Sunny days in Stellenbosch may be getting few and far between but fret not. Autumn time has every bit as much to offer. PHOTO: Creative Commons.
Second term in Matieland brings with it a change of season and for many students – a change of pace. As green turns to gold, the easy excitement of first term fades fast and the struggle of academic life becomes all too real. But, even with June exams looming, students should still make room for some fun and relaxation.
Fortunately, there are a bunch of events happening over the coming months to keep your sanity intact and the boredom at bay. Below are a few highlights for April and May, handpicked by MatieMedia.
DOWN TIME
Stellenbosch Craft Beer Festival:
A glass of red or white wine might once have been the obvious beverage of choice in the heart of the winelands, but the craft brewery boom of recent years is seeing to it that local beer now also gets its fair share of the limelight.
Those eager to take a break from the endless stream of wine-related events on offer this time of year need look no further than the Stellenbosch Craft Beer Festival which is taking place on 14 April.
Described as a “bi-annual exhibition of local micro-breweries, mouth-watering food and great entertainment,” this day-long celebration gives guests the opportunity to taste handcrafted beers by local producers.
Faith Brewing Company, Karoo Craft Breweries and Stellenbosch Brewing Company are just a few of the brands that will showcase their goods. To accompany the taste experience, there will be a lineup of local music acts – including aKING and Basson Laubscher & the Violent Free Peace.
Rest assured there will be plenty of food to line the stomach as well as an ATM on site should you run out of cash.
Where: Jan Marais Nature Reserve
When: 14 April, 11:00 – 20:00
Cost: Tickets available pre-sold and at the door. Prices vary.
Rubix Night market:
Do you need a distraction? Are you craving a little retail therapy? Maybe you’ve got something you’d like to sell.
Rubix cluster, the residence/PSO grouping which includes Pieke, Metanoia, Nerina, Venustia and Heemstede, will be hosting an outdoor night market later this month, and it may be just what you’re looking for.
Student-repreneurs and external vendors will gather on the lawn outside of Nerina ladies residence on 19 April to sell an array of products and services, including clothing and food items.
For a nominal fee of R50, students can apply for a stall and flex their business muscles. Applications are also open for any budding entertainers seeking a platform to share their talents with a crowd.
Where: Nerina grass, Van Riebeeck Street.
When: 19 April, 18:00 – 22:00.
Cost: Free entrance // Hire fees: Stellenbosch University (SU) students: R50; Outside vendors: R100
MFM presents Wine vs Craft Beer Festival:
Why make beer and wine compete with one another when they can share the title of Stellenbosch’s favourite beverage? This seems to be the sentiment behind the latest drink-themed event to hit the town.
As second term draws to a close, local campus radio station MFM will kick off its birthday celebrations at Knorhoek Wine Estate with its Wine vs Craft Beer Birthday Festival. The picnic-style day of fun will showcase a range of wines and craft beers to be enjoyed with friends and family.
Guests can also look forward to performances by local bands Spoegwolf, Uncle Spike, Sunset Sweatshop and The Rivertones.
Parents need not worry about a babysitter as there will be unique juice pairings to keep the little ones satisfied.
Where: Knorhoek Wine Estate.
When: 19 May, 11:00 – 22:00.
Cost: Early Bird (Until 18 April): R100 // Phase 1 (Until 12 May): R130 // Phase 2: R160
Wacky Wine Weekend:
This hugely popular annual festival, which celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2018, is an anticipated event for wine enthusiasts across the country. Taking place over four days in the picturesque Robertson Wine Valley, attendees can sample a variety of foods and award-winning wines from thirty-five participating wineries and tourism establishments.
The R200 ticket gets you a wine glass and six tasting coupons per winery along with access to an assortment of fun activities. Each estate has a unique program on offer, featuring everything from tutored tastings, food-and-wine pairings, cellar tours, and live entertainment to rodeo bull rides and cooking classes.
Festival goers take their love of red wine to the next level at Wacky Wine Weekend in Robertson. PHOTO: South African Tourism Office.
Whether you’re a serious wine aficionado or simply a thirsty student on a budget, there’s bound to be something to your liking. The only problem is that it falls right in the middle of exam time.
But, if you’re lucky enough to have a schedule that allows it, Wacky Wine may be the perfect escape to quell that mid-year stress.
Where: Participating wineries, Robertson Wine Valley.
When: 31 May – 3 June.
Cost: R200.
CULTURE
International Food Evening:
Travel writer Deborah Cater once said, “You have to taste a culture to understand it.”
