It started
\nwith the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, followed by the blessing of rain and
\nthen two and a half days of clear Karoo skies \u2013 the 2022 SPAR Kirkwood
\nWildsfees is back on the Eastern Cape entertainment and tourism map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFriday got
\noff to a slow start due to the rain which thankfully let up after lunch. Saturday
\nwas a near record crowd, and it was delightful to see family and friends
\nenjoying themselves on the Sunday,\u201d said SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees director Jenni
\nHonsbein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor me it
\nwas wonderful seeing people getting together again in the spirit of friendship,\u201d
\nsays SPAR Eastern Cape sponsorships and events manager Alan
\nStapleton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe saw people celebrating friendship, and the community
\ncoming together to celebrate the end of two years of Covid restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCongratulations to the Wildsfees team for pulling
\neverything together under very difficult conditions and uncertainty right up to
\nthe last minute,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The annual
\nSPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, with a skeleton team
\nkeeping it alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had the
\nfinances to continue thanks to the foresight of the Wildsfees board, who were
\ndetermined to keep the community-owned festival alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlso,
\nthanks to the artists, who kept their diaries open for the festival for two
\nyears,\u201d said Honsbein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis year
\nwas a foretaste of great things to come. We have shaken off the cobwebs and
\nwill start planning 2023 within the next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe already
\nhave plenty of plans to make it an even better experience in 2023,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n