Cradock 200 Events and Celebrations

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]elebrations for Cradock’s 200^th birthday kicked off with the Founding Day Street Parade on 21 January. This was such a success that another might be held towards the end of the year. (Keep updated via this website and the Cradock – Big Sky Karoo facebook page.)

The next big event on the Cradock 200 agenda is the Karoo Food Festival (20 and 22 March).

This will be followed by something this Karoo town has never seen: a Vodacom Cup rugby match between the Southern Kings and the Free State Cheetahs on 29 March. Thanks to this, Cradock’s stadium is receiving some well overdue maintenance. Book early because accommodation is filling up fast.

From 18 – 20 April, there will be a Mayoral Cup Soccer Tournament. More details will be revealed closer to the time.

The Schreiner Karoo Writer’s Festival will be held a month earlier than usual, in July instead of August, so that children can enjoy it too, according to organiser Lisa Antrobus-Ker.

On 24 September, it’s the Neville Alexander Memorial Lecture. The late Neville Alexander, born in Cradock, was one of the town’s celebrated political activists.

The Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon will be held from 9 – 11 October and participants will be making a special fuss of the town’s 200^th founding anniversary.

Cradock’s renowned cricket club, Standard Cricket, will be turning 150 this year and will be holding a special weekend on 14 and 15 November to celebrate.

Here is the full programme of events happening in Cradock this year:

January

19: Thanksgiving Church Services

21: Founding Day Street Parade

February

8 – 9: Cradock Bowls Classic

19 – 22: Tjaart Vorster Tennis Tournament

March

7 – 9:  Karoo High Schools Golf Challenge

20 – 22: Karoo Food Festival

28 – 1 April: Marlow Under 13s Rugby Festival

29: Vodacom Cup – Southern Kings vs Free State Cheetahs

April

12: Elizabeth Jordaan Golf Day

18 – 20: Mayoral Cup Soccer Tournament

May

4: Vintage Car Rally

July

25-27: Schreiner Karoo Writers Festival

 

August

13 – 16: Marilee Moolman Tennis Tournament

September

4-6: EC Veterans Tennis Tournament

24: Neville Alexander Memorial Lecture

October

9-11: Hansa Fish River Canoe Marathon

 

 

31 – 1 September: Cradock Agricultural Show

 

November

1: Tam’s Top 10 High School Athletics

6 – 8: Kwagga Classic Golf Tournament

December

5 – 7: Lion Motorbike Rally

• To enquire about any of the events, email Brian Wilmot at oschreiner@telkomsa.net or Lisa Antrobus-Ker on lisa@tuishuise.co.za.