Founded in 1859, Wakkerstroom is the oldest town in Mpumalanga. Its origins arose from the need to find a suitable location to establish a Dutch Reformed Church.

A new event, the Wakkerstroom Music Festival, to be held on March 4 and 5, is born out of the oldest village in Mpumalanga, in the same building, more than a 100 years later.

People will be staying in quaint bed and breakfasts and can spend the weekend wandering from one venue to the next to listen to and see some of the finest local talent.

On Saturday at 11.30am, the 80-voice Mpumalanga Youth Choir will be performing. Just down the road, at the Utaga Mill Room, Gareth Witten, of Cape Town, will be singing some of the best known songs from musicals and operas. From there it’s a short drive to Wetlands Country House & Sheds to listen to Dixieland jazz played by the Pretoria Boys’ High School Dixie Band. Head back to the church grounds for a picnic, where you will be entertained by 1 Medical Battalion Pipe Band. Order your picnic platter from Suikerbekkie Bakery on the Saturday morning (017 730 0077) and collect in the afternoon.

At 7.30pm, join in the main event of the weekend, The Gala Concert, which will be hosted by Mimi Coertse and Weiss Doubell.

The rest of the weekend will include violin, piano, flute, clarinet and cello recitals and Grandi Amici, (Linette van der Merwe, Chris Mostert, Daniel Verster and Deirdre Blignaut with Ferdi Geyer on piano), who will entertain with classical pieces which have been used in movies.

• For more information, visit their website: www.wmfestival.co.za and do either e-mail booking: info@wmfestival.co.za or telephone booking: 078 578 7518.