During this year,
De Aar will be celebrating its Centenary and is determined to use the opportunity to
establish itself as a tourist attraction and promote economic development in order to
ensure a bright future for its residents.
The Centenary
celebrations will take place throughout the year to afford all sectors of the community
such as schools, clubs and organizations the opportunity. The celebrations will reach its
climax during the week of 7 – 12 October 2002.
Activities
such as beer, food and wine festivals, floral festival, guest artists, sporting events, a
fashion show covering 100 years of fashion, farming related events such as sheep shearing
competitions and sheep dog demonstrations will take place. On 12 October an attempt will
be made on a world record in the Guinness Book of Records, by our local darts clubs.
Cultural
activities to be held at the Kino150 film theatre will include cultural dancers, a high
school drama group, as well as a classical music event. An evening of stargazing is
planned, in the company of a well-known poet.
There
will also be a nature conservation display concentrating on birds, at the local library
Gumbo dancers
and the SAPS dog unit display are some other events taking place, and local and National
storytellers will do their bit in a historical church in town.
Alvin
Bruinders (Vetkoekpaleis) is organizing our entertainment, which should be a major draw
card. Jannie de Bruin (ventriloquist) will be performing on Saturday, and well known
artist Juanita du Plessis of Skarumba fame, will be performing on Saturday evening.
We are in the
process of negotiating with Spoornet about a steam train from Kimberley to De Aar.
De Aar’s own Rickshaw
will be in action as well as the Karoo taxi’s (donkey carts) to be used as transport.
There will be
a great variety of entertainment for children, including a street mile and cycle race.
20 Para
gliders from all over South Africa will also compete locally.
Our local
singers and dancers will also be present and used as fillers in the programme.
A large
number of stalls are expected, including international food stalls serving traditional
dishes as a focal point. Residents of De Aar who originate from the following countries
will participate – Cuba, Portugal, Brazil, India, China and Xhosas. South Africans
will offer traditional fare such as sheep’s head, offal, “skilpadjies” etc.
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October
2002
