The Vodacom Winter Festival (previously known as the Newcastle Community Show) is a project of the Newcastle Sakekamer in co-operation with the community for the community. The Sakekamer initiated the project in the late 1980's and since then it has grown to the biggest event on the social calendar of Northern KZN
The Festival attracts more than 300 exhibitors annually. Approximately 8000 visitors are attracted to Newcastle from neighbouring towns for the period of the festival and a record number of more than 44 000 people attended the festival during 2004.
There are two main committees responsible for the organisation of the Vodacom Winter Festival. The management committee (appointed by the Sakekamer) and the festival committee (elected by the community at an annual public meeting).
There are two main committees responsible for the organisation of the Vodacom Winter Festival. The management committee (appointed by the Sakekamer) and the festival committee (elected by the community at an annual public meeting).
Profits made during the festival by the committee are distributed to welfare and community based organisations. A conscious decision was taken by the committee to establish the Vodacom Winter Festival as a regional event and to broaden the base of beneficiary organisations to include neighbouring towns. At the end of the 2004 Festival, R110 000-00 was given back to the community to 20 beneficiary organisations.
