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ESCAPE CALENDAR
Feelthemusic
There are two festivalsthis monththat offer
somethinguniquetoourneckofthewoods.
On the Wild Coast,near CoffeeBay, the
MdumbiGreenFairfeaturestwostages
and 20 bands,plusXhosachoirs,circus
actsandthechancetolearnstick
fighting.The entire local community
gets involved,offeringanythingfrom
food and massagesto surfingand
spray-paintinglessons.You’refree
toplanta tree,too.FromR526pp.
10 –12May.mdumbigreenfair.com
OverineSwatini,Bushfirefeatures
world-musicartists:jive to Meute,
a Germantechnomarchingband;
singerDobetGnahoréfromCôte
d’Ivoire;dub/reggaeartistsGranmah
from Mozambique;and Colombian
percussionistsAlibombo,amongothers.
TicketsfromR800pp.24 –26May.
bush-fire.com
SuppliedA shearing, spinning and knitting marathon? Check it out, and much more, at the Super Bloem Show until 4 May. bloemshow.co.za
EVENTS
worthtravellingfor
thismonthIf you have eyes only for motorbikes, head
to East London or Margate from 25–28 April
for music and biking festivals. See revafrica.
co.za or southcoastbikefest.co.za.
A hoard of big toys
Bringing together sea, land
and air for the first time, the
new Durban International
Boat & Aviation Lifestyle
Show is going to be a
cracker. Where else could
you watch aerobatic
displays one minute and an
F1 powerboat race the next?
Or try out a flying simulator,
then have a ride on a Harley, a jet
ski or in a helicopter? The event will
have big exhibition areas where you
can inspect a dazzling array of privatejets,
exclusive cars, luxury yachts, SUVs and
more, plus there’s a programme of events
that include water sports, fashion shows,
live music (possibly an international artist
or two on stage) and demos by the Sharks
Board, uShaka Marine World and other
organisations. Entry R150 adults, R
kids. 4 –5 May. durbanboatshow.co.za
Boggle your brain
Writer Marianne Thamm called it ‘a space to
gauge the social and political temperature
of the country’. The Franschhoek
Literary Festival has been around for 12
years, and brings thought leaders, authors
of every kind and their fans together
for a weekend of book signings,
discussions and socialising. This
year there will be 118 international
and local guests, interviewing
each other or debating in groups.
Topics range from fantasy worlds
and dung beetles to climate
change and the Age of
Misinformation. Catch
a few Getaway regulars,
too – Don Pinnock, who
has a new book out
on elephants; Darrel
Bristow-Bovey on his
pursuit of the quietest
place on Earth; David
Bristow on the art of
the short story; and
Sihle Khumalo on what
it will take to ‘renovate’ the
Rainbow Nation. R70–R
per event. 17–19 May. flf.co.zaThe art of autumn
Franschhoek goes to Gauteng, too, this
month, when the best of the valley’s
winemakers, chefs and culinary artisans
provide the pickings for gourmet picnics
atthe Winter Sculpture Fair. The Nirox
Foundation in the Cradle of Humankind
opens for two days only for this
annual event, featuring large-scale
works by 16 artists from around the
world – American, Italian, German,
Egyptian, Danish and South African.
Take the family, enjoy the autumn
sunshine with beauty and views all
around (and lots of space for the
kids to run), good food and drink. The
theme this year is ‘energy beyond
science and commerce’ so engage and
take selfies with these fascinating
artworks. Pre-booked tickets only, R
pp.11–12 May. wintersculpturefair.co.za