19 September 2009

WHISKEY, WHALES & JAZZ Festival in Plettenberg Bay, 18 - 26 Sept 2009

Victoria Rowe of www.starlingbackpackers.co.za

It's the WHISKEY, WHALES & JAZZ Festival in Plettenberg Bay on the Garden Route, which is a annual event, and it begins today with some of the country’s greatest jazz talents who will be performing at various funky venues until next Saturday.
The festival includes a week-long celebration featuring whisky tastings, whale safaris, jazz performances and sporting opportunities.
The festival kicks off with a welcoming of the whales ceremony on Plettenberg Bay’s Central Beach and a concert at The Whitehouse featuring Offshore, Ben Badenhorst, Haydn Gardner and Xolani Faku.
The sports events this weekend include the Whisky, Whales and Jazz Golf Day at Goose Valley and the Robberg Express multi- sport event. This comprises a 40km mountain bike race through the Harkerville forest, a 10km trail run over the Robberg Peninsula and a 10km ocean paddle in the bay.
There is also the Robberg Raggie, which features half-distances in each discipline.
Jazz artists will appear at various venues, including fu.shi fusion cuisine, Gilly’s Grill, Surf Cafe and Bramon Wine Estate during the week, while the annual Heritage Day concert will take place at Simunye in KwaNokuthula on Thursday.
With more community involvement this year, the Inspiring Afrika! Initiative, which will see various activities in the townships of Plett, including the Nama Festival in Kranshoek on Thursday.
Local artists, crafters and performers will also get a chance to display the region’s talent during the week-long festival.
This year’s event would include a wider variety of popular music in English, Afrikaans and African languages.
We want to make the festival even more inclusive and appealing to both local residents and visitors, and have included a greater entertainment variety.
Children will be entertained by Lunchbox Theatre’s The Whale Show, while Bitou Tourism will sponsor shows at various primary schools.
The festival will end on a high note with a street party in Plettenberg Bay next Saturday.

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