People keep asking me what’s so special about Riebeek-Kasteel. Well, for a starter the small town is nestled in the Riebeek Valley, which is home to some very well known wine farms. Its location means you don’t have to travel far to feel miles away from anything you know. Perhaps it’s the quaint architecture and narrow roads that transport you a few decades back. Or it could just be that it’s home to the annual Riebeek Valley Olive Festival. Now there’s something special.
At festival time, the town is jam packed with olive lovers from all over the country. Accommodation is so tight that you can’t squeeze in a mouse, so it’s best to make plans and book well in advance to avoid missing out on one of the town’s cosy B&Bs. The event used to be on one day over the weekend, but due to an increase in popularity over the years, it’s now held from a Friday to Sunday.
Riebeek-Kasteel is about an hour away from Cape Town and is situated near Malmesbury off the N7 highway. The town is relatively small, which makes it easy to walk between the different stalls, events and bars. Not only has the town cordoned off some of its roads, but most of the restaurants and hotels have opened their doors to allow people to come and go as they please. Such is the relaxed atmosphere of the town, that one feels obliged to say thank you to every host without even having eaten anything.
The festival gives other enthusiasts a reason to come out and show off their labours. Vendors of all types line the roads, including clock makers, framers, artists, carpenters, food artisans and more. But olives, wine and cheese are the real reasons people come for the weekend. It’s hard to imagine many uses for the common olive, but the folk in Riebeek-Kasteel seem to come up with all sorts of variations and ways to eat them. Visitors sample olive concoctions such as chili pickle, sweet balsamic, garlic and lime, to name but a few.
Each year the event gets bigger and better, with more farms and sponsors joining in the fun. If you weren’t there in 2010, don’t miss the next festival in April or May 2011!
