entertainment, and action-packed fun.
The festival, organised by St Francis Tourism and sponsored by Kouga Municipality, will take place in the heart of the Village in St Francis Drive, St Francis Bay from Friday, September 23 to Saturday, September 24 – building on the successful inaugural event in 2017.
The festival promises fun-filled and action-packed entertainment for the whole family, whether you want to put your cooking skills to the test, show your mettle on the sports field or leisurely browse through stalls while sipping on locally grafted drinks.
Wine Festival
The popular Calamari Tops Wine Festival, brought to wine lovers by Tops Village Square, will kick off festivities on the corner of St Francis Drive and Assissi Drive from 15:00-20:00 on Friday, September 23.
Visitors will be able to taste wine from 20 different farms – including Raats, Allee Blue, Diemersfontein, La Vierge and Raka.
Tickets cost R200 per person and include a branded wine glass, snack platter and live music.
Entertainment
Not stopping there, a beer tent with craft beer, gin, and wine will be available throughout Saturday, September 24, alongside more than 100 market stalls and food trucks offering a wide variety of good quality products.
A live music stage, showcasing Devon van Driel, Edward Allen and AXYL, will entertain festivalgoers from 15:45.
There will also be various forms of kids’ entertainment.
The weekend, furthermore, offers different sporting action: Calamari Classic Golf (September 22 to 24), Calamari Classic Bowls (September 23 to 25), and Nautical Half Marathon (September 25).
The gates open at 09:00.
Tickets cost R20 for adults and R10 for children under 10.
Calamari Cook-Off
Professional and amateur chefs will battle it out from 11:00 to 13:00 on the Saturday at the heated Calamari Cook-Off competition – a not-to-be-missed event.
Cooking teams, each to create their own calamari dish, can be made up of family members and friends, while corporate teams can also enter in the corporate category.
St Francis Bay Tourism will supply the calamari, while each team will receive a Village Square SuperSpar voucher to buy ingredients. Contestants must provide their own equipment and cooking station.
The Calamari King or Queen for 2022 will receive a floating trophy. Lots of prizes will also be up for grabs.
The entry fee of R200 per team (maximum four members) will be donated to NSRI Station 21.
Tasting tickets are R100 per person for three tastings.
More information
- For more information and tickets, contact St Francis Tourism at 042 294 0076 or Hantie van der Westhuizen at 083 294 2211.
Tickets are also available at Quicket.
Alternatively, send an email to office@stfrancistourism.co.za.
