The Overberg Eco-Expo aims to educate and enlighten individuals and businesses on the increasing number of eco-friendly products and services available to utilize. The Eco-Expo is an excellent medium to encourage people to become aware of the importance of preserving their environment for a more sustainable way of living and for a healthier planet. Held in Bredasdorp from 03 to 04 September 2010, the Eco-Expo will showcase environmentally friendly products and services and provide information that will help people to lead healthier and more sustainable lives. The goal of the Overberg Eco-Expo is to improve both the quality of our environment and the quality of our lives. The Overberg Eco-Expo will be a celebration with a serious purpose - to accelerate the emergence of an economy that is sustainable, healthy and earth friendly.

Held over two days, the Eco-Expo aims to improve the quality of our lives and our environment. Co-ordinated by the Southern Overberg Branch of the Botanical Society of South Africa, the exhibition will play host to a variety of exciting and useful products and services, all geared towards creating a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle, both at home and at work.

The exhibition area will include sections on ‘greening’ your home and garden; alternative energy sources and recycling; conservation; organic agriculture; organic foodstuffs; eco-friendly art and lifestyle; health and wellness and finally, educating the youth about sustainability and the importance of conservation.

The Overberg Eco-Expo is a good opportunity to explore the Overberg region of the Western Cape.

Found just beyond the Hottentots-Holland mountains, the area has always been considered as the breadbasket of the Cape, due to it’s vibrant grain farming industries. The wheat fields are a major breeding ground for South Africa’s national bird, the Blue Crane. The Overberg region is also known as the second largest supplier of fruit in South Africa.

The beautiful towns of Hermanus, Caledon and Swellendam can be found in the Overberg region. In these areas you will find a legion of cultural shops, bars and restaurants, beaches and outdoor adventure spots suitable for all sorts of tourists, visitors and holiday-makers.

The Overberg Eco-Expo aims to educate and inspire so, head on over to Bredasdorp and explore the gorgeous Overberg region of the Western Cape, whilst learning more about an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

The Cape Homemakers Expo is the original home lifestyle consumer show incorporating a total spectrum of home improvement and home enhancement products. To be held from 02 to 05 September 2010, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the Homemakers Expo displays products and services  that are representative of the home lifestyle market, and range from the basic home improvement to the aspirational and desirable home enhancement categories. Call 086 111 HOME (4663) for more information on this exciting exhibition!

The Overberg Eco-Expo aims to educate and enlighten individuals and businesses on the increasing number of eco-friendly products and services available. The Eco-Expo is an excellent medium to encourage people to become aware of the importance of preserving their environment for a more sustainable way of living and for a healthier planet. Held in Bredasdorp from 03 to 04 September 2010, the Eco-Expo will showcase environmentally friendly products and services and provide information that will help people to lead healthier and more sustainable lives. The goal of the Overberg Eco-Expo is to improve both the quality of our environment and the quality of our lives. The Overberg Eco-Expo will be a celebration with a serious purpose - to accelerate the emergence of an economy that is sustainable, healthy and earth friendly. Visit the Eco-Expo’s website here.

The Nederburg Wine Auction takes place in Paarl from 03 to 04 September 2010. No less than 10 new participants will make their debut at this year’s 34th Auction of Rare Cape Wines.This prestigious two-day event offers a selection of 5,575 cases of 173 fine wines from nearly 80 participants, who represent all walks of the South African wine world, from negociants, boutique wineries, family farms and wine estates to co-operatives and conglomerates such as Distell, Omnia and Winecorp. Visit the auction’s website here to find out more about this exciting auction!

Franschhoek Uncorked takes over the Franschhoek Valley from 04 to 05 September 2010. This multi-faceted celebration takes place on satellite farms throughout the Valley, and enables both renowned vineries and smaller institutions to showcase new vintages and releases, coinciding with the onset of spring. Wineries Include Boekenhoutskloof, Boschendal, Cabrière, Graham Beck Wines, La Motte, L’Ormarins, Môreson, Plaisir de Merle, Dieu Donne, GlenWood, Haut Espoir, La Bri, La Petit Ferme, Solms Delta, Topiary, Vrede and Lust. All participating wineries will offer tastings of luscious wines and host an eclectic range of charming events on their delightful farms. Call 021 876 2861 for more information.

