It’s hard to believe March is upon us – where is this year rushing off to? I love this month, however. For one, March brings the harvest in the winelands and most farms celebrate with some sort of festival, which often include tastings straight from the barrels. And since this is the last month of true summer weather, we should all spend it outside as much as possible.
This month also holds some creative candy, with Design Indaba at the start and the Bokeh Fashion Film Festival at the end. And in between there are some amazing foodie and fashion gettogethers to keep you busy.
Here are a few of my top social choices in Cape Town and Gauteng this month.
Cape Town
27 Feb – 1 March: Design Indaba Expo
The Design Indaba Expo takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre at the end of Feb, a showcase of the best South African design including homewear, artworks, fashion, food and much more. Apart from incredible goods, The CTICC is also transformed into a massive exhibit with each stand set up as a creative art work. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything (though that’s unlikely), it’s worth going just to browse.
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre
Time: 10:00 – 20:00 daily
Tickets: R80 at the door or online.
For more info, go to designindaba.com
1 March: Eikendal Weintaufe Harvest Celebration
Celebrate the harvest at the beautiful Eikendal wine estate with some great wine, food and family fun. At the Weintaufe the spotlight falls on their flagship Chardonnay 2015, the first wine of the harvest, and after the baptism of this newcomer, guests can also sample it straight from the barrel under the watchful eye of winemaker Nico Grobler. Cucina di Giovanni restaurant will be presenting market style fare ranging from gourmet pizzas and shawarmas to desserts, and there will also be live music, tractor rides through the vineyards, golfing action at the water’s edge, cheetah viewing and lucky draws whilst the little ones are kept busy with a jumping castle, jungle gym, face painting and tractor rides.
Venue: Eikendal Wine Estate
Time: 10:00 – 17:00
Tickets: R40 at the gates, including free glass and barrel tasting. Children under 12 – Free.
For more info, contact info@eikendal.co.za
6 March: Taj Classic Wine Trophy Dinner
For the first time a limited number of tickets have been made available to attend the Taj Classic Wine Trophy Awards, presented by Taj Cape Town in association with La Revue du VIN de France, Tonnellerie Claude Gillet, DORRANCE Wines, GQ South Africa and Tonnellerie Darnajou. The ceremony will be accompanied by an exclusive three course gourmet dinner held in the Taj’s new five-star banqueting venue, paired with award-winning wines.
Venue: The Reserve at Taj Cape Town
Tickets: R650 pp, restaurants.capetown@tajhotels.com
For more info, go to classicwinetrophy.co.za
6 – 15 Match: Woordfees
Now in it’s sixteenth year, the annual Woordfees arts and culture festival sees the University town of Stellenbosch transformed into a stage, with theatre productions, live music, poetry readings, book discussions, art exhibitions, short films, and more spread throughout the town.
Apart from the shows, highlights include the Langtafel on 6 March in Ryneveld Street with live classical music to entertain guests. There’s also the ‘Kyknet Silwerskerm-filmfees’ showing a series of short films and documentaries on 7 & 8 March, healthy living and cooking demonstrations with ‘Van die spens tot op die skaal’ from 9 – 14 March, and Diskoers, a series of talks and exchange forums with Radio Sonder Grense presenters from 9 – 13 March, to name a few. Click here for the full list of activities.
Venue: Stellenbosch
Time: Various
Tickets: Various
For more info, go to sun.ac.za/english/woordfees
7 March: OmmiBerg Round The Rock Festival
The Paarl wine valley is celebrating their 2015 harvest with a ‘Round the Rock’ festival, where members of the Paarl Wine Route will host a jam-packed programme featuring young, unfiltered wine tastings and harvest activities like Grape Games, tractor and trailer rides through the vines, grape stomping, guided cellar tours, barrel tastings, blending competitions, cork spitting, wine barrel golf challenge, games of boules, jenga or croquet as well as vineyard horse rides and quad bike trails. Tickets include access to over 15 participating wineries, tasting of Unfiltered wine, live music and selected events.
Make sure you stop by Nederburg where you can do a vineyard and cellar tour, visit the Nederburg’s Old Cellar Museum, enjoy lunch by The Red Table restaurant and taste the Nederburg Heritage Heroes range for R300pp. Book at nedwines@distell.co.za.
Other participating wineries include Windmeul Kelder, Rhebokskloof, Boland Kelder, KWV, Laborie, Landskroon, Druk-My-Niet, Mellasat, Olsen Private Vineyards, Nederburg, Perdeberg and more.
Venue: Paarl Wine Route
Time: From 10:00
Tickets: R100, webticket.co.za
For more info, go to ommiberg.co.za
7 March: Hope @ Paul Cluver Hidden Years Music Festival in Elgin
This festival celebrates the lives and music of some of South Africa’s foremost protest singers, folk musicians and singer/songwriters and will include performances by Lesley Rae Dowling, David Marks, Anton Goosen and Roger Luce, all performing under the stars in Elgin’s very Eucalyptus forest amphitheatre. Pack your picnic gear and a basket, or buy food at the venue. You can also buy beer, cider and wine at the event.
