Portuguese party for Port Edward
There is no entry fee for the festival, which promises to be a fun-filled event for the entire family.
THE Portuguese Mariners’ Food, Wine and Family Festival is set to take Port Edward by storm when it is hosted by Mac Bananas this weekend, July 19 and 20.
There is no entry fee for the festival, which promises to be a fun-filled event for the entire family. Festivities get under way with a ‘Shipwreck Dinner’ at Fazenda’s on Friday, July 18. Tickets cost R150 and include a scrumptious Portuguese feast, as well as shipwreck costume accessories such as fish netting and pirates’ headgear. Fazenda’s will host a seafood buffet throughout the weekend.
For food fundis, the Mariners’ Food Market will be hosted at the Mac Lifestyle Centre Gardens on Saturday and Sunday from 9am. There will be tantalising Portuguese home-made and take-away food, as well as traditional breads and fresh produce on sale. There will also be a craft market at the Lifestyle Centre.
A highlight of the festival will undoubtedly be the Fazenda’s Portuguese Fish Festival and the Cheese and Fresh Cut Flower Festival on both Saturday and Sunday, and the Three Cellars Wine Festival.
There will be various artists at the festival, including Izidro Duarte, a freelance illustrator and sculptor, Billy the Skit, a one-man band playing popular, classic pop, reggae, country as well as golden oldies. Popular Portuguese singer Tony Almeida, the Rancho Folkloric Regiões de Portugal and APN Dancers will entertain throughout the weekend.
For the fashionistas, there will be a fashion show on Saturday afternoon, and Miss Mariner Queen beauty pageant.
On Sunday, mass will be celebrated at the Mariners’ Monument in Port Edward at noon. Visiting dignitaries from the Portuguese embassy are expected to attend.
Additional parking and a free shuttle service will be available 800m past Mac Bananas at the Munster runway.
“This event is one of our key cultural, lifestyle and leisure events along our coastal paradise,” said Justin Mackrory, chief executive officer of Ugu Tourism South Coast. “We envisage that visitors and residents will thoroughly enjoy the interesting meld of activity, cuisine and entertainment within the rich Portuguese culture and its historic links to the lower South Coast.”
There will be no shortage of entertainment for children. The animal farm will be open daily between 8am and 4pm and entrance into the farm will be free.
Children visiting the farm can also enjoy trampoline jumping, quad rides and pony rides. There will be a butterfly dome at the animal farm. Children seeking thrills can tackle a bungee jumping tower and a climbing wall. Visitors can also enjoy a game of adventure golf or paintball. All these are at separate costs.
There will also be a treasure hunt taking place on Saturday. Members of the public can take part by purchasing a flag at the treasure gazebo for R50. The flags placed closest to the treasure will win prizes which include a a holiday and R5000 spending money, a holiday and R2000 spending money and many more.
Weather permitting, the event will boast a quad bike trail for thrill-seekers older than 16 years. Bookings need to be done a day in advance with costs ranging between R200 and R350
The Banana Tour is a must on the to-do list. It includes a fun banana tour, with a taste of home-made banana bread, banana juice and bananas. Tour prices are R45 for adults and R25 for children under 12 years. Tours need to be booked a day in advance.
