Western Cape set for bumper Heritage weekend

By Samantha Bartlett

Whether it is whales, penguins or voorkamer stories that intrigue, there are festivals galore to keep adults and children busy over the long weekend.

Although the weather forecast is gloomy, many events take place indoors or inside marquees, and organisers say visitors should not let rain stand in the way of a good time. The good news is the sun is likely to re-emerge periodically on Sunday.

- The Penguin Festival starts in Simon's Town on Thursday. On Friday there is a five kilometre fun run/walk/waddle to raise funds for Sanccob to help save the ocean's bird life. The race starts at 4pm and the dress code is black and white. Medals will be handed out to the first 150 finishers. There is also a Bat-a-thon, and a Heritage Day parade.

On Saturday there is an Anything that Floats contest, boat rides, a kayak tug-o'-war and a charity ball. Mean Mr Mustard and Askani will be playing at the Central Arena.

On Sunday, beside the daily festival events, there is the Admiralty House Garden Concert from 4pm to 6pm. The South African Navy Band and the Cape Town Highlanders pipe band will entertain the crowds.

- The Whale Festival has also transformed the usually quiet town of Hermanus into a hive of activity with shows, environmental activities, sports events and whales.

This year's festival will also include the first-ever Welcome Whale Wave, in which more than 2 000 people will gather on Cliff Pass on Friday at 11.30am and perform a Mexican Wave.

Festival organisers have warned visitors to arrive early, or exercise a little patience in the traffic as the town is already bursting at the seams.

- The two-week-long Stellenbosch Music Festival also starts on Thursday with an opening concert featuring Pieter Schoeman, the co-concert master of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. There is also a street festival on Saturday and several art exhibitions.

- Rugby fans can go to what is likely to be a wet Newlands Stadium to watch Western Province fight it out with the Eagles on Friday evening in a Currie Cup match.

- The Cape Town International Comedy Festival at GrandWest Casino boasts its biggest line-up this year with acts to cater for every comedy lover's taste.

This year's line-up includes such local names as Mark Banks, David Kau and Cokey Falkow, and an international cast from every corner of the world including Ron Vaudry (Canada), Rich Aronovitch (Canada), Martin Davies (UK), Pierre (US) and many others.

The popular Danger Zone and Main Arena remain at the heart of the festival programme, but new concepts have been added that bring the Cape Town International Comedy Festival in line with the structure of other international comedy festivals. Booking through Computicket.

- The phenomenal musical career of Sir Cliff Richard will also be celebrated in The Cliff Richard Show at GrandWest's Roxy Revue Bar from tonight.

This slick production pays tribute to the evergreen contemporary star with a cast of six in a show with great vocals, choreography, costumes and a multi-media set.

- In the West Coast town of Darling, the Voorkamerfest (Front Room Festival) runs from on Friday until Sunday.

The arts and entertainment festival takes place in the local community's homes and is a first of its kind for South Africa.

Performances will therefore not be in a theatre, a hall or a dedicated venue but in the lounges, sitting rooms and voorkamers of Darling families. The owners have opened both their hearts and homes to artists, singers, actors, authors, storytellers, mimes and magicians, and are inviting the world to join them.

- The Hout Bay Heritage Festival starts on Friday and will be combined with the annual Snoek Derby this year.

Festival highlights include a re-enactment of a battle which took place in Hout Bay Harbour in 1795 between the Dutch Settlers and the British Navy, the Hout Bay Cannon Race, the Heritage Procession and a Heritage Day fancy dress ball.

The Snoek Derby takes place on Saturday. Should conditions not be suitable, the fishing competition will roll over to the following day.

- There are also Heritage Day festivities at the V&A Waterfront, including children's plays, dance and aerobic demonstrations and performances by After Sunset and Watkin Tudor Jones.

On Saturday the Proudly South African week starts with Natalia Da Rocha and the local Clanwilliam community in a production.

There will also be weekend performances by Afrika Ablaze, Black Noise, Skanky Corp, Mean Mr Mustard, Galatia and Gooi! - a production billed as a "loudly" South African heritage musical.

There are one-and-a-half hour heritage walks leaving from the Clock Tower Centre, bringing to life some of the historical attractions that colour the Waterfront and Cape Town's history.

- The annual Cape Argus Woolworths Gun Run takes place on Sunday. Thousands of people are expected to hit the road to beat the noonday gun. The run starts and ends at Green Point Stadium and there will be traffic disruptions in the area during the morning.

This is one of the most popular running festivals in the Western Cape. There is a 21.1km half-marathon, a 10,5km two-leg relay, a 10km ladies race and a two kilometre Pop Gun Run for the young at heart.

- To end off the weekend, The Offspring is live in concert at the Bellville Velodrome as part of the band's "Splinter" tour.

The band is one of the few in the world to achieve ongoing international platinum status, while maintaining credibility, viability and enormous popularity. Booking is through Computicket.

- If you want something more sedate, though, the Libertas Choir is presenting a special charity concert premiere of The Mass of Good Hope on Sunday evening. The show is in aid of Catholic Welfare and Development and takes place at the Cape Town City Hall.