18 September 2026 – 09:00 to 17:00
19 September 2026 – 09:00 to 17:00
20 September 2026 – 09:00 to 15:00

For 2026 the Vetplantfees will take place at the Calitzdorp Station in Calitzdorp. Just follow the signs. Food vendors on site. 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
* Plant Competition, see the “Best Aloe in Show”
* Botanical art exhibition
* Botanical art sold by artists
* A rare plant auction
* Saturday night dinner, and talk by Jaap Viljoen, one of the world’s experts on Aloe plants.

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. Several new vendors will be added in 2026, selling many more varied plants and pots. Vendors are asked to only sell plants that have been artificially propagated. In other words, there are no plants from the veld.

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 Friday, 18 September 2026 and will be open for business until 15:00 on Sunday, 20 September 2026.

For more information, click here.

Join a hands-on workshops to learn how to successfully learn about succulents, how to propagate them and how to best display them in your garden. Expert growers will help you make sense of some of the difficult names and where these wonderful succulent plants fit on the plant map, how you can grow your own from seed or cuttings and how to use your succulents in your garden. A fee of R150 per person attending will apply for all workshops.

From the list below, choose the workshop you would like to attend during Vetplantfees 2026.

Succulent Plant Propagation
Friday, 18 September 2026 - 12:30
More Info | Book Now

Saturday, 19 September 2026 - 14:00
More Info | Book Now

Living Décor Workshop
Friday, 18 September 2026 - 15:30
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
Veld Walk - Friday, 18 Sept 2026 - 09:00 - To book, click here.
Veld Walk - Friday, 18 Sept 2026 - 11:00 - To book, click here.
Veld Walk - Friday, 18 Sept 2026 - 13:00 - To book, click here.
Veld Walk - Friday, 18 Sept 2026 - 15:00 - To book, click here.
Veld Walk - Friday, 18 Sept 2026 - 17:00 - To book, click here.

Veld Walk - Saturday, 19 Sept 2026 - 09:00 - To book, click here.
Veld Walk - Saturday, 19 Sept 2026 - 11:00 - To book, click here.
Veld Walk - Saturday, 19 Sept 2026 - 13:00 - To book, click here.
Veld Walk - Saturday, 19 Sept 2026 - 15:00 - To book, click here.
Veld Walk - Saturday, 19 Sept 2026 - 17:00 - To book, click here.

Veld Walk - Sunday, 21 Sept 2026 - 09:00 - To book, click here.
Veld Walk - Sunday, 21 Sept 2026 - 11:00 - To book, click here.

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 R200, 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 the Calitzdorp Station.

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

BOOK ONLINE - COMING SOON
To book now, click here. Be sure to select the date and time of your choosing for your walk.

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. Expert Talks are free events and no booking is required. Available seats are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

---

FRIDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER

11:00 - Expert Talk
Dr. Ernst van Jaarsveld and Cornell Beukes
Welwitschia in Angola
Watch and listen to a fantastic recap of a 12-day expedition to Angola in January 2026 to the arid and desert parts of southwestern Angola. Looking at Welwitschia but also several other succulent species along the way with stops at Tundavala, Leba Pass, Quicombe river and Namib.

Attend for free on the day. No booking required.

14:00 – Expert Talk
Dr. Ernst van Jaarsveld and Cornell Beukes
Succulents In Kruger National Park
Several research trips done to the Kruger National Park always doing several hikes within the park with park ranger’s present. Main purpose is to document what succulent species the Park has to offer. A project that started has been in process for several years now.

Attend for free on the day. No booking required.

---

SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER

12:30 – Expert Talk
Buck Hemenway
Aloes of the Klein Karoo
Buck will explore the aloe plants found in the Klein Karoo. See them in their natural habitat, many in flower. Learn where to find them and how to recognize the various species.

Attend for free on the day. No booking required.

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 11:00 on Saturday, 19 September 2026. Attendance is free.

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 prepared and served by the ladies of the Calitzdorp NG Church.

Dinner will be prepared and served by the ladies of the NG Church in Calitzdorp. This dinner is annually regarded as one of the finest served all year in Calitzdorp. Menu will be available soon.

The featured speaker at this year's dinner will be Japp Viljoen, one of South Africa's leading experts on Aloes. Jaap will talk about “Aloes, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

“In planning a talk and presentation on aloes, I was flooded with aloe information in a chaotic manner. As the chaos slowly cleared, I realised that I had the privilege to living through various Aloe cycles or eras, of which some have been very passionate for me and instilled a love for aloes for a period more than 65 years” says Jaap.

Jaap will give a short overview of these Aloe cycles and what can be expected what the future holds for Aloe lovers, collectors and observers.

For more info, click here.
To book, click here.