After being locked down for two years, the annual SPAR Kirkwood Wildsfees will be back in 2022.
The go-ahead has been given by the Wildsfees board, which ensured that there were sufficient funds in reserve to allow the organising team to start work in October, says chairman Paul Marais.
It will be held from June 24 to June 26, 2022, and SPAR has been confirmed as the naming sponsor.
“We at SPAR are proud to be able to keep our name behind an event like the Kirkwood Wildsfees which has become an institution in the region and a boon to the Kirkwood community,” says SPAR Eastern Cape managing director Angelo Swartz.
“While the format of the Wildsfees may change a little, depending on the restrictions that may be laid down, we are sure that it will rise again more popular than ever,” he says.
“Our decision was largely influenced by the tremendous support we have been receiving from regular festinos all around the country. It is time once again to ‘kuier’ they tell us.
“All COVID-19 regulations and protocols will be followed, with the festival layout adapted to keep most of the fun outdoors” he says.
The annual Wildsfees Game Auction is also returning and is expected to attract buyers once again from South Africa and the rest of the region.
Festival director Jenni Honsbein says a star-studded array of artists has already been signed up.
“Fans are keen to see their favourite artists live again. We will have more than 30 on stage over the three-day festival.”
Over 300 stallholders are also expected to be part of the experience. “There have been enquiries ever since the rumour started that we were planning to go wild again in 2022,” says Honsbein.
