Thrilling family fun at Lebombo Festival

KOMATIPOORT - Performances by artists like Steve Hofmeyr and Dirk van der Westhuizen were the highlights of this year’s Lebombo Festival and drew hundreds of people to the showgrounds on Friday and Saturday.

The festival was off to a sociable start on Friday afternoon, as the local branch of the VLU treated the community’s elderly to a scrumptious lunch. Mnr and Mej Komati, Tian du Pont and Tanja Theunissen, handed out gift packs and were rewarded with bright smiles and friendly chatter.

Stalls sold everything from leather shoes and mini doughnuts to stir-fry and jewellery. Several enterprising stallholders wandered through the showgrounds to hawk their wares.

SARS Customs’ K9 Unit was on duty throughout the festival and demonstrated how its animals are trained to find narcotics. At its stall in the hall, a variety of illicit goods that it has confiscated were displayed and people could enquire about the work.

The conservation demonstrations by Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and Paws and Crawls proved popular once again.

Parents and children queued to snap photos with a cheetah and bird of prey from Hoedspruit.

Children squealed on carnival rides, had fun at the Submerge kiddies tent or sang and danced with the Submerge team and Juda the Lion or Lollos and Lettie.

Festivalgoers could leave their hand- or footprints on a piece of cloth and make a donation to aid Bible distribution in the area or drop off a handbag filled with toiletries for needy women.

Local singers like Philip Nel, Chimoné Kok, Sanet van Greunen, Candy Benson and bands like Backstage and Perspektief warmed up the crowd or entertained them late at night.

On Friday evening, Hofmeyr had the crowd singing along to hits from throughout his career, ranging from “Agter Elke Man” to “Die Land”.

On Saturday morning Inyoni Boerdery won the banana bunch competition with its winning entry of 87,9 kilograms. It’s also won the trophy for heaviest three entries at 251,95 kilograms. Crookes Brothers came second with their heaviest entry of 84,35 kilograms and total entry of

243,7 kilograms. Welgelegen was third with its three top entries weighing 219,6 kilograms.

The evening’s stage programme included great entertainment by Martin Bester and Ampie, as well as a surprise performance by Arno Jordaan.

The crowd also went wild for Van der Westhuizen, who handed out a few hugs to audience members and closed the festival’s official proceedings.

Photos: Cloudet van Niekerk. Arno Jordaan surprised the crowd with a performance on Saturday evening.

Inge Theunissen, Charlése van Staden, Corbin Visagie and Anrike Nel. Ria and Johan Prinsloo, Nick and Annetjie and Marius Krugel.

Armand Hofmeyr joined his dad, Steve, on stage to perform “Pa en Seun”.

Susan and Willie Nel with Magda Stronkhorst, Tian du Pont (Mnr Komati) and Tanja Theunissen (Mej Komati).

Sampie Wannenburg tempted passers-by with his delicious braai smells.

Mariaan Viljoen and Debbie Jooste of Impala Meat Palace kept the munchies at bay with their meat products.

Sibusiso Makamu and Markus de Beer were on duty behind the bar.