Eish Vodacom Winter Festival Time

PRESS RELEASE

Eish Vodacom Winter Festival Time

Winter is fast approaching, which means it is time for the most important event on Northern KwaZulu-Natal's social calendar, the Vodacom Winter Festival.

The Vodacom Winter Festival will take place from 30 April to 3 May this year at the Newcastle showgrounds.

The festival committee comprises forty-five volunteers who started working in September last year to make this year's Festival the biggest and best ever.

The Vodacom Winter Festival was a resounding success last year and attracted more than 55 000 visitors from far and wide over the four days. They came to buy from the various stalls or simply to support some of South Africa's greatest talent.

After the Festival an amount of R135 000 was distributed to charities and other deserving organisations by the Vodacom Winter Festival. This year the festival Committee hopes to make an even bigger donation to the community through the Festival.

Visitors can look forward to 350 exhibitors and 50 flea-market stalls. The Vodacom hall was fully booked by the end of last year and the Chubb hall by the end of January.

Interesting exhibits catering for all tastes will also be found in the tent town this year. Creative Paradise will also be housed in one of the tents, and the ladies are looking forward to the new challenge.

The schools programme on 30 April will be sponsored by Sanlam this year. The children can look forward to the well-known Takalani Sesame characters and lots of fun.

The merry-go-round will also be back and will thrill young and old alike. An ice-skating rink will be a highlight (or a low!) for visitors to this year's Festival.

The agricultural section will have something of interest for everyone – from sheep to the latest farm implements to chickens for sale. Last year the champion chicken weighed 25 kg!

As in the past, there will again be plenty to eat at the many food stalls, and beer aplenty in the beer garden, which will be manned by members of the Round Table.

And anyone who needs a rest will be able to relax and support upcoming stars in the Arcelor Mittal Upcoming Stars tent.

This year's Arena programme will not only cater for young and old, but also for all cultural groups. On the Wednesday evening visitors can look forward to the Lotus FM Fusion Bhangra, on Thursday afternoon Lucky Dube's daughter Bongi Dube will entertain them, and on Thursday evening the Top 5 MNet Idols Jody, Andriette, Munro, Tender and Daniel will perform.

On Friday evening Steven Hofmeyr's Waarmaker Toer will take to the stage. On Saturday it will be time for a spectacular fireworks display, followed by the top SA band, Prime Circle, who will ensure the Festival ends on a high note.

Entrance fees are R15 for children and R30 for adults. Entrance is free for pensioners older than 65 years and for children of 5 years and younger.

Do visit the Festival website for further details: www.winterfestival.co.za