First Karoo Handmade Festival

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NIEU-BETHESDA NEWS - Come and experience the finest craftsmanship at the very first Karoo Handmade Festival where some of the most talented craftspeople will present their outstanding examples of modern-day artisanship.

The Oude Pastorie in Nieu-Bethesda has partnered with SA’s premier artisan market platform, KAMERS Makers, to create the new Karoo Handmade concept - an event that will feature all that is inventive, creative, beautiful and delicious.

This 3-day outdoor artisan market showcases some of the finest artisans in fashion, food, home goods, painting, and visual arts and will take place from Friday 3 December to Sunday 5 December in Nieu-Bethesda.

One of the organisers, Albert van Schalkwyk, says "there is a gap in the heart of South Africa … a space that is crying out for a celebration of all that makes us who we are: creativity, resourcefulness, hospitality and the ‘making a plan’ for which all our people are rightly renowned, for a truly South African ‘roots’ festival of all that is pure, simple, carefully crafted and just, genuine."

"The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the demise of SA’s platteland’ festivals: the KKNK, OppiKoppi, the Grahamstown Arts Festival are all gone which is why we feel that Karoo Handmade is such a timely and inspired concept - a celebration of the creative heart of our country in the actual heart of our country – beautiful, bohemian Nieu-Bethesda.

The first Karoo Handmade will fill the Oude Pastorie’s beautiful gardens with colour and creativity, just in time for your Christmas shopping; from Riebeck Kasteel to Cape Town, Stellenbosch to Gqeberha, Graaff-Reinet to Nieu Bethesda, dozens of SA’s finest Makers, will be in residence - selling everything from woman’s and baby’s fashion, footwear and beauty, jewellery, furniture and décor, ceramics and art, food from the traditional jaffles, roosterkoek en pancake to amazing Wagu beef and charcuterie and superb wine from some of the finest wine farms.

So come and sample SA’s finest crafts and design in Nieu Bethesda – a mecca for artists and artisans - and just drink in the peace and purity and discover one of the country’s most special places.