MOSSEL BAY NEWS - It is less than two weeks until the popular Dias & Port Festival, taking place from 31 January to 3 February at the Santos festival arena at Santos Beach.
The festival arena at the De Bakke Santos Resort will host both regular and new activities.
There will be weekend of excellent entertainment for the whole family.
Also on offer will be a variety of stalls, fun rides and a children's play and entertainment area as well as a wide variety of local and top South African artists performing.
Highlights
Some of the Dias & Port Festival 2019 highlights are:
- Stage performances by local and top South African artists
- Arrival of a Bartolomeu Dias-lookalike and International Flag Ceremony
- Flag jumps at Santos Beach
- International and indigenous folk dancing
- 30th anniversary celebration of the Bartolomeu Dias Museum and museum tours
- Street parade with colourful floats and costumes
- Two classical music events at the Bartolomeu Dias Museum
- Tjiff and Tjaff live on stage
National music stars
Top South African artists on stage from 1 to 3 February will include 2018 South African Idols Winner Yanga, Snotkop, The Rockets, Refentse, Paxton, ADAM, Brendan Peyper, Riana Nel, Loyiso Bala and Emo Adams.
The official opening of the Dias & Port Festival is on Thursday, 31 January.
A Cultural Evening will take place in the Town Hall, where the premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, will deliver the keynote address.
On Friday, 1 February local bands and artists will be performing on stage from 16:30 till late.
There will also be a Langeberg Mall programme that will include various dance and music acts.
Brass band festival
The annual Western Cape Lifesaving Tournament will be held at Santos Beach on 2 February, to be followed by the fun street parade; flag jumps; and a special programme starting at 12:00 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Bartolomeu Dias Museum.
On Sunday, 3 February, Tjiff and Tjaff will perform at 10:00, followed by various artists on stage including the well-known Loyiso Bala. There will be a brass band festival from 13:00 to 16:00.
Artists from various countries will be participating in the festival, including India, Portugal, France, Germany, Madagascar and Indonesia.
Unfortunately, the Chinese performers will not be participating in this year's festival.
Entrance and shows free
Municipal director of corporate services, Edward Jantjies, who chairs the festival committee, said: "This year we have a wider variety of stage performers. We anticipate that even more people will attend the festival this year, as the numbers grow steadily each year. Remember, entry to the festival and to all shows are free of charge.
"A special thank you goes to all our sponsors for their continued support throughout the years, which enables us to stage a cultural and community festival of this magnitude."
The full Dias & Port Festival 2019 programme will be available at the festival arena information desk, or www.mosselbay.gov.za / www.mosselbayevents.co.za or on the Mossel Bay Municipality facebook page.
The full stage and festival programmes will also be published in the Mossel Bay Advertiser.
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