Litchi lovers, prepare to get your sweet tooth satisfied at the Litchi Festival

The annual litchi picking festival is back for its 15th edition this year, and promises to be better than ever with a crop ripe for the picking.

The festival will run from December 16 until the litchis run out, which generally takes about 2 weeks. 

Co-owner Heidie Smith is expecting a large turn out, if the last few years are anything to go by.

“We are expecting good weather and lots of feet through the door, so be sure to come early to ensure you are not disappointed.”

The orchard where the picking happens is huge, and pickers will not find it hard to social distance as they cover the entire area in search of the perfect tree. 

More formal Covid-19 measures are also in place, and sanitization stations and temperature checks are mandatory.

The orchard will be split into four sections so that crowd numbers can be controlled to make sure all guests are kept safe.

“The virus is still ongoing, so we have made sure that our number one priority is keeping everyone safe,” she said.

Tickets are R150 per person at the door (cash only), and this comes with a bucket to keep everything that you pick during the day. 

This equates to 1.6kgs of litchis, and you can eat as many of the fruit as you like while in the orchard. 

Toddlers aged 3 and under get in for R50, but they do not get a bucket. 

No cooler boxes and bags are allowed and there will be Halaal food and beverages available.

You cannot book for the festival, except on December 26, and it is a case of first come, first served. 

Doors are open daily from 9am – 3pm, except on December 24 from 9am-12pm and the festival is closed on Christmas Day. 

You can find the Orchard on Sheffield Beach road, just past Flag Animal Farm if you are coming from Salt Rock, signage will be up during the event.

For more information, visit the Litchi Festival Facebook page.