Riebeek Valley Olive Festival – 1 hour drive from Cape Town
The Annual Riebeek Valley Olive Festival in the Swartland
Once a year, olive and wine lovers alike descend upon the gorgeous Riebeek Valley to celebrate all things olive related.
Nestled beneath the majestic Swartland Mountain range the picturesque towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West come alive each year over the first weekend of May to offer festival goers the opportunity to sample olive products not only from surrounding areas but from afar as well.
From flavoured olives and tapenades to skincare products and preserves the Riebeek Valley Olive Festival showcases the sheer diversity of the olive.
While there are a wide range of olive related products on offer no Western Cape food festival would be complete without the presence of some of the areas well-loved wines as well. The Swartland is well-known for its superb wines and many of these are available for tasting and purchase during the festival. On top of this there are also numerous other delicacies on offer from cured meats and sauces to freshly baked breads and organic foods and various other nearby restaurants & pubs like the Grumpy Grouse which is well worth a visit.
The festival is dotted along a route through the towns of Riebeek Valley and Riebeek West which include the Olive Emporium, a fresh goods market and even an Olive Martini Bar. There is also a marque with live entertainment throughout the day.
Spread across these two valley towns this yearly olive celebration provides visitors with an opportunity to sample some of the area’s finest foods and wines as they take in all the surrounding beauty and rich heritage that the Riebeek Valley has to offer.
Simone Millward