Grab some top tier savoury delights at the Riebeek Valley Olive Festival, make a toast to Sauvignon Blanc Day at Jordan Wine Estate, try a brand-new off-road trail at the Jonkershoek Trail Run and much more! Celebrate the end of yet another 4 day week with our curated list of things to do.
FESTIVAL
Riebeek Valley Olive Festival 2019
The ever-popular Riebeek Valley Olive Festival takes place on the first weekend of May each year, in celebration of a successful olive harvest. This is when the towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West open their doors and hearts to visitors by showcasing their finest produce: olives, wine, craft beer, food, organic soaps and gifts are but a few of the treasures they have to offer. Taste buds can be tantalized with some of the Swartland’s finest food and wine.
A choice of live music, kids’ entertainment, tractor rides, colourful local culture and family fun will enhance the belief that this is no ordinary festival, this is pure Riebeek magic at its best.
Your weekend passport (and the Sunday-only pass) allows you entrance to all of the participating farms and the town-based marquees, as well as a complimentary glass of wine. Here’s a list of not-to-be-missed events:
- Riebeek Valley Wine Co: The Wild Olive Acoustic stage with a toe-tapping lineup
- Pulpit Rock Winery: free wine-and-olive tastings, golf challenge, and an array of potjie kos
- The Olive Boutique: a delicious Swartland picnic, with olives galore and entertainment by Johnny Ray Acoustic Blues Band
- Meerhof Wines: endless views, wine-tasting, olive-tasting and pizzas straight out of the oven
- Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Farm: wine, olives and a variety of market stalls selling foods and preserves
- Het Vlok Kasteel: an impressive one-stop olive shop with roughly 50 olive-inspired products and preserves
- Allesverloren: a wonderful country market with Muscadel slush puppies, biltong, burgers, wraps, pies and Las Paletas ice creams.
- The Riebeek Kasteel Town Square: Olives, craft beer, delicious food, live local entertainment, and more
WINING AND DINING
Celebrate International Sauvignon Blanc Day at Jordan
Celebrated always on the first Friday of May, this international marked day gives you an extra excuse to enjoy a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.
Do you know the origins of the Sauvignon Blanc variety? Have you ever tasted a barrel matured Sauvignon Blanc? Would you like to try a 2019 Sauvignon Blanc tank sample?
To answer all these burning questions, visit the Jordan tasting room on Friday 3rd May, to celebrate this thirst quenching, tongue tingling varietal, on International Sauvignon Blanc Day! The Jordan tasting room team will be offering a complimentary tasting of our Jordan Cold Fact Sauvignon Blanc 2018, together with a sample of the Sauvignon Blanc 2019 from tank.
RUNNING AND RIDING
Gravel and Grape @Breedekloof Wine Valley – 3 to 5 May 2019
The Gravel & Grape Mountain Bike Events are the ideal windows into the world of the Breedekloof Valley. Stunning views, bountiful wine farms, green valleys and abundant nature are the rewards for riding the Gravel & Grape.
By involving a number of wine farms into the race, each day offers something different, from the highest peaks to the lowest valley floors.
Featuring some of the gnarliest single-track in the country, the Gravel & Grape 3-day and 2-day Extreme are events that takes mountain biking back to its roots. With challenging technical riding, the Extreme is best suited for riders with a sense of adventure and a well-stocked arsenal of rock-hopping, berm-bending, switchback-sizzling talent.
The Gravel & Grape Adventure race follows the same trails as the Gravel & Grape Extreme, but the days and distances are shorter. There is still ample opportunity to enjoy a good variety of single-track, climbs and jeep track.
MTB Skills Clinic @ Dirtopia Trail Centre – 5 May 2019
A three hour session with David Hogan to get back to the basics, so that you can gain more confidence on your mountain bike when riding the trails.
