CELEBRATION TIME!

I recently heard of a Xhosa celebration called “Umpantsi webedi”, which directly translated means “under the bed”, which is where one would keep African beer while it’s fermenting. This celebration doesn’t really have a deep meaning like the kinds of celebrations Xhosa people usually have…it was just an excuse for family and friends to come together and enjoy home brewed African beer (umqombothi).

Human beings are always finding ways to be joyful and happy; it is one of the things that make us feel alive - like carnivals and festivals...for instance the Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival.

Now we all know that biltong came about as a means to solve the problem of preserving meat before iceboxes or fridges came around. From its humble beginning to its iconic status around the globe, biltong is a common phenomenon in restaurants, at rugby games and in lunch boxes around South Africa.

So every winter, in a little town in the Karoo, a Festival kicks off dedicated specifically to the celebration of biltong. For those two days the town of Somerset East is the most alive it’s ever been for that year. For two days, people congregate in their numbers for a celebration in the name of biltong...much like the “Umpantsi webedi” celebration in the name of African beer.

Will we see you there?

The weeks have flown by and March is marching on. For the Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival, March brings the closing date for stall applications.

The application deadline for stalls is 31 March 2012. Interested stall owners and businesses can contact Marette Liddell on marette.liddell@lgnet.org.za or 042 243 1333 ext 6484. You can also download the Application Form from the Festival website.

Family...Fun...and BILTONG @ 2012 Festival

From the 13th to 14th of July 2012 we invite those with a ravenous appetite for fun (and biltong) to come and revel in the excitement with family activities, loads of socialising and of course...buckets full of biltong on the menu for the 2012 Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival!

STALLS

Stall bookings are now open and interested parties can contact Marette Liddell on 042 243 1333 ext 6484 or marette.liddell@lgnet.org.za for more information. You can, however, also download the Application Form from the Festival website.

Come on...come hang with us in Somerset East!

New Dates Announced!

15 to 16 July 2011 saw the Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival turn 21 and a massive crowd of 11 000 people joined us at the Somerset East showgrounds to celebrate.

Approximately 1.5 ton of biltong and 160 stalls made 2011 a year in Biltong Festival history to remember. Let's make the next year just as memorable from 13 to 14 July 2012.

CALENDAR: 13 July 2012 - 14 July 2012

Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival 2012

A little music...

Along with donating the profits of the Beer Tent to a variety of community projects – which benefits underprivileged individuals - the Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival also brings some colour and entertainment to individuals that society exiles.

Each year, Paul Jordaan and his team take a popular entertainer and visit prisoners in the local jail. This year, Emo Adams and his band agreed to bring a little of the outside world to the men on the inside.

The big stage

One of the highlights of this year’s Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival was the quality of the local talent that performed. One of the bands impressed the stage and entertainment managers so much that they were given the opportunity to perform one of their songs on the main stage before SAMA winners Professor took the stage.

Needless to say, the four-man rap group, Willie Hoories, were a big hit with the crowd and will definitely be back next year at the Festival.

125 Jaar Later...

By dié jaar se Biltongfees het die mense van Somerset-Oos nie net die mondigwording van die Castle Lager Oos-Kaapse Biltongfees gevier nie, maar ook ‘n unieke mylpaal van ‘n geliefde familie en besigheid van die area.

Die Somerset Budget koerantgroep is een van die hoof media borge van die Biltongfees en publiseer jaarliks ‘n Feeskoerant wat nie net die Feesprogram bevat nie, maar ook stories en inligting oor die kunstenaars, stalletjies, munisipaliteit en mense van die area.

2011 is ‘n besondere jaar vir die Van Der Walt-familie wat al vir drie generasies aan die hoof van die plattelandse koerantgroep is. Die Somerset East Budget het sy deure in 1886 oopgemaak en deur die jare van krag tot krag gegaan. Huidig verskaf die koerantgroep kontreinuus aan Cradock (Cradock Courant), Middelburg (Middelburg Courant), Somerset-Oos (Somerset Budget), Adelaide en Winterberg (Winterberg Nuus), en Fort Beaufort (Fort Beaufort Advocate).