Hungry students will soon be able to take this message to heart and broaden their cultural horizons courtesy of the upcoming International Food Evening.
Organised annually by SU International, this highly anticipated culinary affair gives the university’s international students the opportunity to share their traditional cuisines with the local student body.
The dishes hail from all corners of the globe and are prepared by the students themselves. Guests can expect big crowds, festive music and plenty of delicious options to choose from.
At only R10 per plate of food, no Neelsie student special can compete.
The venue is bound to fill up quickly, so be sure to get there early rather than later.
Where: Academia.
When: 14 April, 18:30 – 22:00.
Cost: R10 per plate of food.
The Third Nelson Mandela Colloquium:
The SU Museum will host the Third Nelson Mandela Colloquium on 12 April as part of the university’s centenary celebrations. Open to all, the event is organised in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Museum.
Madiba’s birth year (1918) happens to be the year SU was established. It is fitting then that this year’s theme is “Stellenbosch University and Nelson Mandela at 100.”
The aim of the discussion, according to the Nelson Mandela Museum website, is to “advance South Africa’s democratic gains through dialogue on reflections of academic aspirations of the University, its memory and advancement of Nelson Mandela’s aspirations of a South Africa where people of all races live side by side.”
The Stellenbosch University Museum. PHOTO: Christi Nortier.
The seminar will feature a panel of four speakers, namely: Prof. Jonathan Jansen, a distinguished professor of Education at SU; Malaika Wa Azania, a researcher, columnist and social justice activist; Nwabisa Makunga, the Deputy Editor of the Herald and Dr. Wilhelm Verwoerd, a Research Fellow at the Beyers Naudé Centre for Public Theology.
With the recent passing of Mandela’s ex-wife and struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela bringing South Africa’s fraught political history back into the public consciousness, this event is an ideal opportunity for students, academics, and community members to reflect on and debate questions of human rights, democracy, education, justice and freedom.
Where: Stellenbosch University Museum.
When: 12 April, 18:00.
Cost: Free (limited seating).
Toneelfees Prelims:
Starting on 16 April, the Student Representatives Council Cultural Committee (KuKo) is hosting its annual Toneelfees (play festival) – one of SU’s main cultural events for the year.
For weeks, residences and PSOs have been hard at work developing their very own dramas to be performed as part of this competition. The groups will battle it out in the preliminary rounds at the Drostdy Teater to see which shows will qualify to take part in the Gala evening on 25 April.
With theatre tickets costing what they do nowadays, students will be hard-pressed to find more affordable live entertainment choices.
Where: Drostdy Teater.
When: Prelims: 16 – 21 April, 19:00. // Gala evening: 25 April.
Cost: R30 at the door
NIGHT OUT
Kitsch Karnival:
The Visual Arts department is ushering in the new term on a whimsical note with another one of its legendary dress up parties. On Friday the 13th, students can indulge their silly side under the theme “Kitsch carnival” by throwing together their very best carnival-esque outfits.
“Come one, come all to the Kitsch Karnival! The freakshow is open this Friday the 13th in the Visual Arts Department Quad. Vinyl DJs, disco, and melodic techno will keep us bouncing from 19:00 till midnight. There’ll be performers, decorations and lots of dressing up. Come let your freak flag fly!” says Stephanie Fichardt, organizer of the event.
Kitsch Karnival Poster. PHOTO: Stellenbosch Gradex.
Each term, the final year Arts students host the quad parties in a bid to raise money for Gradex, their year-end graduate exhibition. It’s a party with a purpose and if previous Gradex events are anything to go by, it’s bound to be a whole lot of fun.
Where: Visual Arts Department.
When: 13 April, 19:00 – 00:00.
Cost: Pre-sold: R30 // Door: R40.
All Night Stellies Block Party by TiMO ODV:
As part of his All Night 2018 tour, the chart-topping songwriter, producer and DJ TiMO ODV will be bringing the party to Stellenbosch on 18 April.
Terrace, in partnership with events company The LAB Live, will play host to the gold-selling electronic star known for hits such as “Save Me” and “Dancing Again”. His stop in Stellenbosch follows various gigs in Cape Town and further afield.
The event, according to its Facebook page, promises to be a night of “techno, sweaty friends and dark rooms.” With exams around the corner, this all-night dance fest may be your last opportunity to blow off some steam.
Where: Terrace Bar and Restaurant.
When: 18 April, 20:00.
Cost: R60 – R100.