Booking is essential as limited number of riders are taken per clinic. Mail info@dirtopia.co.za
Dirtopia Ride and Run @ Dirtopia Trail Centre – 5 May 2019
Celebrate the beautiful time in the winelands with a ride and run. You will start your day with the ride which consists of two 10km loops for 20km or one loop for the 10km, you then enter the transition zone and grab your running gear for the 7.5km. You can do it in teams (one rides and other runs). If you don’t ride there is a 10km trail run only discipline that you can do.
Where: Dirtopia Trail Centre, Delvera Farm, on R44 about 10 km from Stellenbosch
Registration: from 07h30 at Dirtopia Trail Centre
Jonkershoek Trail Run @Bergsig Farm – 3 May 2019
Look forward to some stunning trails on Jonkershoek farms, this will also be the first time that the general public has access to these areas, so make sure you don’t miss out!
There will be loads of picnic space available, so make sure to bring a picnic blanket and enjoy our live music band, Ride In’s delectable Burgers & very own Beer while sipping on a glass of wine, gin or your favourite locally made fruit juice. The Ride In Cafe will be fully open for this event! Yes, you read correctly, there will be a gin bar!
All proceeds of the event go to this amazing Stellenbosch charity, so buckle up, put on those running shoes and join us for a fun and eventful day!
STAGE
SU Drama Department Presents: Frozen @Adam Small Theatre Complex – 3 May 2019-04-30
Senior students of the Stellenbosch University Drama Department will soon be presenting Bryony Lavery’s Frozen, a stimulating and thought-provoking contemporary British drama. Lavery is a renowned and award-winning playwright, and last year saw revivals of the play in London and other cities.
Frozen explores the disappearance over 15 years of Rhona, a 9-year old girl, and the devastating effects of this trauma on her mother Nancy and her family. At the same time, we follow the journey of Ralph, a paedophile serial killer, who is eventually caught and convicted of Rhona’s murder. The play offers a nuanced and sensitive view of both the mother’s and the perpetrator’s perspective. A third character, Agnetha, is an American psychiatrist and academic who specializes in researching the backgrounds of violent, serial murderers. She is asked to conduct psychological examinations on Ralph. Her evaluation of him reveals that he suffered severe physical and emotional abuse as a very young child, with far-reaching damage as a result.
Opera Classical @ Krystal Beach Hotel – 5 May 2019
A Phantom of the Opera Classical performed by Dolce Vita at Krystal Beach Music Festival
Artist Circle Productions is thrilled to announce the Krystal Beach Music Festival from Friday 3 May to Sunday 5 May. This inaugural festival will become a regular bi-monthly event. Bringing big shows to the heart of the helderberg.
MUSIC=
The Extravaganza, presented on an annual basis, sees the University band, in collaboration with its community partners, presenting an evening of diverse music by ‘bands’ of differing instrumentation.
The marching and community band idiom, so prevalent in the Western Cape, and the South African legacy of field bands has created, perhaps more than any other musical medium, the opportunity to involve a diverse spectrum of amateur and professional musicians in an all-inclusive musical experience.
University Choir Gala Concert @Endler Hall – 5 to 6 May 2019
The Endler Concert series is proud to present the Stellenbosch University Choir on Saturday the 5 May at 20h00 and Sunday 6 May at 16h30 in the Endler Hall.
The SU Choir is one of South Africa’s most outstanding youth development and choral programmes. For the past 82 years this choir has reflected the changes of our wider society and today stands as a testament to the power of music to bring about diversity and harmony across societal divide. In 2017 the SU Choir was ranked first on the Interkultur list of 1 000 international choirs for the fifth consecutive year after participating at the World Choir Games in Riga in Latvia, organised by Interkultur in July last year.
DANCE
Secret Sunrise Stellenbosch @ Rooiplein, SU – 4 May 2019
***Please note this will be a SUNSET session.***
Headphones are given to you, facilitators guide you. Join the Secret Sunrise to celebrate a new day in the best way. Haven’t been to a Secret Sunrise yet? Now is your chance!
Entrance Fee:
R 100 Students | R 120 General
Youngsters welcome! Please bring the whole family.
Where: Rooiplein at Stellenbosch university.
Theme: Sports stars and cheerleaders.