Passionate about wine!  

Stellenbosch has a real cultural flavour, boasting several theatres, regular art displays and it is never long until the next festival. Stellenbosch is an amazing place to be. Events and activities take place throughout the year - music, street, wine and art festivals delighting both young and old. Outdoors enthusiasts can partake in hiking, mountain climbing, horse riding and cycling, while sports fans can attend international sporting events.

A variety of theatre programs are on display during the year. From December to March the Oude Libertas - and Spier Amphitheatres perform some of the best works under the night skies. Picnics are available during these performances and wines are always a welcome companion. There are venues, such as the Dorp Street Theater Café, H.B.Thom- and Breugel Theatres as well as numerous others, where a variety of live music can be experienced.

The streets of Stellenbosch regularly play to art displays such as the recent covered oak trees all the way down Dorp Street in Stellenbosch, by landscape artist Strijdom van der Merwe. – 393 oak trees covered in 8km of red cloth – one of the largest land art projects ever in South Africa.

From November 2008 to April 2009, Dylan Lewis, internationally renowned sculptor from Stellenbosch, gave art lovers a unique experience by turning the town into an outdoor sculpture gallery. 23 life-size Dylan Lewis sculptures were on display in and around the main areas of Stellenbosch, including the historic town centre and the communities of Idas Valley, Jamestown, Tennantville and Kayamandi. Not only were his life-size sculptures viewed up close and personal, but in the setting, Dylan allowed the animals depicted to claim back the area they once roamed freely. Among the 'manifestations' of wildlife there were 21 big cats, a buffalo pair and a rhino.

There is always something going on in the Cape Winelands to suit everyone and below is a selection of just some of the annual events hosted:

• Spier Art Festival – January
• Cape Country Picnic Festival, at the Bien Donne Farm in Simondium – February
• Stellenbosch University Carnival – February
• Stellenbosch Vista Trail Run & Family Fun Walk – April
• SA Cheese Festival, Bien Donne Farm in Simondium – April
• Golf Tourism Day – May
• Cape Times V&A Waterfront Wine Affair – May
• Franschhoek Literary Festival – May
• Wacky Wine Weekend, Robertson – June
• Stellenbosch Winterfest – June
• Christmas in Winter, Tulbagh – June
• Franschhoek Bastille Day – July
• Stellenbosch Wine Festival – August
• Gravity Adventure Festival, Kleinmond – August
• Food, Wine and Street Festival – August
• Independent Winemakers' Guild Auction – August
• iTownship Wine Festival, Khayelitsha – August
• Franschhoek Uncorked – August
• RMB Wine Ex, Cape Town – September
• Hermanus Whale Festival – September
• Music and Arts Festival – September through October
• Foot of the Helderberg Festival – October
• Street Festival – October
• Christmas Craft Festival, Franschhoek – October
• Van der Stel Festival – October
• Strawberry Festival – October
• Blaauwklippen Blending Competition – October
• Winelands Marathon – November
• IGA Golf World Cup, Somerset West – November
• Stellenbosch Bottled Wine Show – November
• Franschhoek Champage Festival – first weekend in December
• Simonsberg Fine Food and Wine Festival – December

Remember, this is just a selection – there is so much more to suit everyone!