Durban - It's Women's Day and CraftFest – brought to you by The Independent on Saturday and the Shongweni Farmers and Craft Market – offers a host of activities and crafts that will appeal to women of all ages.
In keeping with the day, gin and cocktails will feature prominently at CraftFest with a number of new faces introducing exciting new products.
The Dollie Gin Company makes an appearance from Nelspruit, introducing delicious flavours, like blueberry and cloves, or rooibos and lemongrass, or even grapefruit and aloe.
The Thirsty Elephant bring its range of spirits and cordials including honey and lemon and ginger to make an array of cocktails and mocktails. All cordials are sold in recycled bottles.
Durban’s Distillery 031 returns with its Durban Dry gin and vodka and the home-made tonic that is the talk of the town. The Gin Co brings its ready-to-drink range of GnT and gin and cranberry. Tapanga Rum, from the North Coast, is back and will offer a range of rum-based cocktails, while Busi Shilembe’s Pretty Drinks will offer a tantalising array of premixed options, and the Midlands Distillery brings its Moonshine Mixers. There’s one called Ouma’s Apple Pie. And don’t miss Lemonlicious which offers a range of natural cooldrinks.
Women into beer can chat to brewer Megan Gemmell whose Clock Work Brewhouse produces a range of classics. New faces include Craig Hulbert’s Nguni Brewery, so called because Nguni cows have unique markings, much like human fingerprints, a philosophy which embodies its passion for creating unique beer.
On the food side there are 16 vendors offering an array of options from vegan to, and this is a first for CraftFest, shisanyama. Thamsanqa Dlamini’s Shisanyama Shandisi will be serving up a delicious array of hot meats cooked over the coals with all the traditional accompaniments.
Authentic Mexican, Spanish, Greek and Turkish food will all be on offer, while the Falafel Fundi and Debbie Rich’s Out to Lunch offer fresh and healthy vegetarian options. Kovan Mudaly of Smokeys and Jaryd Rider of Up in Smoke offer pulled pork and brisket rolls, wings and
ribs.
And there will be plenty to snack on. From candied nuts to two biltong makers to olives on the savoury side, or tuck into pancakes, or waffle cones, or get a taste of Koeksister Queen Marie de Lange’s sticky creations.
See also:
#CraftFest: Get ready for the Women's Day special
The kids will have plenty to do. There’s face and henna painting ,jumping castles and disco balls. There’s a merry-go-round and mini-tractor rides, while older kids can slug it out in the paintball gaming zone.
Families can relax to the chilled vibes of acoustic duo, Qadasi and Maqhinga, who are on a quest to revive the powerful sounds of traditional maskandi music. They’re recently back from an overseas tour and looking forward to reconnecting with South African fans. Also in the lineup are singer-songwriter duo Bad Peter and Black Whisky from northern KZN.
- Save the date: It’s August 9 at the Shongweni Farmers and Craft Market from 10am to 4pm. Tickets R100 from Quicket or R120 on the day. See our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CraftFestIOS