Hundreds of kids at the Easter Bunny Beach Dash (pic by Des Scholtz)

‘The Slow Festival’ is not ours anymore. ‘The Slow Festival’, now belongs to the World! 

How fantastic to have been surrounded this weekend by national and international visitors and strangers who embraced, as the town locals have,  our little town’s way of life and the Slow Festival that has managed to keep family fun at the forefront of its manifesto. With accents from Peru to Canada and from Perth to Russia, the time spent on the Village Green watching the events unfold afforded us an opportunity to impress a person from each continent!

Everywhere one turned there were smiling faces, laughter and greetings guffawed. Across the Village Green, in the streets – during the Parade, on the beach and in all the watering holes – The Slow Festival was celebrated without cease! Not even the rain on Saturday afternoon was enough to dampen the spirits of the revelers in the Vintage Picnic. Cozy and ensconced, the little crowd were entertained by the Driftwood Band for hours on end.

The Dog Walk and Talk again drew its fair share of attention. This event grows every year – with the attendance of the owners and their canine charges supporting the worthy KAWS. The four legged friends, all so well socialized, they may even be able to do their event by themselves in years to come. The Glow in the Dark golfing event saw Sedge Links bursting with eager night golfers and the event received glowing reviews from all who participated.

The Village Green was a hub of activity, a good base to spring from in any entertaining direction. With access to the Mitchell’s Beer Garden and the Lions Pub, it was a great place to meet friends and family from far away. Stroll the stalls, play the Tombola, pick up every meal from breakfast to supper. The children were enraptured by Jannie de Bruin and Tommie Tomsen, this man is such an icon of Kids Theatre, such an incredible entertainer that the audience was going to let him decapitate, with a guillotine, at least two of their little compatriots. Incredible! In our midst there is also a very skilled belly dancer, Chantell Wittuhn, Mrs South Africa 2013 can easily be mistaken for a professional super model, never mind her skills on the platform of dance! The kids also got to make their own mosaic souvenirs, so apt considering Sedgefields, ‘Mosaic Capital’ status. Masithindane, once again, leading the way in creativity for children of all ages.  Another big hit for the youngsters was the Remax Draadkar Race – a vintage sport that’s time for revival has come. Slow Festival has made it one of the coolest things to do over the long weekend.

Slow Fest Committee celebrates an outstanding Slow Festival (pic by Des Scholtz)

Sotheby’s Slow Biking Competition increases in popularity each year, with many a skilled cyclist testing their balance and slow cycling skills. The Out of the Bin Fashion Show has also gone from strength to strength – the innovative ideas and recycled outfits are mind blowing – to say the least. Well done to each of the winners as well as all the Beauty Pageant Queens and Princesses who graced the Green and the Village itself with their beauty – all weekend long!

The Gym Orange Blast Run was an absolutely inspired idea by our local gym owner, Bronwyn Lloyd, a great way for families to have fun together, whether it was in the participation of the race or manning water points the vibe was tangible late into the evening as the ‘runners’ sported their powder colours. How great to see so many people, smiling through the orange, high on endorphins, embracing life, squeezing the juice out of the experience, slowly!

The World Class event Spar Goukamma Traverse has catapulted the Slow Festival into the upper echelons of trail running adventures. Drawing competitors from all over the globe, this event will always live up to its reputation simply because of its breathtaking natural beauty. How truly blessed we all are to be permanent residents of this space.  In other World Class News, specifically the arena of Fun and Comedy, the Anything That Floats competition, once again proved a hit. I don’t know who has more fun at this event, the participants or the spectators. Without fail, every year for the last 4 years – Anything That Floats has been a major highlight!

To be a part of the local Camino was also a truly humbling and incredible opportunity that many have not been afforded before – a big thank you to all the churches that opened their doors to Christian pilgrims over this Easter weekend.

Creative sand sculptors gathered on Myoli beach in glorious sunshine to mould, shape and work the perfect sculpture whilst the Easter Bunny himself made an appearance to delight hundreds of children with Easter eggs in the Beach Dash.

With street theatre by The Farce Side and flash mobs from Sedge Links to Pelican Lodge, this weekend the fun and the colour orange were unrelenting! With calls from all over to, ‘Come and check this!’ or ‘Meet you at The Green in 10 minutes’. Watching people embrace  – like an International Airport – the Town came to life.

Sedgefield accommodated more people than we ever have before over Easter and it’s all with thanks to the Slow Festival Committee – to each of those souls that has been putting this Festival together over the last year. You all know who you are and to each and every one of you under Amanda Dixon’s guidance – THANK YOU!!! And let’s do it again!!