This year’s Snoek and Patat Fees on 24 and 25 June, held in the Moravian mission village of Goedverwacht near Piketberg, will include a cycle tour for the first time.
Riders on the scenic 24-kilometre route will set off into the mountains to Wolfkloof and pass a waterfall, then return to the village via the gravel Januariesfontein Pass. A shorter, fun ride of eight kilometres takes place in the valley around the village.
The festival was started 12 years ago and includes a funfair, games, a classical concert in the historic stone church, a performance by the village’s brass band and choir, an art exhibition, beer tent and food stalls. On the evening of 24 June, there’s karaoke for the young set and a langarm dance that’s a ‘lekker opskop’, according to the organisers.
The idea for the festival’s theme harks back to the days when the community of subsistence farmers was poor and had only the sweet potatoes (patats) that they grew to eat through the winter. They traded their patats with fishermen from St Helena Bay and Laaiplek nearby for snoek, so their diets in the cold months were based on these staples in every form, from stews to sandwiches.
Today festival goers feast on platters of braaied snoek, baked sweet potato, traditional roosterbrood and homemade grape jam (korrelkonfyt).
This small community of independent-minded folk swells from a population of 1800 to 7500 during the festival. Other activities in the village include two hiking trails into the mountains and visits to the graves of the former slaves who inherited the farm from the farmer who bought their mother and her first two children in 1790 before the abolition of slavery. It’s an interesting story – ask the locals to tell you about their heritage.
Top accommodation option in the village are the two guest cottages which form part of the local tourism initiative. Each has a cosy fireplace and sleeps six in two bedrooms, plus the sleeper couch in the living area.
Details:
Entrance fee for the cycle tour is R20. For information and accommodation queries, contact Geraldine Cornelius.
Tel 022-912-4410, cell 071-889-1121
Email [email protected]
