Fragrance Fest 2020 is here!

Anelma Ruschioni

Food, local culture, the beauty of the countryside … this and more will be part of the 6th Fragrance Fest on Saturday 14 March. The only day when all venues on the circular Fragrance Route open their doors!

This is an outing for the whole family: bring walking shoes, sun hats, umbrellas in case of rain, and come and explore the numerous stops on the 40 km scenic Fragrance Route. Don’t forget a cooler bag, picnic blanket and camping chairs – you might want to linger along the way.

Fest visitors have increased (last year almost 1 000 people visited the protea farm) and with exciting new additions, the 2020 Fest should be the best ever. Game farm Hakuna Matata is launching a 5 km and 10 km Trail Run (moderate with hills), on Molenrivier farm hikers can do a 45 minute forest walk (medium to tough), and new stop Wolwedraai farm will host walks and talks where you can learn everything about avocados – and taste and buy products, of course. This year the Great Brak Museum will be stop number two. Stop number one is the quaint Searle Memorial Church (90 years in June) that will be open from 08h00 for visitors. Collect a pamphlet to learn more about the history, and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere and pristine gardens before visiting their Outreach project exhibition in the hall.

As always the day will be a “proe safari” with different tastes at various stops. Chicken bites at Hilltop Farm Stall. Coffee at Brothers Coffee Roastery (voted 2nd best coffee roaster in SA in 2019) – and expect a once a year traffic jam! Gin tasting, 20 stalls, artists, “catch and release” at the dam and kite flying (bring your own) at Avant Garden. Pop-up market with live music, game drives, picnic at the dam, activities for kids at Hakuna Matata. Brand-new craft beer, famous Leeukloof Cheese and braaivleis at Molenrivier. Export proteas and more at Forest Hill (their flowers travel the world) and at 150 year old erstwhile mission station Friemersheim a special programme is planned from 12h00 to 14h00. The action will be in Kretzen Street with numerous stalls. At the Volkwyn family reunion there will be a roasted pig on the spit, ready from 11h30. At 12h00 the Great Brak Brass Band will provide entertainment, joined by local drum majorettes, and the beautiful voice of local diva Zanah-Lee Erasmus will entertain the crowd from 13h00.

Other highlights include guided tours at the Kobus Halliday Car Museum and a relaxed lunch or dinner at the Botlierskop Village Lodge restaurant Bellevue (bookings only).

This year the Great Brak Business Forum will be sponsoring a tea tent in Friemersheim, and in 2021 a Friemersheim Family Fun Cycling Event (as well as an early morning walk from Friemersheim to The Village Lodge) is planned. Contact Elsabé Malan (071 303 2570) regarding these 2021 events.   Detailed programmes on www.proemb.co.za and available at the Great Brak Museum, on the Route, at Mossel Bay Tourism and at Great Brak businesses.