Verkykerskop Festival

The fourth Verkykerskop Festival, moves to the warmer month of October and boasts a new indoor venue and some special entertainment acts and activities for young and old, as well as food and entertainment for the whole family.

The main day of the festival is Saturday 3 October, however Verkykerskop bar and Smiley’s Restaurant will be open all weekend with DJ’s warming things up for the big day and chilling the vibe down as we head towards Monday.

PERFORMING ARTISTS

KAREN ZOID
Born in Brussels as the daughter of a South African diplomat, Karen grew up in Belgium and Johannesburg where she became a teenage busker, honing her song writing, guitar playing and singing skills on the streets of Melville.
In June 2001 EMI released Zoid’s first solo album, Poles Apart, which fired the imagination of both critics and the public to such an extent that Karen Zoid became an icon of the South African youth, which the press renamed the Zoid Generation.
In 2004 both Time Magazine and US News & World Report highlighted her role as an icon.

In June 2003 EMI released her second critically acclaimed album, Chasing the Sun.
Both Poles Apart and Chasing the Sun have been accorded Gold Record status.
In July 2005 her third album, Media, was released by EMI. Her work as a singer-songwriter has been included on many albums of other artists as well as compilations and she receives daily fan mail from all over the world. Because of this also Karen has on average 2 tours per year to England, Dubai, Canada or the United States to perform for her fans overseas. She has written songs for several artists in South Africa, recorded by them as well as the theme for a TV series.

Touring the country and often headlining major festivals, she is supported by her accomplished band members Don Reinecke on lead guitar, Rixi Roman on bass and Marlon Green on drums and percussion

IRENE… The Voice!
Besides entertaining people with her singing, Irene is also a well known motivational speaker and presents the popular Kyknet program, Glitterati. Irene regularly shares her microphone with legends such as Coenie De Villiers, Dozi, Kurt Darren, Steve Hofmeyr and more. Irene was also chosen as the support acts for international artistes such as Smokie, Boney M, and Bad Boys Blue.

CHRISTIAAN
No stranger to the area, Christiaan was born and bred in Bethlehem, where the tall, blonde with the deep, soulful voice is a hit with the ladies and men alike!

ANDRE MICHAEL
Singing popular hits from the 70’s and 80’s; some original Afrikaans songs by his own pen; as well as songs from his very popular album “Tribute to Country Legends, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Don Williams”; Andre Michael is always a hit!

VOXDAY
Hailing from Bethlehem, this young and energetic female fronted band describes their music as Pop Punk Rock and they won the Bethlehem Battle of The Bands competition.

SUSSIE WIE
She’s funny, Afrikaans, full of energy and she can sing! “Ring Ka Ting Ting” is her debut album, with thirteen screamingly funny songs. The 24 year old singer songwriter doesn’t just have a great voice, she’s also a brilliant comedienne.

Main Music Hall – Sat 3 October
12h00 – Andre Michael
13h00 – DJ At Nel
14h00 – Voxday
15h00 – Deborah Gill
16h00 – Irene…The Voice!
17h00 – DJ’s and fishing competition prize giving with Frank Opperman
18h00 – Karen Zoid
19h00 – DJ’s
20h00 – Christiaan
21h00 – Sussie Wie
22h00 – Andre Michael Country performance
23h00 – DJ’s til end

DJ’s
DJ At Nel (Somerfaan) – SAMA Award Winner, Kyknet Award Winner
Andre Michael – 60’s, 70’s and 80’s hits.

EMCEE
Frank Opperman

OUR NEW VENUE
This year sees the Verkykerskop Festival in a new under cover venue – situated in the heart of Verkykerskop. Our new venue has an awesome 1000 square meters to offer and includes toilets and a bar facilities.

GYMKANA
On Saturday 3 October from 1p.m to 3p.m the Witkoppe Gymkana Team will hold an exhibition of their skills.

BAR
As with every year our party partners SA Breweries host the bar area with everything you could possibly want from a bar including a shooter bar for quick shooter service. Proceeds from this bar will go towards the Kranskop Akademie in Memel new equipment.

LIVE TO EAT? So do we…
Chip on a Stick, Chipdog, Potjiekos, Popcorn, Skilpaadjies, Biltong, Pap en Vleis, Offal, Lamb on a Spit, Blesbok Wors, Springbok Cabanossi, Pork, Free Range Chicken, Koeksisters, Vetkoek, Home Made Salamis, Potato Salads, and of course the finest in German sausages as a salute to the typical “GERMAN OCTOBER FEST” parties throughout the country and world. Enjoy Eisbein, Sauerkraut, Bratwurst, Knatwurst and other German specialties. As with previous years the Verkykerskop VLU will also run their own coffee shop, selling delicious pancakes, cakes and hand made goods.

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Emergency Services will be professionally handled by Freddie Halgreen and his Medisponce crew and will encompass all emergencies ranging from fire, crowd control and access, medical, parking and any other and safety needs.

SMILEY’S RESTAURANT
This year, in celebration of our 4 year anniversary we host SAMA Award Winner and Kyknet Award Winner, DJ At Nel (Sommerfaan) from JHB to entertain us with his choice of music in the restaurant, bar and on the deck while you enjoy delicious German food and the renowned Smiley’s Pizza’s. Be there for the funky tunes in the sun!!

