Constantly thriving to innovate, the organisers have changed the venue, changed the festival opening times, brought back boutique sought-after wine brands, and have included a wide range of SMME lifestyle brands. Think beautiful boutique wines and a wide range of food, décor, art and fashion all within the magnificence of a new venue steeped in history.
Moving the venue after 10 years to the historical Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in the heart of Kliptown, Soweto is a major development, and opens up many possibilities with large spaces, high ceilings and beautiful finishes allowing form and function to flow, seamlessly, in spectacular rhythm. This move is timed to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Freedom Charter in the square.
On Friday and Saturday, opening time is from 6pm to 10pm, and for the first time in history, the festival will open on the Sunday - 2pm to 6pm.
There has also been a major shift in the wine brands exhibiting this year. The festival is focussed on bringing in more sought-after boutique wine estates whose wines are more suited to this market. Boutique wineries also make exceptional varieties for the more discerning palate.
Inviting upmarket food, travel, art, decor and fashion SMMEs to exhibit in the new festival format is to showcase the best creative entrepreneurs in Soweto and South Africa alongside the best boutique wines from the Cape, to the large brand-conscious trend-setting audience that this festival attracts in the thousands.
Hosted by Joburg Tourism, the festival is also launching the Soweto Street Food Experience in collaboration with Gauteng Tourism to showcase the best tastes in the region. There will be an array of carefully selected foods, baked goods, drinks and coffees, and a handful of trendy food trucks, which organisers anticipate will bring new ideas into Soweto, and within the next few months we will see these ideas germinate into more SMMEs.
