Portuguese Party in Port Edward this weekend

PORTUGUESE PARTY IN PORT EDWARD

The Portuguese Mariners Food, Wine and Family Festival is set to take Port Edward by storm when it is hosted by Mac Bananas from July 19-20.

The festival, which has free entry, promises to be a fun-filled event for the entire family and commenced with a “Shipwreck Dinner” on Friday evening at Fazenda’s. Dinner tickets will cost just R150.00 and include a scrumptious Portuguese feast, as well as shipwreck costume accessories such as fish netting and pirates’ headgear.  Fazenda’s will host a seafood buffet throughout the weekend.

For all the food fundis, the Mariners Food Market will be hosted at the Mac Lifestyle Centre Gardens on Saturday and Sunday from 09h00. There will be tantalising Portuguese home-made and take-out food, as well as traditional breads and fresh produce on sale. There will also be a craft market at the Lifestyle Centre.

A highlight of the festival will undoubtedly be the Fazenda’s Portuguese Fish Festival and the Cheese and Fresh Cut Flower Festival on both Saturday and Sunday, and the Three Cellars Wine Festival.

There will be various artists at the Festival, including Izidro Duarte, a freelance illustrator and sculptor, Billy the Skit, a one-man band playing popular, classic pop, reggae, country as well as golden oldies. Popular Portuguese singer Tony Almeida, the Rancho Folkloric Regiões de Portugal and APN Dancers will entertain the crowds with their skills throughout the weekend.

For the fashionistas, there will be a fashion show on Saturday afternoon, and “The Miss Mariner Queen” competition .

Sunday mass will be held at 12h00 at Mariners Monument in Port Edward with visiting dignitaries from the Portuguese embassy.

Additional parking and free shuttle service will be available 800m past Mac Banana’s at the Munster runway.

“This event is one of our key cultural, lifestyle and leisure events along our coastal paradise,” Justin Mackrory, Chief Executive Officer of UGU Tourism South Coast, said. “We envisage that visitors and residents will thoroughly enjoy the interesting meld of activity, cuisine and entertainment within the rich Portuguese culture and its historic links to the lower South Coast.”

“This amazing mix provides an ideal outing opportunity for all ages and families and should not be missed.”

For parents with kiddies, there will be no shortage of entertainment. An animal farm opens daily between 08h00 and 16h00. Entrance into the farm will be free.

Children visiting the farm can also enjoy trampoline jumping, kiddie’s quad rides and pony rides. There will be a butterfly dome at the animal farm. Kids seeking thrills can tackle a bungee jumping tower and a climbing wall. Visitors can also enjoy a game of adventure golf or paintball. All these are at separate costs.

There will also be a treasure hunt taking place on Saturday, 19 July, members of the public can take part by purchasing a flag for R50 at the treasure gazebo. The flags placed closest to the treasure will win prizes which include a 1st prize of a holiday and R5000 spending money, 2nd prize of a holiday prize and R2000 spending money and many more.

Weather-permitting, the event will boast a quad bike trail for thrill-seekers older than sixteen. Bookings need to be done a day in advance with costs ranging between R200.00 and R350.00.

The Banana Tour is a must on the to-do list. It includes a fun banana tour, with a taste of home-made banana bread, banana juice and bananas. Tour prices are R45.00 for adults and R25.00 for kids under twelve. Tours need to be booked a day in advance.

With so many activities crammed into one weekend, there is sure to be something for every member of the family. So be sure not to miss out on this action-packed weekend at the Portuguese Mariners Food, Wine and Family Festival.