The number of people at Oppikaai restaurant in St Helena Bay for its first heritage festival far exceeded expectations.
Organisers Charl van Rensburg, Melody van Rensburg and Daneve Samaai of Oppikaai expected about 700, but a staggering 2 300 people made their way to the festival.
The successful two-day heritage event took place from Friday 23 to Saturday 24 September at St Helena Bay Harbour. “This is the first heritage festival to take place in St Helena Bay,” said Charl van Rensburg. “How it was received was way beyond surprising, and people on the whole actually enjoyed it.”
There was entertainment for young and old. From a merry-go-round, a car and bike show, arts and crafts, food stalls and much more. With the great weather people also got to enjoy boat trips on the original local fishing boats as well as performances by riel dancers, Afrikaans singers, Xhosa poets and dancers, and everybody’s much-loved, stroppy “Ouma Sarie”.
Van Rensburg said the purpose of the festival was to bring people from all walks of life together and enjoy a time of laughter and joy.
“Currently St Helena Bay is being identified as a fast growing town with new residents, but they don’t know about the true West Coast cultures brewing in the town,” he said. “We needed visitors to come and explore what’s really cooking in St Helena Bay, with an experience of true West Coast culture on one platform. September was Tourism Month and what better way for our visitors to experience the town, a heritage festival on their holiday break.”
Van Rensburg added snoek was being worked while festivities were underway, underscoring the true coastal heritage of the town.
Oppikaai restaurant planned to make this an annual event. “We would, firstly, like to thank our local communities and those who came from far and near to enjoy and celebrate our heritage and cultures together in unity,” Van Rensburg said. “But this is only the beginning; see you next year.”
