Food, wine, music and entertainment - for kiddies too – will be a-plenty at the event taking place on the first official weekend of Spring. But, wait! There's plenty more happening around the Overberg hamlet's famous, bull-tide bash.
Expect an orchestra of superb activities all hosted by the various farms, each celebrating the dispatch of winter with their own unique and bull-inspired themes. In fact, you might say they're all quite bullish at the prospect.
And what would a bull fest be without a race. (This is no cock and bull story!) This doesn't however involve running with bovids of any kind. Rather, the highlight of highlights Bull Race takes the form of a scavenger hunt for grown-ups. Hosted by the Gallivanting Goose, participants are required to complete challenges prompted by a mobile phone app. This is your chance to learn more about Bot River and win cool prizes too. The game is limited to 40 people only, so rush to book forthwith!
For a taster, Goedvertrouw has yoga lined up in the vineyards, with a vinous twist while Villion Wines winemaker Kobie Viljoen will host a private cellar dinner at Barton Vineyards.
At PaardenKloof Ecology Lifestyle Estate, one of the first farms in the Western Cape to re-introduce the Nguni cattle to the region, you'll be able to interact with farmyard animals, let the children ride ponies and even buy Nguni skins and horns. There's a Fresh Farmer’s Market too, where you'll be able to shop for local produce, Protea flowers and nursery plants.
Estate-on-the-koppie Gabriëlskloof, which will launch its latest ROSEbud wine, will have its Little Spring Market as well as servings of salt & pepper calamari and steamed pork buns.
It's also an outstanding food line-up that joins the stellar wines at Wildekrans for the Spring Weekend this year too. Expect amongst others, Friday Steak Night and Saturday Curry Night as well as an ox braai with traditional sides like curried boontjies and phutu pap.
Chef Matt Manning, who perfected his trade in London’s finest Michelin-starred restaurants, will cook up a storm at Luddite where the Rivertones reggae band will play on Saturday night.
At Genevieve MCC, there will be sushi with a lively treasure hunt for children while the taurine theme gets a punt with bubbles and a game of boulles (pronounced "bull"). They'll be joined on the day by Thorne & Daughters, hoping to put on a spot of clay bull shooting.
The line-up of fun goes on and on. Be sure to check in on the full list of activities also happening at Beaumont, Arcangeli and Rivendell.
Bot River Spring Weekend booking essentials:
- Get tickets online through Quicket. The price is R100pp/day.
- The weekend pass includes an armband and wine glass for free wine tastings at participating farms, which you may collect at Fiore Nursery on the town square.
- Temporary Quicket stations will be at Gabriëlskloof and Wildekrans.
- Individual activities must be booked with each farm directly.
- Entries for the Bot River Bull Race will be available on Quicket as a separate item.
For more information about the faBULLous Bot River Spring Weekend 2018 contact Melissa Nelsen at email Melissa@genevievemcc.co.za.