The 2010 Cape Horticultural Society’s Flower and Garden Show will be held on 04 and 05 September 2010 at the Alphen Centre in Constantia.The show offers a large, varied and interesting displays of plants in the exhibition hall. All these plants are, for the most part, grown out-of-doors by our members, who are private amateur gardeners living in the Cape Peninsula. Outside stallholders selling many different gardening accessories give the public a chance to purchase or get excellent advice on the latest equipment. A good selection of plants, both indigenous and exotic will also be on sale. Entrance costs just R10.00 per person, and you can call Glenda on 021 531 5713 for more information.

The Baxter Dance Film Festival 2010, in association with Cinedans (Amsterdam), is an exciting programme screening several international dance movies, including documentary feature films. This is an opportunity for dance, theatre, entertainment and documentary film audiences and communities, and the all-important public, to see a line-up of award-winning work.

The Main Programme runs from 25 to 28 August 2010, and the fringe programme will run on Sunday, 29 August 2010. The Main Programme will feature work by established professional companies, as well as the newly commissioned work. This programme will be made up of various works of different lengths. The Fringe Programme will include work by youth groups and dance schools, school groups, traditional African dance groups and choreographers who request that their work run on this programme for practical or other reasons.

Now in its sixth year, the Baxter Dance Festival is regarded as Cape Town’s premier dance platform, and aims to provide emerging and established dance companies and choreographers with an opportunity to present their work, whilst striving to nurture and promote dance talent in the Western Cape. It is the perfect environment to experience and see work by established professionals and exciting emerging artists.

The festival has been made possible through the National Arts Council, The Arts and Culture Trust and the Chiappini Charitable and Cultural Trust. Since its inception, the festival has hosted more than 200 local choreographers, featuring over 1000 dancers, all representing a wide variety of dance styles and genres, including contemporary, classical, African, modern and Spanish.

The Baxter Dance Theatre is proudly hosted by the Baxter Theatre Centre - a renowned home of Performing Arts in the Western Cape.

The Tygervalley Bridal Expo 2010 will be held from 26 to 29 August 2010, at the Tygervalley Shopping Centre. Nearly 100 top-notch wedding service providers will showcase their services and products, all tailored towards making your dream wedding day become a reality. Wine tasting sessions and wedding invitation workshops are just some of the more hands-on activities, whilst everyone from photographers, designers and make-up artists will be on hand to help you make your wedding day fairytale come true. A dream wedding can also be won by a lucky couple, with prizes valued up to R22 0000. Visit the website for more information about this magnificent expo.

The annual Clanwilliam Flower Show will be presented by the Clanwilliam Wild Flower Association from 26 August to 01 September 2010. Nearly 400 species of gorgeous flowers from 38 flower families will be exhibited. The show includes concerts, art and food stalls and a street carnival. The Old Dutch Reformed Church in Clanwilliam will play host to a manmade landscape of flowers, and a special botanical division will display all the flowers with both their botanical and common names. For more information, call Clanwilliam Tourism on 027 4822024, or visit the website here.

Who said golf is just for men? The Franschhoek Women, Wine and Golf weekend is the perfect excuse to leave the men behind to care for the kids, and get away from some serious relaxation in beautiful Franschhoek. The golf day will see lucky participants enjoy a fun-filled weekend, be treated to divine goodie bags and a golf clinic. A cocktail evening will round off this brilliant day, so book your space now by calling Darielle on 021 876 2861 or emailing events@franschhoek.org.za.

The Tramonto Wedding Run brings with it Wine Tasting and South African superstars, Watershed. To be held at Tramonto in George, from 19 to 21 August 2010, this Wedding Run includes a showcasing of wines from Diemersfontein, Hartenberg, Backsberg and Raka, amongst others. A thank you Dinner will be held in the Cellar on Thursday night for winemakers, and Friday will be open for all existing and potential clients. Saturday’s grande finale is open to the public. A fun run/walk will start at 08h00, with participants able to choose between a 5 or 10 kilometre course. Watershed is scheduled to entertain participators and spectators after the prizegiving at 11am. For more information, call 044 870 7150

RMB WineX Cape Town blasts off it’s seventh annual fair at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 19 August 2010. Always the largest and most important premium consumer wine event in the Western Cape, RMB WineX will be raising an already elevated bar. Aiming for quality rather than quantity, the organisers have amended the show format cutting it back to a two evening event, instead of the usual three night rolling party. As before, WineX visitors can stock up on exhibitor wines at competitive prices via Shop@Show. For those too busy to make it to the wine farms, this facility offers a convenient one-stop-shop alternative and includes a delivery to your door. The annual Best Wines on Show ballot, with great prizes attached, adds to the fun of a wonderful wine evening in the city. WineX will be open daily from 5pm to 9pm, and you can book at Computicket.

