SOUTHERN CAPE NEWS - Citizens of quaint Karoo town, Prince Albert are readying themselves for a myriad of celebrations to commemorate their town’s 250th anniversary year.

The town will look back to the arrival of the De Beer family and the establishment of the farm Kweekvallei in September 1762.

Local activities for January and February will have a fairly local focus. Zelia Mullins Manager Prince Albert Tourism said "We launch into the activities which lots of visitors will come to share. Here are a few of our earlier events: -

*witblitz distilling at the Fransie Pienaar Museum on 14 April
*our ever popular Olive Festival 27 - 28 April (book your accommodation now)
*the Arts and Crafts Festival featuring workshops, exhibitions, demonstrations and lectures
*25 May - 3 June - bird-watching, photo workshops and star-gazing.

Mullins invited readers to join in the fun. "We hope that you will join us for one or more of the exciting events scheduled throughout the year. The full programme can be downloaded from our website (2012 page).

Here follows a brief summary of events lined up: -
Arty dustbins
The anniversary dustbins are causing a real stir among visitors. The superb artwork and the historical information on each bin along Kerkstraat, has added to the sense of local pride in Prince Albert and our heritage.

Patchwork Theatre
During February we take the 2012 celebrations to our schools to inspire our youth with Patchwork Theatre’s production of The Prince Albert Story: a light-hearted, bilingual, informative look at our heritage from the pre-history days of the shallow Agulhas Sea to the present.

Talking succulents
During February the Prince Albert Garden Club celebrates their 10th birthday and have invited renowned expert on indigenous gardening Ernst Van Jaarsveld to deliver a talk: Succulent Riches of Southern Africa, followed by champagne, cupcakes and camaraderie. Join them on Wednesday, 1 February 2012 at 17:00 in the Jans Rautenbach Schouwburg. Tickets are just R65 each and are available at the Prince Albert Tourism Office 023 5411 366. "Why not come up to Prince Albert to attend the talk and then buy your indigenous plants at Renu-Karoo and Malachite nurseries.
July will be a taste sensation with a Winter Feast and a Victorian Market. Will locals don Victorian costumes? We hope so! We will also remember Outa Lappies with an open-air exhibition and tea in the Toelstede garden," said Mullins.
August brings the NG Kerk's 150th bazaar with ‘boeresport en lekker kos’ as the congregation celebrates 175 years since it was established.

September is the jewel in the crown as De Beers from around South Africa gather for the 250th anniversary of the arrival of Zacharius, Johannes and Matthys and their families. An Art Festival will bring art into Kerkstraat. Heritage Day and National Braai Day will be celebrated in true Prince Albert style.

October is dedicated to the centenary of the town’s newspaper, The Prince Albert Friend. The Patchwork Dolls, our busy patchwork club are creating a Heritage Quilt, which will be on display at the St John's Flower festival (6th - 7th October 2012). The Thursday Club will serve an International Tea Party in St John's Hall while the Flower Festival takes place in the church.

November brings us back to stars and stories around campfires.

December -Saturday Market stall holders invite everyone to mark 15 years since they opened for business - Christmas fare will fill the stalls. A Carols by Candlelight Service will take place on the Day of Reconciliation, bringing our year of celebrations to a joyful conclusion.

Swartberg Pass is being spruced up
There is some really good news about the Swartberg Pass: two Extended Public Work Projects are underway to restore the dry-stone walls and drainage aspects of the road and to provide appropriate benches, information boards and discrete toilet blocks at the more popular sites. Not only will these projects protect and enhance the Pass but also provide much needed local employment. Helena Marincowitz’s excellent book on the Swartberg Pass is available from the Fransie Pienaar Museum.


August brings the NG Kerk's 150th bazaar with ‘boeresport en lekker kos’ as the congregation celebrates 175 years since it was established.