FLEAMARKET / ART GALLERY
As is our ethos, we only invite the more traditional marketers, selling everything from hand knitted goods, water colour paintings, quilts, pottery, glassware, beading and grass work, hand made dolls, toys and second hand Bric a Brac. Come stock up on home made foods such as delicious skilpaadtjies, boerebrood, koeksisters, koek, salami, skaap vleis, biskuit, jams and preserves. Please note: we do not encourage mass made goods or plastic “Made in China” toys.

WHAT WILL THE KIDS DO?
During the day children will be entertained with a petting zoo, jumping castle, loads of running space, fishing in the dam, pony rides, and quad rides. As the sun sets a special area has been allocated close to the adult entertainment area, with DVD’s showing all night and comfy mattresses, beanbags and duvets. Board games will be on hand for the older ones and teachers and mothers from the Kranskop Akademie in Memel will oversee everyone in attendance. Kids can also visit the Cave Of Horrors/Gruwelgrot free of charge all day and night. Free gifts on arrival for the younger ones (over 12).

HORSE TRAILS
From beginners to advanced, Aansluit Landgoed offers horse trails over the beautiful farm Afsluit across the road from the main venue. On the Saturday all our horses will be saddled at the main venue gate, to take kids around the werf, but you are welcome to join a guided outride on Sunday 4 October. Patrons are also welcome to bring their own horses which will be taken good care of on the landgoed, from where members of the public can take self-guided outrides on the farm or on the gravel roads in the area, at no charge. Please contact Louis Grobler at 083-628-9699 or lgrobler@lidwala.com for enquiries and arrangements for all horse stabling and outrides.

BICYCLE FUN RIDE
Bring your own mountain bike and enjoy 600ha of open land on Afsluit Farm, with trails taking you over streams, up hills and down to the Old Spookhuis. Alternatively, do the route by foot with “verkyker” in hand and enjoy our exquisite bird and game life.

On Sunday morning, the Harrismith Cycling Club will host all interested festival goers who bring their cycles along, for a fun ride on the new tar road from Verkykerskop towards Harrismith and back. The turning mark is approximately 20km from Verkykerskop, but less energetic riders will determine their own turn around point. Please contact Jurie Naude at 082-779-8404 for more information.

SO YOU THINK YOU’RE A FISHERMAN?
A new and exciting addition to the festival!! This is not a pro event, but devised for fun: Under the patronage of the Harrismith Hengel Klub, we challenge all fishermen and women to catch the most and the biggest bass or yellow or carp in our 21ha dam just 13 km’s from VKK central. There will be a prize for the “catch of the day”, “junior with most fish in the net” and “senior with most fish in the net”. Entrance to the fishing competition is R40 per person and all entrance money collected goes towards the “catch of the day” winner. Prizes include a blesbok to be hunted by the winner, a weekend for four in Ou Skooltjie Cottage in Verkykerskop, a Hamper of SAB products and of course; cold hard cash!

Entrants depart from the main entrance at any time with a map in one hand and a fishing rod in the other! You may spend any part of the day as long as you enjoy yourself; weigh your catch in upon departure from the dam, with the prize giving taking place at 5p.m in the Music Hall. For more info please contact Callie da Silva at 082-377-8571 or Johan Kriek at 073-260-1768.

YOU CAN CAMP IF YOU WANT TO!!
At the centre of VKK lies a beautiful bass dam, surrounded by non-electrical camping sites. Campers have access to the Ablution Block with showers and toilets. Each campsite has a braai area and mountain view. Camping is charged at R50 per site, per night. Should you not wish to cook, Smiley’s Restaurant is there for you!!

No charge bundu camping is available at the Ou Spookhuis site on the farm, a klipgooi from the main venue. As there are no facilities at all, this should be viewed as an “out in the veld experience”.

GENERAL DEALER
Be sure to visit the amazing Retro General Dealer in Verkykerskop for a blast from the past and some old school treats.

ANTIQUES
Grab a bargain at the Antiques stores. From smalls to furniture.

SABLE’S FARM YARD ZOO
A favourite with kids of all ages and backgrounds! Come feed and pet the sheep, goats, pig, chickens and geese. Play with an Nguni calf and some newborn Arab foals.

SO WHERE ARE WE?
Situated on the beautiful and picturesque Maluti Route, where our proud Afrikaaners once fought and were victorious in the Boer War, Verkykerskop sits between Harrismith and Memel on the R722. Just 50 kms from Harrismith (off the N3) and 46 kms from Memel, Verkykerskop is the perfect party point between Durban and Johannesburg (less than 3 hours either way). Coming from the N3 will be a pleasure for Gauteng or Durban travelers as we can now boast a new tar road all the way to Verkykerskop Central. For those of you with high clearance vehicles, take the gravel road from Warden to Verkykerskop.

GATES OPEN AT 10AM ON SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER!!!

ENTRANCE FEES FOR SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER
ADULTS R50
CHILDREN UNDER 12 R30
CHILDREN UNDER 5 FREE

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Source

- Bret D
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