Riaan (links) en Albert (regs) van der Walt. Albert is die huidige eienaar en redakteur en word bygestaan deur sy seun Riaan.

Die bemarkingspan van die Castle Lager Oos-Kaapse Biltongfees wil graag hiermee hartlik geluk sê aan die Somerset Budget koerantgroep vir die unieke mylpaal en ook baie dankie vir hulle hulp en ondersteuning met die bemarking van die Fees.

A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

The crowd getting ready for the evening's entertainment.

Henk Grimsell and Dr Victor partying up a storm in the Beer Tent.

Eland burgers directly from the grill!

In the early hours of Sunday morning the 21st Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival ended on a very high note - not only on the Castle Lager Gig Rig with Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels, but also in the Beer Tent with Henk Grimsell.

An awesome time was had by all and we hope that if you hanged with us this year in Somerset East that you will be back in 2012. Be sure to check the Biltong Festival website for the announcement of the 2012 Festival date.

Music, good food and loads of friends - celebrating the biltong festival way

Kurt Darren brought the crowd to their feet.

Monique.

Local talent group, Sarafina.

Awesome. There's no better way to describe the first day of the Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival.



The weather played its part and the sun shined brightly throughout the day to create the perfect backdrop for stall browsing, tasting and buying fantastic biltong and of course dancing and singing along to some of South Africa's most loved entertainers.

There is still time for you to join us... so come and hang with us on the 16th.

Kicked off with a bang

Last night, the Mayor of the Blue Crane Route Municipality hosted a cocktail evening for sponsors, organizers and all those involved with the Festival. It was a fun, celebratory evening with speeches, music, hanging with old and new friends, dancing and good food.

In the photos above:
First: Ikwezi Jazz Band.
Second: Some of the attendees - Paul Jordaan, Marette Liddell, Riaan van Jaarsveld, Riaan van der Walt and Sarina Engelbrecht.

There's excitement in the air

The sun is shining and the Boscberg Mountain is looking particularly inviting. Today has been the perfect day for getting everything at the Somerset East Showgrounds ready for the 21st Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival.




And boy are we ready! So pack the family in the car, bring your friends and join us in celebrating biltong and hanging with friends. The gates open at 10:00 tomorrow (Friday, 15th July).

The hills will be alive with the sound of music...PART 2!

The 21^st Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival is +/- 2 days away...and we can’t wait to hang with you at the Somerset East Showgrounds. Perhaps you might be wondering what or who you’ll be hearing on that second day, while you browse through all the stalls, participate in the Scrum-a-Bakkie Competition ...and Mountain Bike Race?

The gates open at 08:00 and from 09:00 you will be treated to a spectacular array of musical talent:

09:00 – 10:00 Music from the Castle Lager Gig Rig

10:00 – 11:00 JoMari Greyling

11:00 – 12:00 Joe F

12:00 – 13:00 Giovanni

13:00 – 14:00 Burger Le Roux

14:00 – 15:00 Lloyd Cele

15:00 – 16:00 Lianie May

16:00 – 17:00 Jay

17:00 – 18:00 Die Campbells

18:00 – 19:00 Liquideep

19:00 – 20:00 Ray Dylan

20:00 – 21:00 Ghapi

21:00 – 22:00 Emo Adams & Band

22:00 – 23:00 Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels

Remember to bring a chair and lots of warm gear to keep the cold air out!

The hills will be alive with the sound of music!

The 21^st Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival is +/- 4 days away...and we can’t wait to hang with you at the Somerset East Showgrounds. Perhaps you might be wondering what or who you’ll be hearing on that first day, while you browse through all the stalls?

The gates open at 10:00 and from 11:00 you will be treated to a spectacular array of musical talent:

11:00 – 13:00 Music from the Castle Lager Gig Rig

13:00 – 15:00 Local Talent

15:00 – 16:00 Monique

16:00 – 17:00 Viljoen Retief

17:00 – 18:00 Armand Hofmeyr

18:00 – 19:00 Christo & Cobus

19:00 – 20:00 Arno Jordaan

20:00 – 21:00 Bobby Van Jaarsveld

21:00 – 22:00 Kurt Darren

22:00 – 23:00 Professor

Remember to bring a chair and lots of warm gear to keep the cold air out!

