This year’s 2024 Kalfiefees Hermanus Arts Festival includes Women’s Day on 9 August, 2024. The event runs from Thursday, 1 August to Sunday 11 August, 2024.
The 2024 Kalfiefees program is packed with performances by world class artists from all over South Africa. Festivalgoers can as always look forward to satisfying many preferences – including drama and comedy, to music, dance, children’s theatre, book discussions, art and lifestyle.
Every year this festival attracts prominent artists, and this year is no exception, from legendary icons to the best of South Africa’s rising new stars: Sandra Prinsloo, Tobie Cronjé, Deon Meyer, Elzabé Zietsman, Neil Sandilands, Frazer Barry, Lyntjie Jaars, Schalk Joubert, Jak de Priester, Amanda Strydom, Jannie du Toit, Daniel Anderson, Mel die storieverteller, Lara Hattingh, Jeremeo le Cordeur, Dean Smith, Ignatius van Heerden, and more.
For the whole community
The 24th Kalfiefees supports various community projects in the Overstrand. In 2024 they look forward to an even bigger involvement. In this manner love for the arts may be nourished and future artists and audiences be developed.
Since 2023 StoryTeam and The Cave Theatre at the Old Harbour-museum in Hermanus have been creating a space for young actors to develop their skills. This year, profits from ticket sales will be used to further improve this creative space and develop more talent.
Local schools will be given the opportunity by the Kalfiefees to present their own productions, so that children and students may perform professionally.
This year the school productions Skaakmat and (Oor)Vloed will be presented, with Creative Space Hawston, the Catapult Foundation and Pierre & Pauli Productions, as well as Star Search Overstrand.
All proceeds from book presentations will support a project in Zwelihle and Mount Pleasant where volunteers read to children on a weekly basis. A school bag and stationary drive for needy grade 1 learners is also supported, which makes a huge difference at the start of each school year.
Book discussions
What is an arts festival without literary conversations? Ten engagements with our most popular Afrikaans authors promise to ignite a lot of interest. This will take place at the Hermanus library.
Some of the authors included are Deon Meyer, Jak de Priester, Amore Bekker, Sidney Gilroy, Rudie van Rensburg, Riku Lätti, Ilse Verster and Charmaine Africa.
Children’s theatre
Zoeki & Toeks, Poplap die lappop, Die Keiser Se Nuwe Klere, Land of Grey and Princess With the Dragon-heart will be entertaining the children.
Visual art
Get ready for a special experience at the Kalfiefees art exhibition. An exceptional group of artists from the Overberg will be exhibiting their work at Hermanus’ new harbour, at the old Lusitania building (Multi-Purpose Centre).
Graphic designers, engineers and pharmacists-turned-artists will have their work on sale, including photographs and handwork like ceramics and jewellery. Everyone will work together to make Hermanus one of the art meccas of South Africa.
Lifestyle workshops
Visitors to this year’s Kalfiefees will be able to partake in a great variation of workshops. Bring a friend and create something beautiful with your own hands.
At De Pottebakker one can look forward to the creation of porcelain earrings, clay pots, botanical fossil tiles and house number tiles.
At the arts department there will be workshops for water colour, blueprinting, charcoal sketching, mixed media and abstract art. Neurography, social media for artists, jewellery workshop, hat-/tekkie-/denim-bedazzlement and the creation of biscuits with a nautical theme will also be on offer.
Classic films
This year we will be presenting classic South African films, like Fiela se Kind, Paljas, The Gods must be crazy and Die Storie van Klara Viljee and many more at the popular antique shop, Romantiques’ film theatre.
Photography program
Photography enthusiasts can look forward to the photography exhibition in the Auditorium banquet hall. Various workshops will be offered for street photography, sand, sea and surf and historical statues of Hermanus.
Health and wellness
Yoga, drumming circles for adults, self-help classes, dance and many more will be offered as part of the Health and Wellness program during the Kalfiefees. This will take place at the Wholeness Haven, Kwaaiwater in Hermanus.
Kalfiefees is chill-time in Hermanus
The name Kalfiefees was created to indicate the time of the year when whales come to Walker Bay to give birth to their calves. Apart from the festival’s varying offer of theatre, music, art and lifestyle, the Overstrand offers an exceptional choice in restaurants and wine farms, as well as activities like walking trails. Book now for all accommodation during the Kalfiefees from 1 to 11 Augustus 2024.
What: 2024 Kalfiefees Hermanus Arts Festival
Contact: admin@kalfiefees.co.za, +27 61 520 9041
WS