Mosselbaai bied ‘n propvol somer van vermaaklikheid aan/Mossel Bay Presents Packed Summer of Entertainment

Mosselbaai se somer-vermaaklikheidsprogram is groter en beter as ooit te vore.

“Sommige van die land se beste talent is hier, asook voortreflike gholfkompetisies, kindervermaaklikheid, ‘n kos-en-drinkgoedmark , en nie een nie maar twee Blouvlag-strande – Mosselbaai gaan kook hierdie Desember!” sê Mosselbaai Toerisme voorsitter René Bongers.

Hy sê ‘n aantal organisasies – soos die Garden Route Casino, Mosselbaai-gholfklub, ATKV Hartenbos-oord, Langeberg Mall, die Barnyard-teater en die Diaz Strand Hotel & Beach Resort – het individuele gebeurtenisse georganiseer wat, as dit bymekaar gesit word, die grootste somerprogram van enige oord-dorp langs die Suid-Afrikaanse kus uitmaak.

“Daar is inderdaad so baie aan die gang dat jy sal moet vroeg opstaan om alles in jou dag in te kry,” sê Mnr. Bongers.

Bertu Nel, CEO (uitvoerende hoof) van die Mosselbaai-gholfklub, sê dat spesiale reëlings getref word vir diegene wat saam met die, um, voëltjies opstaan. “Ons sal elke oggend (behalwe Kersoggend) vanaf 5.30vm vir spel oopwees om so veel moontlik mense kans te gee om op die baan waar jy die see van elke bof kan sien, te speel. Hy noem ook dat onlangse reën en die suksesvolle sinking van ‘n aantal boorgate gehelp het om die ‘fantastiese toestand’ van die bowwe, setperke en skoonvelde te skep. Selfs die ru-veld lyk goed.”

Hy sê dat aanvraag reeds aanbod begin oorskrei het en dat inskrywings vir die Rotariërsvereniging-gholfdag (11 Desember) alreeds vol is. “Maar daar is ander kompetisies, soos die Mossel Bay Bells Whisky Classic (17 Desember) en verskeie kleiner gebeurtenisse – en natuurlik sal daar ook vakansiegholf op elke dag van die seisoen wees.”

Mnr. Bongers sê dat die Bravo-fees een van die mees gewilde gebeurtenisse van die jaar in Mosselbaai geword het. “Dit neem in die tydelike paviljoen wat spesiaal in die Garden Route Casino-gronde opgerig is plaas, en sluit ‘n wonderlike kos-en-drinkgoedmark in wat elke aand middag 5nm oop is – so dit is die ideale manier om ‘n aand te spandeer.”

Die sewende Bravo en Egoli Musiekfees sal vanaf 18 tot 22 Desember plaasvind, en sal vertonings van elkeen se gunsteling Egoli-sterre en top Suid-Afrikaanse kunstenaars – soos Kurt Darren, Steve Hofmeyr, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Romanz, Nicholis Louw, Ray Dylan, Lianie May, Emo Adams, Karen Zoid, en ander – insluit.

Die Diaz Strand Hotel se fees sal vertonings van Gerrie Pretorius, Collin Street, Danie Niehaus, en Wasserfall insluit en sal ook verskeie kompetisies aanbied soos: Mnr Spiertjies en Mej Sandkorreltjie (17 Desember); Mej en Mnr Diaz Jnr (18 Desember); Mej Rip Curl Bikini (23 Desember); Mej Tiener (27 Desember); Mej Diaz (30 Desember); Mnr Hunk (31 Desember); en Mej Roxy Bikini (2 Januarie). Daar sal ook die noodsaaklike armdruk- en baba-kompetisies wees asook ‘n Oujaarsaand-partytjie.

Die Barnyard sal onder andere Just Jinger (11 Desember); Frank Opperman se Rooi-Kaart (13 Desember); Chris Chameleon (14 Desember); en Jan Blohm en sy orkes (15 Desember) aanbied.

Die ATKV-Hartenbos sal onder andere Heinz Winckler (17 Desember) en ‘n Mej Hartenbos-kompetisie (27 Desember) in die Walvis-saal aanbied, asook ‘n verskeidenheid vertonings by die Amfiteater  op 22 Desember (Karen Ferreira, Snotkop, Arno Jordaan, Eden, Nicholis Louw, Bok van Blerk, ens); 26 Desember (Colletts, Suzanne Renzke, Rudi & Corlea, Romanz, ens); 28 Desember (Kurt Darren, Ray Dylan, Dewald Dippenaar, Pieter Koen, Disselboom, ens.); en 30 Desember (Guillaume, DJ Ossewa, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Theuns Jordaan, ens).

Ander kunstenaars wat tydens die seisoen in Mosselbaai sal optree sluit in: Petronel Baard, Nicholas Carstens, Watershed, Steve Hofmeyr, André Swiegers, Prime Circle, Anton Goosen, en Elvis Blue, wie saam met L’loyd Cele – die man wat hy naelskraap geklop het om die Idols-kroon vroeër vanjaar te wen (en met wie hy die prysgeld gedeel het) – gaan optree.

