Weather forecasters are predicting that the 20th annual Kirkwood Wildsfees will be experienced under clear Karoo skies for most of the weekend from Friday, June 30 to Sunday, July 2
Organisers have been battling wind and rain to build the tented mall which houses over 300 specialist stalls and to build the giant ECPTA stage.
“It has been touch and go, but we will be ready to welcome thousands of visitors from nine on Friday morning,” says festival director Jenni Honsbein.
For three days the Rietberg Mountains which frame the town of Kirkwood will echo to the lyrics, drums and guitar riffs of 25 of South Africa’s top musicians.
Headline acts include Wonderboom, Loufi and Hemels Fantasties on Friday, Biggy, Jan Blou Kaas, Loukman Adams and Band, and Snotkop on Saturday, and Majozi, Watershed and Fatman on Sunday.
The family festival offers plenty to do and experience for young and old.
For adrenalin junkies there is the Fun4U Play Park, with a giant Ferris wheel for the first time, as well as a bungee, Zorb and Paintball park.
Youngsters will be able to go on virtual game drives with SANParks, take part in colouring-in activities, and get up close and personal with reptiles during the Animals in Wonderland shows in the MTN Pavilion.
The pavilion is also home to a Boerboel show and the Eastern Cape’s koedoedrolverspoeg championships, with Wicus van der Merwe on the Saturday.
Family and friends will find plenty of places to “kuier” near the main stage, while taking their tastebuds on a wild safari through the food, wine, beer and gin stalls that surround the main seating area.
“Locals and visitors from around the country come to the Wildsfees to renew old friendships and to brush away the winter blues,” says Honsbein.
Other attractions include the biggest new vehicle, agricultural and camping expos in the province.
For more information go to www.wildsfees.co.za