The Encounters International Documentary Festival will be held at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront from 12 to 29 August 2010. The only South African film festival dedicated entirely to documentaries, this festival includes screenings, panel discussions and workshops for aspiring film-makers. Documentaries have the power to take audiences into other worlds, hold a mirror up to humanity and lift the veil on our perceptions of ourselves and others. This year, filmgoers will be offered an exceptional and varied selection of more than 50 films, including many award-winning titles.

The Baxter Dance Festival will dominate the Baxter Theatre from 25 to 29 August 2010. Five years since it’s inception, the Baxter Dance Festival aims to provide both emerging and established dance companies and choreographers with an opportunity to present their work. It is the perfect environment to experience and see work by established professionals, as well as exciting up-and-coming dance practitioners. For more information, visit the Baxter Theatre’s website or call 021 6857880.

The beautiful Robertson Wine Valley in the Western Cape hosts the fourth Robertson Slow from 06 to 09 August 2010.

Robertson Slow invites visitors to experience 29 world-class wineries and guesthouses and what they have to offer. With the emphasis on “slow”, Robertson Slow embraces the philosophy of savouring what life has to offer, surrounded by the beauty that is the Robertson Wine Valley.

Vistors will be treated to gorgeous dinners, with traditional Robertson cuisine. As always, wine is the primary focus of the festival, and winemakers will be on hand to discuss their wines and tempt your palette with their wares.

Not to outdone, the festival also offers visitors the chance to learn new things, including how to make your own salami and pasta. For the more outdoors-focused visitor, the Robertson Wine Valley is home to numerous other activities, including horse riding, hiking and walking trails.

On 08 August, the third annual Regional Food Market will see local chefs bringing their finest from the kitchen to the fore.

The Robertson Wine Valley aims to attract visitors yearning to experience the charm of country life in intimate settings. While enjoying time-honoured activities, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to interact with winemakers and winefarmers, in an informal atmosphere.

Take it slow in every respect except for booking your tickets for the Robertson Slow festival!

It’s time to gear down as we head towards the latter half of the year. So why not relax a little and enjoy what the Western Cape has in store for August?

The Hermanus Times Calf Festival/Kalfiefees celebrates the arrival of the Southern Right Whales at this globally-renowned fishing town. Taking place across the town from 05 to 09 August 2010, promises a wide range of productions and festivities, all focused on family fun! The festival also celebrates Women’s Day, with numerous ceremonies and a fashion show. Now in it’s tenth year, the Calf Festival is a celebration of music, art and drama.

The Hermanus Wine and Food Fair also takes place in early August, from 06 to 08 August 2010. Nominated as one of the best wine shows in South Africa, the Wine and Food Fair will celebrate the fruits of the labours from almost 50 wine producers. More than 400 wines will be available to sample and purchase. With daily tickets costing just R95, or a weekend pass costing you just R150 for all three days, be sure to drop in and explore all the delights on offer!

The Swellendam Canola Karnaval will dominate Swellendam from 06 to 08 August 2010. With a jam-packed programme that covers sporting, a car show and an abundance of entertainment, the carnival celebrates the time of year when the canola fields bloom and cover the hills with patches of yellow flowers. An arts and crafts market and tours to the canola factory are included in the festivities.

Roberston Wine Valley comes alive from 06 to 09 August 2010, with the advent of the Robertson Slow festival. At Robertson Slow, you can sample honest, old-fashioned, rural hospitality synonymous with the Robertson Wine Valley’s winemaking community. Relish the slow food and wine that will excite your senses and revel in the relaxed pace that will replenish your soul. The third annual food market will see local chefs bringing their finest from the kitchen to the fore. The Robertson Wine Valley is looking to attract visitors yearning to experience the charm of country life in intimate settings characterised by each farm’s unique personal touch. While enjoying time-honoured activities, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to interact with winemakers and winefarmers, in an informal ambience, getting to know them and their respective families.

A must-do in every socialite’s diary, Cape Town Fashion Week bursts on to the scene from 11 to 14 August 2010. Renowned as Africa’s largest gathering of fashion talent, Cape Town Fashion Week provides an international platform for designers across Sub-Saharan Africa. With the first day of the programme focusing on young designers, the second day boasts an abundance of established mens’ and womens’ wear designers, and the third day dazzles visitors with stylish day and evening wear. Since its launch in 2003, the event has grown into one of the premier “new world” fashion weeks, attracting major fashion magazines and trade professionals, and providing an international platform for both established and up-and-coming designers from across the continent. Cape Town Fashion Week is open to the public and features special seminars and introductory courses for those interested in a career within the industry. Cape Town Fashion Week takes over the Cape Town International Convention Centre very soon so, don’t miss out on this extravaganza of elegance!

