IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Vetplantfees (Succulent Festival) is an annual festival hosted by the Calitzdorp Succulent Society to showcase of many of South Africa’s beautiful and rare succulents together with succulents from all over the world.

This third annual festival will take place on 21 and 22 September 2019 in the centre of Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo, a region where many of the succulents, endemic to South Africa, can be seen in its natural environment. Succulent enthusiasts who visit Calitzdorp during the festival will be able to immerse themselves in a range of activities to discover the world of succulents.

Whether you live in Calitzdorp, Cape Town, George or Johannesburg you will see indigenous and rare succulents in their natural habitat, buy specimens not available in nurseries and get advice on how to propagate, grow and care for succulents in the garden.
21 September 2019 – 09:00 to 18:00
22 September 2019 – 09:00 to 17:00

23 & 24 September 2019 Full day hikes in the veld led by Cape Nature certified guides. See the appropriate section of this website for details.
For 2019 the Vetplantfees will take place in downtown Calitzdorp. Just follow the signs. Food vendors on site and restaurants within meters of the venue. Plan to spend the whole weekend with us.

Find it on Google, click here.
The festival will include:
* Veld Walks led by local guides
* A potted plant market hosted by growers
* Educational talks by succulent experts
* “How To” workshops
* Original plant pots for sale
* Succulent plant exhibition
* Botanical art exhibition
* Botanical art sold by artists
* A rare plant auction
* Activities for children
* Saturday night dinner, featuring the movie premiere of “Survival of the Fattest”
Admission to the festival is free.

Selected activities, including Veld Walks, Workshops and Special Events will be charged for.

More information on the specific activities, the costs for each and how to book visit the individual links for each.
Thousands of rare and indigenous potted succulents will be on sale during the festival. Many of the finest growers of succulent plants in South Africa are in attendance with huge varieties of plants for sale.

Festivalgoers must take note that plants will be available on a first-come first-buy basis.

The plant sale will start at 09:00 on Saturday, 21 September 2019 and will be open for business until 17:00 on Sunday, 22 September 2019.
Join a hands-on workshops to learn how to successfully grow succulents in your own garden or in containers. Expert growers will teach you how to prepare the soil in your garden or pots, how to propagate plants from seed or cuttings and how to take care of the succulents you buy, plant or seed. A fee of R50 per person attending will apply for all workshops.

From the list below, choose the workshop you would like to attend during Vetplantfees 2019

Container Gardening with Succulents
Saturday 21 September – 12:00
More Info | Book Now

Succulent Plant Propagation
Saturday 21 September – 14:00
More Info | Book Now

Container Gardening with Succulents
Sunday 22 September – 12:00
More Info | Book Now

Succulent Bonsai for Beginners
Sunday 22 September -14:00
More Info | Book Now
Trained Cape Nature guides will escort small groups of enthusiasts on a 90-minute walk to Calitzdorp’s famous Jakkalskop where dozens of succulent plant varieties will be in flower. It is an experience not to be missed and have proven to be very popular with festivalgoers.

DATES & TIMES
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 21 Sept 2019 – 09:00 – Book
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 21 Sept 2019 – 11:00 – Book
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 21 Sept 2019 – 13:00 – Book
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 21 Sept 2019 – 15:00 – Book
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 21 Sept 2019 – 17:00 – Book
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 22 Sept 2019 – 09:00 – Book
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 22 Sept 2019 – 11:00 – Book
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 22 Sept 2019 – 13:00 – Book
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 22 Sept 2019 – 15:00 – Book
Vetplantfees – Veld Walk – 22 Sept 2019 – 17:00 – Book


BOOKING & PAYMENT
Booking and payment are essential as only 8 persons will be accommodated on each of the scheduled walks. The fee to join each walk is R150, payable in advance and non-refundable on cancellation.

WHERE TO MEET
Each walk will depart daily at the appointed time from the main festival paypoint at 10 Geyser Street, Calitzdorp.

IMPORTANT
Participants should wear shoes suitable for walking in the veld and bring water, a hat and sun protection.

Be sure to participate in this event which is unique to Calitzdorp. Plants, artwork and other special items will be auctioned to the highest bidder.

Attendees will find the most beautiful and rare of succulent plants and art work. This is a special opportunity for succulent plant collectors to acquire mature and sometimes very rare plants. Items will be sold to the highest bidder with reserve on some.

The vendors and artists at the Succulent Fees will contribute to the Rare Plant Auction. This event will be memorable in all respects.

