If you peel back the layers, the SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees in the beautiful citrus town is so much more than the food, fun and festivities that keep people coming back year after year.
It has become an institution in the community that not only brings people from all walks of life together, but also allows entrepreneurs to showcase their products to those who value them most.
These and other attributes have seen SPAR Eastern Cape put its name to the event for well over a decade, as will again be the case this year.
The festival, running from June 30 to July 2, turns 20 this year while SPAR is marking its 30th year in the province, making for a double celebration.
SPAR EC advertising manager, Roseann Shadrach, said that the family retailer was proud to be associated with it for such a long time.
“It attracts people from all over the country, not just Gqeberha and surrounds,” she said.
“But perhaps its biggest strength is entrepreneurship, which is one of SPAR’s main pillars. The fact that we are enabling people to earn an income over that weekend is very special.”
It is particularly rewarding for the retailer since small businesses and stallholders have been hit hard by the pandemic and giving them a platform to showcase and sell their wares “ticked SPAR’s entrepreneurship box”.
Shadrach said that the festival received tremendous support from “regular festivalgoers” and with an entertainment programme that featured a large Afrikaans component, it was a highlight on the agricultural events calendar.
Festivalgoers will be able to dance to the sounds of 25 of South Africa’s
top artists performing on the giant Wildsfees stage, will shop at over 300
specialist stalls and be entertained by a host of other activities at the
Eastern Cape’s biggest family festival.
“The SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees is the place where both locals
and visitors from all over the country come to escape the winter blues,” said festival director Jenni Honsbein.
Festival goers come from far and wide.
“Accommodation in the Sundays River Valley has been fully
booked for months, which shows that the festival appeal stretches well beyond
the Nelson Mandela Bay metro and Kirkwood surrounds.
“It has also been encouraging to see the return of major
national sponsors after the Covid pandemic,” she said.
Children’s entertainment includes wildlife-themed
competitions, reptile demos, a virtual game drive and the Fun4U Play Park.
For the older kids and the young at heart there will be the
Bungee, ZORB & Paintball Park.
Foodies and connoisseurs of fine wines, gin and beer will be
able to take their taste buds on safari in the kykNET Leefstyl Plein, Blaauwklippen
Wine Garden and Ffflamingo Bos Bistro, as well as the many stalls selling
everything from freshly prepared kudu burgers to sushi.
The festival will also feature the province’s biggest
commercial vehicle and new car show, while campers will be in their happy place
at the Campworld Expo.
The latest in agricultural technology will be on show at the
Agri Expo.
“With the ongoing drought making us all aware of the need to
conserve water we have commissioned a special garden display which shows what
can be done with succulents and some creative use of wood and stone,” said Honsbein.
Headline acts include Elandré and Loufi on Friday night,
Loukmaan Adams & band and Snotkop on Saturday, and Watershed and Juan
Boucher and Band on the Sunday.
For more information go to www.wildsfees.co.za.
