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    Grocott's Mail
    You are at:Home»NEWS»Family fun guide to Festival
    NEWS

    Family fun guide to Festival

    Kathryn ClearyBy Kathryn ClearyJuly 1, 2019No Comments5 Mins Read
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    For this year’s National Arts Festival, Grocott’s Mail is bringing our readers a family-friendly activity guide; jam-packed with show suggestions, free performances and exhibitions as well as helpful tips for keeping the family safe and happy. It’s hard to pack all remaining 9 days into one newspaper, so we’ve picked some highlights and recommendations that we think our readers (and their kids) would enjoy! Remember, prior booking for tickets is necessary, and tipping of the street performers and buskers is encouraged! 

    Did somebody say FREE? 

    There’s lots of entertainment at Fest that requires no ticket to enter! Check out these great options:

    The Standard Bank Village Green

    The extensive Village Green is packed with food and drink stalls, arts, crafts and trinkets for sale, as well as some amazing buskers and performers. All the performances are free, but tipping is highly encouraged. 

    Buskers at National Arts Festival 2018. Photo by Michelle Hodgkinson

    Sundowner Concerts at the Monument

    Daily free performances from 17:00-18:00 at Monument, check the NAF website for more details!

    Sundowner concert performance 2018. Photo by Jan Potgieter

    Visual Art Exhibitions

    There are tons of art exhibitions that run daily from 9 until 5pm (with a few exceptions, check the programme online). We’ve picked the family-friendly ones that you might enjoy!

    A Place in the Sun @52 GALLERY IN THE ROUND, MONUMENT 

    Spirt of ’76 18h00 to 20h00 daily @52 MONUMENT FACADE 

    Gabrielle Goliath 2019 Standard Bank Young Artist for Visual Art This song is for… @52 MONUMENT GALLERY 

    Luke Kaplan’s Hinterland @1 STUDIO 1 GALLERY, RHODES FINE ART

    Sikhumbuzo Makandula & Mthwakazi Ingoma ka Tiyo Soga @1 NEW GALLERY, MONUMENT

    Five Photographers: A Tribute to David Goldblatt @1 ATHERSTONE ROOM, MONUMENT

    Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts & Culture Social Reflections @4 FOYER, ALBANY HISTORY MUSEUM

    Eastern Cape Department Of Sport, Recreation Arts & Culture Eastern Cape Craft Collection @1 VILLAGE GREEN PROVINCIAL CRAFT STALL

    Grocott’s Mail visual art recommendation: Procreate by Tori Stowe; “the visual documentation of a family project to: find, ID and draw, a unique creature every single day of 2019” @ CARINUS ART SCHOOL, BEAUFORT ST

    Creativate Digital Arts Festival

    Do you and your kids love playing with Legos, video games or other techie kit? This one’s for you!

    Creativate is a space for the visually curious, tech-oriented, open-minded festival-goer. Recommended for ages 12 and up, Creativate has a vast array of free exhibitions (book your spot in advance for talks and workshops!) and entertainment that’s sure to blow your mind! Daily @ MONUMENT, THOMAS PRINGLE HALL

    Createneering. Photo: Supplied

    Noluthando Bioscope movie nights, part of Monument Movie Club

    For R5 per person, you and the kids can enjoy a family flick together! The Bioscope will be showing films like Jurassic World, The Lion King, Shrek 4 and more! The family flick is at 5pm, while the adult flick starts at 7:30pm. 

    Kids recommended shows

    This year’s Festival has a huge selection of family theatre, and with tickets ranging from FREE to R80, there’s sure to be a show to thrill even the youngest in the crowd!

    Plastocracy  @ 7 ELRC (Botanical Gardens) RM 20, 29 JUNE 14:00 30 JUNE 14:00, R40 FULL, R35 CONCESSION

    Burning Rebellion @ 33 AMAZWI (formerly NELM) AMPHITHEATRE, 29 JUNE 16:00, FREE

    Rat Race @ 16 MEMORY HALL, 29 JUNE 12:00 30 JUNE 10:00, R40 FULL, R35 CONCESSION

    Galela @ 7 ELRC (Botanical Gardens) AMPHITHEATRE, 29 JUNE 12:00, R40 FULL, R35 CONCESSION

    Galela. Photo by Jan Potgieter

    The Bookbinder @ 38 VICTORIA THEATRE, 30 JUNE 12:00 1 JULY 10:00 3 JULY 10:00 4 JULY 10:00 5 JULY 10:00 6 JULY 10:00 7 JULY 10:00 & 12:00, R50 FULL, R45 CONCESSION

    Flying Solo @ 16 MEMORY HALL, 29 JUNE 10:00 30 JUNE 12:00 1 JULY 12:00 2 JULY 16:00 3 JULY 12:00 4 JULY 10:00 5 JULY 10:00, R50 FULL, R45 CONCESSION

    The Great Pangolin Mystery @ DRILL HALL, 10:00 28 JUNE, 29 JUNE, 3 JULY, 4 JULY, 5 JULY, 6 JULY, R80 FULL, R75 CONCESSION

    Florence and Watson present The Great Pangolin Mystery. Photo by Jan Potgieter

     

    Sunday afternoon freebie for the family!
    The KZN Youth Orchestra Children’s Concert @ 1 FOUNTAIN FOYER, 30 JUNE 13:00

    Makhanda’s weather can change quite quickly, so make sure you and the family are dressed appropriately. Keep a light sweater on hand for the day and a heavier coat and scarf for the evenings, but don’t skimp on sunscreen! Walking around this beautiful town can take its toll and nobody wants a sunburn over Festival!The temperature highs will range from 16 to 22, while the lows from 5 to 7. Sun is expected for most of the Festival with a few clouds peeking out to say ‘hello’ on occasion. Rain might happen on Monday, but given the drought, this community welcomes every single drop! Oh, and be sure to pack a reusable water bottle and eco-friendly coffee cup! Most coffee shops will give customers a slight discount if you bring your own cup! A nifty tip for any visiting coffee-connoisseurs.

    Grocott’s Mail wishes everyone an exciting and fun Festival, and encourages and reminds residents and visitors to save water, keep rubbish in designated bins, and most importantly, smile!

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    Kathryn Cleary

      Investigative journalist; health, human rights, politics and environmental stories.

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