Dullstroom Winter Festival line-up announced

The town's ample shops and eateries offer specials all weekend and fun things to do from whisky tastings, displays at the town's raptor centre, cheese tastings, food markets, and a wide range of arts and crafts activities. It's going to be a weekend of blues, folk and fishing, and participation by the whole village in the Christmas in July theme adds a fun, festive element to the event with many premises going all out with Christmas lights and Christmas décor - so tell the kids to watch out for Santa Claus.

Arno Carstens debut

This year's musical line-up features: Dan Patlansky, who's just released a new album, "Wooden Thoughts", his first acoustic record; folk songbird Laurie Levine; the legendary Arno Carstens; the Radio Kalahari Orkes, fronted by the inimitable Ian Roberts; Matthew Mole, the highly rated young folk music star from Cape Town; a folk rock outfit from Joburg is also on the bill, as well as The Runaway Train Cult.

This year's official music programme takes place over several unique venues. The Cherry Grove Centre Piazza will once again be transformed into a hotbed of world-class blues and folk, while the Dullstroom Grill, The Mayfly, The Dullstroom Inn and Wild About Whisky venues join the musical festivities this year. The newly launched Buddy Bus hop-on hop-off system, will ferry fans across town and between venues, and safely transport them home for only R10 a pop from 9am to 6pm, R20 a pop 6pm to 2am (within a 2km radius). Email the Dullstroom Buddy Bus for single or group out of town shuttle services on az.oc.liamkrow@tropsnartesamokam.

Tickets for the music events are available at www.ticketbreak.co.za and go to www.dullstroomwinterfestival.com for weekend activities, entry forms and more information.