The auction will be held at 15:30 on Sunday, 22 September 2019. Attendance is free.

Not to be missed is the range of free talks by plant experts on each day of the festival. Attendees will gain insights into the key issues pre-occupying scientist and experts working in the field.

A full schedule of talks will be made available soon. Expert Talks are free events and no booking is required. Available seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
SATURDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER
11:00 – Expert Talk – Exploring Nature – Looking with New Eyes
Louis Jordaan – Calitzdorp NG Church Hall
>> More Info.

13:00 – Expert Talk – Exploring Namaqualand For Succulents
Mike Spies – Calitzdorp NG Church Hall
>> More Info.


SUNDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER
11:00 – Expert Talk – Book Launch – Secrets of Namaqualand Succulents
Florent Grenier – Calitzdorp NG Church Hall
>> More Info.

13:00 – Expert Talk – Exploring South African Succulents
Dr. Ernst van Jaarsveld – Calitzdorp NG Church Hall
>> More Info.


This is a “must attend” event during the Calitzdorp Succulent Festival. You will have the chance to meet and mix with succulent experts from all over South Africa, enjoy a wonderful dinner and be the first to see “Survival of the Fattest, a brand new documentary about succulents from reknowned documentary film maker, Neil Curry.

For more information, click here.
To book, click here.
Some of the most talented and respected South African botanical artist will be represented at the 2019 Vetplantfees. Many of these artist will offer works for sale during the festival. The artist will include, Wilna Eloff, Gerhard Marx, Janet Snyman and Marinda Combrinck. To discover these artist, click on the links below.

Wilna Eloff – Click to discover
Gerhard Marx – Click to discover
Janet Snyman – Click to discover
Marinda Combrinck – Click to discover
This truly unique opportunity is ideally suited for the serious succulent enthusiast and comprise of two full day hikes offered by local succulent expert and guide, Kevin Koen. The hikes will be offered on the Monday and Tuesday following the Vetplantfees and will provide participants with access to the unique succulent diversity and spectacular landscape of Swartkop and the Rietvalley.

Spaces are limited and booking is essential. For more information and to book, click on the links below.

Rietvalley Succulent Hike
Monday, 23 September – 07:00 (Estimated duration: 8 hours)
More Info | Book Now

Swartkop Succulent Hike
Tuesday, 24 September – 07:00 (Estimated duration: 6 hours)
More Info | Book Now

More Fun in Calitzdorp during Vetplantfees

Friday 20 September (18:30)
Special Succulent Dinner at De Krans Winery Bistro, for menu and booking information, click here.

Saturday & Sunday (21 & 22 September)
Wine tasting in the cellar & Pop Up On the Patio! Winemaker in attendance! All day tapas, light meals & selected wine on our Farmhouse Stoep from 11h00 to 15h30. Come relax after the succulent rush hour! Booking preferable but not essential. Call 083 676 3000 to gives us a heads up! Check our Facebook page, click here.

Saturday 21 September (18:30)
Vetplantfees annual dinner and Movie Premiere. For menus, details and booking information, click here.

Saturday & Sunday (21 & 22 September)
Saturday and Sunday food and wine and activities at Boplaas Winery. For details, click here.

SCHEDULED EVENTS

SATURDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER


09:00 — 17:00
Plant & Art Exhibition, Vendor Sales,
Children’s Activities, Food Vendors

09:00 – Veld Walk*
11:00 – Expert Talk
11:00 – Veld Walk*
12:00 – Container Gardening Workshop*
13:00 – Expert Talk
13:00 – Veld Walk*
14:00 – Succulent Propagation Workshop*
15:00 – Veld Walk*
17:00 – Veld Walk*
18:00 – Dinner & Movie Premiere*

* Fees apply. Advance booking required.

SUNDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER


09:00 — 17:00
Plant & Art Exhibition, Vendor Sales,
Children’s Activities, Food Vendors

09:00 – Veld Walk*
11:00 – Expert Talk
11:00 – Veld Walk*
12:00 – Container Gardening Workshop*
13:00 – Expert Talk
13:00 – Veld Walk*
14:00 – Succulent Bonsai Workshop
15:00 – Veld Walk*
15:30 – Rare Plant Auction
17:00 – Veld Walk*
17:00 – All Booths & Exhibits Close

* Fees apply. Advance booking required.

MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER


Rietvalley Succulent Hike
More Info | Book Now

TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER


Swartkop Succulent Hike
More Info | Book Now