SEDGEFIELD NEWS - There is no doubt that the Slow Festival Easter street parade is the highlight and climax of the Sedgefield Slow Festival, which takes place from April 14 to 16.
This year, organisers have an additional highlight and special treat for the crowds who plan to be there: Sedgefield’s newly crowned Miss South Africa, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, will be leading the parade.
The 2017 Slow Festival parade takes place on Sunday, April 16 and will provide another occasion for all to celebrate the true meaning of Easter. There will be men in tutus, spectacular costumes, giant Percheron horses, the Church of Resurrection Brigade Band, the Sedgefield Brewery float, trikes and bikes.
All participants will meet at 12:00 at the Laerskool Sedgefield Primary sports grounds, and the show gets on the road at 13:00 sharp. There will be the official prize-giving ceremony on the village green at 14:20, followed by a special choir and dancing concert ending the Slow Fest 2017 in style.
Organisers encourage local businesses to get creative and join the biggest highlight of the festival as there are some fantastic prizes up for grabs for the top three Best Parade Creations.
As a last-minute and thrilling addition to the Slow Festival this year, festinos will have the amazing opportunity to see internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter Auriol Hays performing live.
As an ambassador for The Living Cornerstone (TLC) in Sedgefield, a public benefit and nonprofit organisation that cares for Alzheimer's sufferers, Hays has agreed to perform at three functions during the festival in a bid to raise awareness and funds for this vital charity.
With multiple accolades, she has sung at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, opening with the Gauteng Big Band at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, Zoo Lake Music Festival, Suidoosterfees, Lusito Land Festival, the Folk and Acoustic festival and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival alongside the Brand New Heavies, Buena Vista Social Club and Jill Scott.
• Thursday, April 13, from 18:30 as part of the official Slow Fest Opening evening.
• Friday, April 14 from 18:00 as part of the Mitchell’s Easter Music Experience.
• Saturday, April 15 from 14:00 to 15:00 as a free TLC Benefit Concert.
“Rather than asking for an entrance fee at the TLC Benefit Concert,” said Hays, “I’d like to appeal to anyone and everyone who comes down to the village green – and by that I mean at any time throughout the festival – to make a donation at the TLC stall.”
Festival organisers anticipate these functions to sell out quickly, so be sure to book early and don’t miss out on this thrilling treat.
Daily
• Village green crafts, food and Mitchell’s Beer Garden
• Young Engineer Workshops
• Movies with the stars
Thursday, April 13
• Barefoot Bowls
Friday, April 14
• Garden Route Fat Bike Challenge
• Magic Mosaic Interactives
• Pili Pili Slow Fest Fun Stand-up Paddle race
Saturday, April 15
• Pick n Pay Goukamma Traverse
• Anything that Floats
• The Amazing Race
• Music Trivia Evening
• Petit Fours delight at Grand Gatsby High Tea
Sunday, April 16
• Sand Sculpting Challenge
• Easter Bunny Beach Dash
Click here for the full events programme, visit their Facebook page or contact event organiser Amanda Dixon on 072-949-3002.
The 2011 Slow Fest Parade being led by the then Miss Slow Fest, now Miss SA, Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters. Photo: Des Scholtz.
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