Upcoming Events - September 2016

Spring is upon us, which means it's time to celebrate and enjoy being outdoors again, soaking up the sunshine. Take a look below at some exciting events which will be taking place this September in and around Cape Town.

Take any excuse to escape to the countryside, a short drive from Cape Town. Image property of Bot River Wines

2 - 4 Sep - Bot River Spring Weekend

The close-knit winemaking community of the small town of Bot River, is set for its annual Spring Weekend which promises an authentic bouquet of all things exceptional and exclusive to this unsung Overberg gem from 2 to 4 September 2016.
Home to eminent wine mavericks, Bot River features 11 wine farms – most of them family-owned and run – and during the Spring Weekend each of them will share something unique to their ‘farm cupboard’. Albeit olive oils, fresh produce, deli offerings, honest wines, farm fare, indigenous greenery or local talent, it will be a sumptuous showcase of Bot River’s brimming ‘pantry of delights’.
For more info click here. 
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4 Sep - Cape Town Street Food Festival

A country is what it eats, and with that in mind, the third annual Street Food Festival will pay homage to our food culture by dishing up authentic South African street foods pavement-style. The festival features a food market of local talent and a conference geared towards food entrepreneurs with such industry speakers as Mokgadi Itsweng, Keletso Motau and Dinesh Patel. It all takes place in Cape Town, at Side Street Studios, Woodstock, Sunday 4 September. 

Launched in Cape Town in 2014, the first Street Food Festival was a huge success, attracting over 2000 people to a street food market with 40 vendors. Over 100 attended the day-long conference with a panel of street food entrepreneurs and experts, with speakers sharing lessons learned on topics from on the street vs. retail to how to build your brand to how to turn a pop-up into a restaurant. Last year, the festival drew record crowds in both Cape Town and Johannesburg.
This year's festival takes the same format with markets serving authentic street fare made with quality ingredients:  look for foods like askoek, smileys, walkie talkies, samoosas, shisa nyama, bunny chows, gatsbys, fish and chips, rotis and vetkoek, prepared by some of South Africa's best street food vendors. 
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Tickets to the Street Food Festival are available here. Admission to the market is R50, the conference is R550 and the dinner is R400. For more information, go to streetfoodfestival.co.za

Image property of Anthoij Rupert Wyne

9 Sep - Discover the true taste of Italy 

While the thought of Italian food may conjure up pizzas and pastas, the heart of Italian cuisine is really about so much more. Chef HW Pieterse and his culinary team at Anthonij Rupert Wyne, in collaboration with renowned chef Fiamma Swainston, invite you to take a journey of culinary discovery as they treat your taste buds to an authentic Italian evening on Friday, 9 September. Leave your expectations at home and bring your curiosity along for an evening that celebrates the soul of Italian dining.
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The evening’s menu begins with hot fried tartines (mini toasts), with piquant fillings of anchovy, homemade pickled vegetables and olive tapenade (produced from L’Ormarins estate olives). Next, enjoy a trio of starters with porcini mushroom flan, roasted bone marrow and a pickled mushroom salad. The main course of creamy, slow-braised oxtail risotto with oxtail croquette and gremolata will transport you to a family dinner table in northern Italy. The dinner concludes with a decadent chocolate and amaretti pudding, and crisp fried sweet pastry ribbons to dip in your espresso.
 
The cost is R550 per person and includes the four-course meal, as well as all wines. Seating is limited to 30 people and pre-booking is strongly advised. For queries and bookings contact 021 874 9024 or [email protected]
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12-16 Sep - SA National Parks Week, Free Entry

The annual South African National Parks Week provides all South Africans with the opportunity of exploring their local National Park at absolutely no cost.
They invite you to visit, this SANParks Week, 12th to 16th September 2016, at one or more of the Cape Region South African National Parks. The five Parks in the Cape Region are Agulhas, Bontebok, Table Mountain, Tankwa and West Coast National Parks.
Bring: SA ID for free entry.
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​​15-18 Sep - Cape Homemakers Expo

If you’d like to turn your house into the ultimate dream home, be sure to diarise this year’s Cape Homemakers Expo, the Mother City’s trendiest home improvement, décor, design and lifestyle exhibition.
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On from 15 to 18 September at the CTICC, you’ll find all the inspiration you need – from up-to-the-minute kitchens to state-of-the-art appliances, on-trend DIY to beautiful interiors and décor ideas.
Let the pros inspire you with daily creative garden, DIY and kitchen demos – your practical guide to beautiful living.

Show dates: 15 – 18 September 2016
Show times: Thur – Sat 10am – 8pm; Sun 10am – 6pm
Visitor entry: Adults R80 Pensioners R70 Kids under 12 free
Tickets available from Webtickets and at the door
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16-18 Sep - Darling Wild Flower Fest

The Darling Wildflower Society has held a show virtually every year since that first show in 1917. The West Coast flower region, an integral part of the Cape Fynbos Kingdom, boasts more than 1200 species of flowering plants. About 80 of these are endemic to the West Coast and known nowhere else. The rich flora of the West  Coast occurs on mainly three different soil types, culminating in three distinctive vegetation types, namely, Strandveld, Renosterveld and Sandveld.

Darling lies within the Cape West Coast Biosphere reserve in the centre of the threatened lowland sandplain and renosterveld fynbos. The show takes place at the Darling Golf Club from the 16th to 18th September 2016.
For more info or to buy tickets visit their website.

Franschhoek on a crisp spring day. Image property of BACK IN TOWN

24-25 Sep - Franschhoek Uncorked

With Spring in full swing what better way to savour all things new than at this year’s Franschhoek Uncorked Festival from 24 to 25 September. Celebrate your heritage over a glass of Franschhoek wines, selected by the winemakers, and paired with delicious food cooked over an open flame as Franschhoek prepares to Braai4Heritage.

The ideal opportunity to travel from farm to farm sampling wines from the Franschhoek Vignerons. Visitors can also look forward to amazing festival offerings – the perfect excuse to stock up on wine for the upcoming festive season! 

Avoid the queues and pre-book your Uncorked Weekend Pass through www.webtickets.co.za. Tickets cost R140 per person and allows you access to all of the participating wine farms as well as a complimentary tasting glass and free wine tastings.

As an added extra, outdoor enthusiasts will be able to participate in a selection of outdoor activities on offer during the weekend. For more info contact the Franschhoek Wine Valley offices on 021 876 2861 or visit www.franschhoekuncorked.co.za for further details and a list of participating farms.
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24-25 Sep - Coffee and Chocolate Expo

Coffee and Chocolate Expo launches in Cape Town for the first time, following outstanding reviews from their latest show in Johannesburg 2016. The Cape Town show promises to host both a visual extravaganza and an opportunity to sample some of the SA’s finest coffee and chocolate delights.
 
The 2016 Coffee & Chocolate show will bring a new experience with several different themed areas designed to create both a visual and sensory experience. Visitors can learn tips, techniques and latest trends from the masters, on how to create their own chocolate and coffee delights; put their taste buds to action or simply unwind in an atmosphere that is synonymous with relaxation.
Time: 1am-7pm.
​Location: Green Point Cricket stadium
Tickets can be purchased via iTickets
www.coffeechoc.co.za