Ander gebeurtenisse sluit in: die Mosselbaai-seiljagklub se Kabeljou Visvangkompetisie (18 Desember); straatmarkte in Mosselbaai en Hartenbos; die KANSA Sonslimstap op 17 Desember; ‘n Kers-kunsmark op 20 Desember; en die Coreen Fourie Memorial Eco-Adventure (27 Desember).

“Daar is inderdaad iets aan op elke dag gedurende hierdie Mosselbaai-somer,” sê Mnr. Bonger, en voeg by dat die beste manier om die mees onlangse inligting te kry, die dorp se internet-kalender by www.visitmosselbay.co.za is.

Mossel Bay’s programme of summer entertainment is bigger and better than ever before.

“Some of the country’s top talent, superb golf competitions, children’s entertainment, a food-and-beverage market, and not one but two Blue Flag Beaches – Mossel Bay’s going to cook this December!” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s chairman, René Bongers.

He said that a number of organisations – including the Garden Route Casino, the Mossel Bay Golf Club, the ATKV-Hartenbos Resort, Langeberg Mall, the Barnyard Theatre, and the Diaz Strand Hotel and Beach Resort – have organised individual events which, when taken together, constitute what could be the biggest summer programme of any resort town on South Africa’s coast.

“In fact, there’s so much on the go that you’ll have to get up early to pack it all in,” said Mr. Bongers.

Bertu Nel, CEO of the Mossel Bay Golf Club, said that special arrangements have been made for early, um, birdies. “We’ll be open for play every morning (except Christmas Day) from 5:30 to give as many people as possible a chance to enjoy playing the course where you can see the sea from every tee,” he said. He noted, too, that recent rains and the successful sinking of a number of boreholes have helped to create “fantastic conditions” on the tees, greens, and fairways. “Even the rough is looking good.”

He said that demand has begun to outstrip supply, and that the Rotary Golf Day (11 December) is already fully subscribed. “But there are other competitions, including the Mossel Bay Bells Whiskey Classic (17 December) and various smaller events – and, of course, there’ll also be holiday golf on every day of the season.”

Mr. Bongers said that the Bravo Festival has become one of the most popular event of the year in Mossel Bay.

“It takes place in a temporary pavilion that’s specially set up in the grounds of the Garden Route Casino, and it includes a great food and beverage market which opens at 5:00 every afternoon – so it’s the ideal way to spend an evening.”

This seventh Bravo and Egoli Music Festival will run from the 18th to the 22nd of December, and will include performances by everyone’s favourite Egoli stars and top South African artists – including Kurt Darren, Steve Hofmeyr, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Romanz, Nicholis Louw, Ray Dylan, Lianie May, Emo Adams, Karen Zoid, and others.

The Diaz Strand Hotel’s festival will include performances by Gerrie Pretorius, Collin Street, Danie Niehaus, and Wasserfall, and will also feature various competitions: Mnr Spiertjies en Mej Sandkorreltjie (17 December); Mej en Mnr Diaz Jnr (18 December); Mej Rip Curl Bikini (23 December); Mej Tiener (27 December); Mej Diaz (30 December); Mr. Hunk (31 December); and Mej Roxy Bikini (2 January). There’ll also be the necessary arm-wrestling and baby competitions, as well as a new-year’s eve bash.

Amongst others, The Barnyard will present Just Jinger (11 December); Rooi-Kaart by Frank Opperman (13 December); Chris Chameleon (14 December); and Jan Blohm and his Band (15 December).

Amongst others, the ATKV-Hartenbos will present Heinz Winckler (17 December), and a Miss Hartenbos competition (27 December) in the Walvis Hall, as well as variety shows at the Amphitheatre on the 22nd of December (Karen Ferreira, Snotkop, Arno Jordaan, Eden, Nicholis Louw, Bok van Blerk, etc.); the 26th of December (Colletts, Suzanne Renzke, Rudi & Corlea, Romanz, etc.); the 28th of December (Kurt Darren, Ray Dylan, Dewald Dippenaar, Pieter Koen, Disselboom, etc.); and the 30th of December (Guillaume, DJ Ossewa, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Theuns Jordaan, etc).

Other artists who will appear in Mossel Bay during the season include Petronel Baard, Nicholas Carstens, Watershed, Steve Hofmeyer, Andre Swiegers, Prime Circle, Anton Goosen, and Elvis Blue, who will sing with L’loyd Cele – the man he narrowly beat to win the Idols crown earlier this year (and with whom he shared the prize money).

Other events include the Yacht and Boat Club’s Kob Derby (18 December);  street markets in Mossel Bay and Hartenbos and the CANSA Sonslimstap on the 17th of December; a Kers-Kunsmark on the 20th of December; and the Coreen Fourie Memorial Eco-Adventure (27 December).

“In fact, there’ll be something on on every single day during this coming Mossel Bay summer,” said Mr. Bongers, adding that the best way to get the latest information is to check out the town’s on-line calendar at www.visitmosselbay.co.za/calendar/