Bitou Mayor 'gets the party started'

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Singer Pink once sang, "Get the party started". So Bitou Mayor Dave Swart got the festive season festivities officially underway during Plettenberg Bay's annual street party on Friday 16 December.

Not only did Swart declare the season "open" by switching on the town's Christmas lights in Main Street, he also kicked off an evening of entertainment.

Included in this year's line-up were various parades, dancers, music and the cherry on top, "Ouma Sarie" Moses as the master of ceremonies. Residents and visitors flocked to the town centre to be part of the atmosphere.

This was the first of many events lined up for the festive season. Other events locals and visitors can look forward to include the ever-popular carols by candlelight event on Central Beach on Friday 23 December.

Hosted by the Plett Community Church, the event has become very popular among families and usually sees hundreds enjoying the festive music from a camp chair or picnic blanket on the beach. This year, while entrance is free, candles can be bought at the event, which starts at 19:30.

The festive season usually goes hand in hand with over-indulgence, but for this, the coastal holiday town also has a solution.

Sabrina Love Challenge

The 18th Sabrina Love Summer Challenge will once again take place in the private estates of Kurland and neighbouring MTO forests. It will again include various options of trail runs and mountain bike routes through sections of indigenous forest, river crossings, mountain peaks with sweeping views and something for all levels of athletes.

Participants will start and finish at the same location but will head off on their chosen routes, as marked with colour-coded ribbons. It is a self-timed event and at the end of the race participants will load their details onto a leaderboard. Participants only enter once, but can ride or run any of the designated routes as many times as their hearts desire during the event period.

The mountain bike routes will range between 10km and 40km, while the trail runs will range from 6km to 21km. The event period is set to start on 26 December and end on 31 December.

MC "Ouma Sarie" Moses entertaining the crowds during the Plett Streetlight Festival on Friday 16 December.

Other upcoming events

On 27 December, Stanley Island will also once again be home to the annual Float Festival which includes a ferry to the island and a host of entertainment, including a performance by The Kiffness.

On 28 December it will be time for the 34th Trans Agulhas Inflatable Boat Challenge. The challenge starts every year on

28 December at Hobie Beach and delivers a fast-paced, action-packed water sports event with more than 30 inflatable boats battling it out in the waves.

The four-day race will see participants visit beaches along the coast between Nature's Valley and Gordon's Bay where the race will finish on 31 December.

For a more tranquil experience, Plett will be host to the Secret Sunrise movement on 29 December between 06:00 and 08:00 at Wedge Beach.

The movement aims to unite the world through music, movement and connection. Later in the day the Plett Polo Festival will gallop into action on the Baron Field at Kurland Estate at 13:00 where some of the best polo players in the world will battle it out on the field for top honours.

For a complete guide to festive season events, visit www.plett-tourism.co.za.

The Plett Streetlight Festival on Friday 16 December.