The Dias Festival started this morning and ends on Sunday, 1 February.
A full programme, which includes a street parade, performances by as many as 15 of South Africa’s best musicians, international artistic performances, as well as local folk dancing, an air show, a fireworks show, a motorsport gymkhana, a Miss Dias Festival competition and even an art competition for crèches and a doggy beach walk, will keep locals and visitors involved.
The festival, which will be opened by Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Finance and International Relations on Friday, 30 January, is coordinated by the Mossel Bay Municipality to stimulate the local economy.
Entry to the festival arena, the motor sport gymkhana and the concerts by Emile Minnie (Friday night) and Zanne Stapelberg (Saturday night) in the Bartolomeu Dias Museum is free of charge.
A major scoop is the performance of the Zhejiang Opera Wu arts troupe from China, who is on tour in South Africa and who will perform on stage as well as participate in the street parade. They will do the Dragon Dance as part of the street parade and this should lend extra colour to this event.
The parade will also include Indonesian, as well as Portuguese participants.
The first to come on board, three years ago, was Indonesia and Portugal. This year China has joined with performers from their country. A German 'oompah band' will also perform at this year’s festival.
The Consul-Generals of France, Madagascar and India have also accepted invitations to attend the festival. Parachutists will also carry the flags of their countries in the flag jump onto Santos Beach on Saturday, 31 January, together with those of South Africa, China, Indonesia, Portugal, Germany and the main festival sponsor, Standard Bank.
The Flying Lions aerobatics team in their Harvards will perform at the festival and there will also be a special 'Bartolomeu Dias' arrival by tram this year.
Some of the vintage cars and tractors that participated in the street parade will also be on display at the festival arena, together with new vehicles. A helicopter will be on display too.
The play parks for children have been expanded this year and there will be 115 stalls selling anything from refreshments to art, crafts, clothing and jewellery.
A new addition this year is a tea garden, while there will also be a beer garden.
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