The Cape Town Book Fair takes place at the end of July, from 30 July to 02 August 2010. The fifth annual book fair in Cape Town, will host 250 exhibitors from all over the globe at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Author readings, workshops and many books will be sold at discounted prices. Created in 2005, the Cape Town Book Fair takes place annually under the authority of the Publishers’ Association of South Africa, and in co-operation with the Frankfurter Buchmesse, the largest bookfair in the world.

Tickets cost between R60 (adults) and R25 (students and pensioners), and all children under the age of 13 gain admission for free.

Moving towards the digital age, the Cape Town Book Fair invites exhibitors to register their titles on their Book Titles List well before the fair, enabling exhibitors to promote their products directly to customers and prospective visitors to the Fair.

International best-selling author Jodi Picoult is to launch her new novel, House Rules, at the fifth annual Cape Town Book Fair on 01 August.

African literature professor Wole Soyinka will speak on his memoir, You Must Set Forth at Dawn, published by Ayebia. Marion Keim will discuss her book Umama - Mothers of Leaders with Diane Ferris on 31 July, and the Kwela Hour offers an opportunity for visitors to meet authors.

The 1st day of the fair will be solely dedicated to publishers, institutional buyers and rights agents. On that day, CTBF is organising matchmaking sessions to facilitate new business partnerships as well as hosting seminars that address the latest trends in the industry.  Meanwhile, just like every year, readers remain in the focus, with a broad array of public seminars, author events and readings.

The Children’s Zone programme is jam-packed with fun and literary explorations for the little people. Daily readings and educational talks will keep your children spell-bound! The Children’s Zone programme will include a reading from the award-winning anthology of Nelson Mandela’s favourite folktales. 32 stories from Southern Africa are included, and are sure to inspire your little ones with a little Madiba Magic! Chris Van Wyk and Paddy Bouma will also be celebrating the illustrated children’s version of Long Walk to Freedom

The Pick ‘n Pay Chef’s Theatre will showcase an array of books on cooking, a Pick ‘n Pay Fresh Living demonstration and presentations by well-known foodie writers, including Phillippa Cheifitz; the fabulous and eccentric Evita Bezuidenhout and award-winning chef, Roberto De Carvalho.

There’s sure to be something for everyone at the Cape Town Book Fair!

Even though the FIFA World Cup 2010 is behind us, the Western Cape is still a hub of activity, with lots to do and explore!

The Cape Town Book Fair takes place at the end of July, from 30 July to 02 August 2010. The fifth annual book fair in Cape Town, will host 250 exhibitors from 29 countries at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Author readings, workshops and many books will be sold at discounted prices. Created in 2005, the Cape Town Book Fair takes place annually under the authority of the Publishers’ Association of South Africa, and in co-operation with the Frankfurter Buchmesse, the largest bookfair in the world. Tickets cost between R60 and R25, and all children under the age of 13 gain admission for free.

South Africa’s premier baby show, the Baba Indaba, hits Cape Town from 23 to 25 July 2010, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This truly South African baby show inspires you, the parents and moms-to-be to enjoy your baby and pregnancy and have fun while being a good parent. Bringing the manufacturers, suppliers and retailers of baby care products together with parents and pregnant moms, this collaboration with great exhibitors creates an inspirational and stimulating expo packed with information, shopping, show specials and fun for you and your baby. The range of cute, new and innovative baby products provides plenty of interest for grandparents and even friends. Everyone with an interest in babies, children and parenting will find something new and exciting at Baba Indaba. The Takalani Sesame characters will be gracing the stage thrice daily, to entertain and educate the little ones. Red Cross Children’s Hospital Trust will receive five percent of income generated from ticket sales. Tickets cost R45 per person.

The Western Cape Wine Festival takes over Camps Bay from 30 July to 01 August 2010. This festival promises festival goers a wide variety of wines and gives the public a snap shot of the gorgeous wines which hail from all the wine producing regions, including Robertson, Franschhoek, Paarl and lesser known regions such as Hermanus, Elgin and Elim. With its laid-back focus on enjoying wine without pretention, the festival will cater for both the connoisseur as well as consumer.