BILTONG FESTIVAL – EMPOWERING THE COMMUNITY

The Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival is more than just a fun, Proudly South African Festival. It is also used as a vehicle to lend a helping hand to the underprivileged in the Blue Crane Route community. Over the past six years the profits from the Festival Beer Tent, run by the Somerset East Round Table, has been donated to a series of organisations that assist the underprivileged. To date, R150 000 has been donated.

Another way the Festival endeavours to uplift the community is to offer talented individuals from the area the opportunity to perform at the Festival. The final round of auditions saw the following individuals book their place on the Castle Lager Gig Rig:

• Mkhuseli Platyi a.k.a Coolio Hip Hop
• The Four Tenors
• Trevisha Miggels
• WILLIE HOORIES

They will be performing from 13:00 – 15:00 on Friday, 15 July.

On Saturday, 16 July, the following under 18’s get the opportunity to perform in Die Bokjol:

• Iyakhula Traditional Dance Group
• Siyakhula Gumboot Dance
• Ballroom Dance Group
• 2010 Sarafina Dance Group
• Most Wanted
• H30 Hip Hop
• Legacy AKA
• Tyral Miggels

So, come on…come ‘hang’ at the 2011 Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival and experience music, stalls, camaraderie and adventurous activities in the heart of the Karoo. For more information, visit www.eastcapebiltongfestival.co.za

CONGRATULATIONS!

The Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival was recently exhibited in the Greenacres Shopping Centre in Port Elizabeth. The winner of the Lucky Draw that took place at the exhibition stall was: Janine McFadden. She won a Castle Lager Hamper worth R1050. Congratulations!

The Makro Voucher & Castle Lager Hamper Competition winner is Amanda Bodenstein Meissenheimer. Congratulations to both our winners.

ARE YOU BRAVE ENOUGH?

Scrum-a-Bakkie at the Biltong Festival!

At this year’s Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival those that deem themselves brave and strong enough can participate in a unique competition held at the festival grounds.

A heavy duty bakkie will be rolling into town on the 13^th of July and first offer the people of Somerset East the opportunity to test their brawn against the bakkie. The five-person team that can scrum the bakkie the fastest over a certain distance stand a chance of winning Festival tickets or a Castle Lager hamper.

The bakkie will then power its way to the Somerset East festivalgrounds on the 15^th and compete against courageous festivalgoers. Any over 18 individual who buys two beers from the beer tent can participate in a team of five and stand a chance of winning a Weber-braai for him- or herself.

ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN!

We are making it easier for you to win the amazing R2500 MAKRO VOUCHER and R800 CASTLE LAGER HAMPER.

Just send us a message via e-mail with the answer to this easy question: In what town in the Eastern Cape does the annual Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival take place?

You can e-mail your answer to biltongfestival2010@gmail.com with Biltong Festival Competition as the subject.

If you answer correctly, your name will go into a lucky draw that will take place on the 7^th of July 2011.

The winner will be notified via e-mail by 7 July 2011. The decision is final. The prizes will be couriered to your desired destination. The competition is open to over 18 South African citizens only. The winner also agrees to be interviewed and have their name and photograph published. These prizes are not transferable for cash. Terms and conditions apply.

T-Shirt Slogan Competition

What RHYMES with BILTONG and CASTLE LAGER?

We are looking for a quirky t-shirt slogan that a biltong-eating, Castle-drinking person would love. Come up with a slogan that includes the words biltong and Castle Lager and you stand a chance of winning a Makro voucher worth R2500 AND a Castle Lager Hamper worth R800. You will also receive a t-shirt with the winning slogan!

You can enter by clicking here and e-mailing your slogan to us.

Closing date: 30 June 2011.

The winner will be notified via e-mail by 8 July 2011. The judges’ decision is final. The prizes will be couriered to your desired destination. All submissions become the property of the Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival. In the case of multiple submissions of a winning slogan, we will select the winner based on earliest date of submission. The competition is open to over 18 South African citizens only. The winner also agrees to be interviewed and have their name and photograph published. This prize is not transferable for cash. Terms and conditions apply.

Come on…come ‘hang’ with us at the 21^st Castle Lager East Cape Biltong Festival!