All proceeds of the Hope @ Paul Cluver concert series goes to Thembalitsha; an organisation that restores hope to the most desperate people in the Elgin/Grabouw area.
Venue: Hope @ Paul Cluver amphitheatre, De Rust Estate, Grabouw
Time: Doors open 14:30
Tickets: R190 per person, computicket.com
For more info, go to cluver.com
17 & 18 March: Paolo Nutini Live in Cape Town
Scottish singer & songwriter, Paolo Nutini will perform live at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens as part of the Summer Concert Series! I just love this smooth crooner with his bluesy alternative style! With chart topping albums and hits like “Jenny Don’t Be Hasty” & “New Shoes”, the crowd will be in for a treat.
Venue: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Time: 17:00
Tickets: R465, webticket.co.za
For more info, go to facebook.com/SeedExperiences
27 – 28 March: Bokeh Fashion Film Festival
Now in its second year, the Mercedes-Benz Bokeh Fashion Film Festival brings together creatives in the film, fashion, artistic and related technical industries to celebrate their craft. Fashion Film is a medium through which fashion brands can show the lifestyle identity of their brand. This two day, two night festival will provide a platform for local and international speakers, film makers, fashion designers and guests to come together.
This year will also see the Cape Town Fashion Council Designer Pop-Up, a retail space where guest can interact directly with most of the designers who are showing on the fashion installations, as well as browse collections and purchase items. Designers who will be taking part include Jagadi Couture, Jaqcues Lagrange Couture, Olowsdotter, Alexa Liss, Magents, Shirt & Co, Jenevieve Lyons, M4S, Adriaan Kuiters and Mauritian designer Anastasia Ramlall.
Venue: 15 On Orange Hotel, Cape Town
Time: 12:00 – 17:00 and 18:00 – 20:00
Tickets: Free, reserve at bokehfestival.co.za
For more info, go to bokehfestival.co.za
28 – 29 March: The City Craft Beer Project
The Craft Beer project is bringing a new festival to Cape Town. Held at the newly renovated River Club in Observatory, guests can look forward to 15 brand new brews by 15 brewers, made just for the event, as well as live music, food trucks, blind tastings and creations by Garagistes.
Venue: The River Club, Observatory, Cape Town
Time: 10:00 – 17:00
Tickets: Early Bird R60 (till 28 Feb); R80 at quicket.co.za, R120 at the door
For more info, go to thecraftbeerproject.co.za
28 March: Max Mara Winter 2015 showcase at Grande Provence
Italian fashion house, Max Mara will showcase its 2015 winter classics at Grande Province Wine Estate in Franschhoek, the perfect outing for fashion lovers. Winter collections from Max Mara, Max Mara Studio, SportMax and Week-End Max Mara, will all be unveiled straight from Milan. Chefs can also enjoy Grande Provence bubbly and wine, and canapés by Executive Chef Darren Badenhorst. After the showing, a Max Mara stylist will be available for wardrobe advice and guests will have the opportunity to purchase garments from the various collections on the day.
Venue: Grande Provence Wine Estate, Franschhoek
Time: 11:00 – 15:00
Tickets: R495 pp, events@grandeprovence.co.za
Johannesburg & Pretoria
14 – 15 March: The Celebration of Bubbles Festival
Join the SizweNtsalubaGobodo Celebration of Bubbles Festival for a weekend of glitz, glamour, gourmet food and, of course, bubbles. Visitors will get to engage with winemakers and sample over 20 exquisite Méthode Cap Classiques (MCC) including Graham Beck, L’Ormarins, Steenberg, Genevieve MCC, Moreson and JC Le Roux, as well as two of France’s finest champagnes, Veuve Cliquot and Piper Heidsieck. Remember to dress to impress.
Venue: Inanda Country Club, Sandton
Time: Sat: 12:00 – 18:00; Sun: 12:00 – 16:00
Tickets: R250, including access and 10 MCC tasting tokens, webticket.co.za
For more info, go to facebook.com/bubblesfestival
21 March: Sowing the Seeds Festival
From the creators of Rocking the Daisies, Sowing the Seeds festival will hit Emmarentia Dam at the end of March, with headlining artist Paolo Nutini (UK) and a local acts like Desmond & The Tutu’s, Shortstraw, and more. You can also look forward to plenty of craft beer and gourmet food, all set in the beautiful botanical gardens.
Venue: Emmarentia Dam, Johannesburg, Gauteng
Time: From 10:00
Tickets: R495, webticket.co.za
For more info, go to sowingtheseeds.co.za
28 March: The Grand White Pretoria
The Grand White at Cape Town
This dining experience if fast growing into one of the most popular events on the social calender, with over 8000 guests attending last year and a massive success at their recent Cape Town event. The Grand White is heading to Pretoria next, at a secret location that will be revealed closely before the event. Guests should dress in all-white and have the option to add a touch of green. You can bring your own picnic basket or book one beforehand.
Venue: Secret location to be revealed
Time: From 15:00
Tickets: From R360, nutickets.co.za
Images: Supplied
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