Bastille Day is a French national holiday, celebrated on 14 July every year. It commemorates the 1790 Fete de la Federation, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. The storming of the Bastille is seens as a symbol of the uprising of the modern French nation. Franschhoek celebrates it’s French Huguenot heritage on this day, with a full festival weekend.

The Huguenots settled in the valley during the 1600s and bought along many of their traditions, including wine making.

Franschhoek will once again celebrate its centuries-old French Huguenot heritage with a wonderful feast of food, wine and entertainment at its annual Bastille Festival on the weekend of 17 and 18 July 2010. With lots to see, do and enjoy for the whole family, make a memorable weekend of your visit and take advantage of the special Bastille packages offered by a variety of hotels and guest houses. The theme of heavenly cuisine and fine wines is the order of the day and threaded throughout the Festival.

Enjoy this gastronomic affair in style, as chefs and winemakers showcase Franschhoek’s crème de la crème. Award-winning restaurants are composing special menus exclusive to Bastille. The Bastille Food and Wine Marquee is the focal point, drawing people to the hub of activity, as wineries and renowned chefs showcase their talents at vibrant stalls, offering delicious fare.

Culinary delights, however, are not all this annual celebration has to offer. Frequent all the galleries, boutiques and crafts shops draped in French apparel. Amble along the charming aisles and weave in and out of the alcoves, delighting your senses.

Nestled in the beautiful Cape Winelands, lies the magnificent Franschhoek Valley. The food and wine heartland of South Africa, Franschhoek is internationally renowned for its culinary and wine delights. Coupled with gorgeous scenery and warm hospitality, Franschhoek is the pride of the Western Cape region. Franschhoek is home to a wonderful array of guest accommodation, from guest houses to self-catering cottages and, of course, wine farms.  Steeped in history and populated by friendly people, Franschhoek makes for the perfect getaway.

The Knysna Oyster Festival takes over this jewel of the Garden Route from 02 to 11 July 2010.  One of South Africa’s most popular festivals, the Knysna Oyster Festival holds huge appeal for sports lovers, families and avid partygoers.

The 2010 festival, the 27th annual iteration, boasts a jam-packed programme of sport, entertainment and, of course, oysters!  More than one hundred exciting events ranging from cycling, running and adventure races, to wine tastings and gala evenings, are expected to draw nearly seventy thousand visitors.

The festival’s two main sporting events, the Pick ‘n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and the Pick ‘n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour, will give participants the unique opportunity to run and cycle through the ancient indigenous forests of Knysna and experience the scenic beauty of the area. A full programme  of adventure and soft sports for the whole family includes paddling, golf, bowls and soccer.

The annual oyster-shucking competition, oyster-eating competition and the Pick ‘n Pay Oyster and Wine Mardi Gras are the mainstays of this festival, and venues across the town are participating in and hosting Oyster Festival events. Venues included as hosts for the festival include the Knysna Art Gallery, Woodmill Lane Leisure Shopping, Knysna Golf Club and a wide variety of restaurants, schools and pubs.

The South African Navy will, once again, be making a grand entrance through the Knysna Heads in their huge minesweepers. The Navy’s internationally acclaimed band will entertain festival-goers during the street parade and live concert at the Waterfront.

The Pick ‘n Pay Young  Oyster Festival takes care of the kids and boasts youth theatre, puppet shows, creative art workshop and cooking programmes. The Knysna Sport School Fair lets children and youth try their hand at a variety of sports, free of charge.

Last year’s Knysna Oyster Festival raised over a million Rand for the designated charity, and 2010 should be no different.  In an effort to include all local communities in the festival, Knysna Tourism’s Local Loeries project offers sustainable opportunities for previously disadvantaged communities to get involved in the festival and reap the benefits for many years afterwards. The programme identifies individuals to be mentored in four areas: food and catering, entertainment, sports development and services. Mentors assist candidates to set up businesses that can provide services to the festival. Mentoring continues for as long as necessary and entrepreneurs are offered the chance to get involved in the town’s other festivals. The project also provides for the scrapping of entry fees for festival sport events for those who can’t afford them, and competitors with potential are identified by local clubs and NGOs. Local sports clubs provide mentors and the necessary equipment whilst waiving club fees to assist in their development. A similar project exists for children who are spotted as having sporting potential at the Knysna Sport School Sports Fair.

Explore the town of Knysna and join in all the fun that the Knysna Oyster Festival has to offer!