Seatavern

BARRYDALE IN BLOOM 2025Join us for a fun and exciting Klein Karoo weekend getaway from 14 to 16 November 2025 during Barrydale’s annual charity fundraising event where the community comes together to showcase its diverse gardens to raise money for Barrydale Hospice.

VENUEThe main festivities take place at Karoolkie Cellar in the center of town. This is where you will find the bustling festival market with local art, crafts, plant and food stalls and the tea garden on Saturday (09:00 till 15:00) and Sunday (09:00 till 13:00). The Karoolkie Guest House on the same property will be the venue for inspiring talks and workshops on Saturday.

COME EARLYExtend your visit to our magical town and attend some of the workshops in the week leading up to the festival! Micelle Berry will inspire with a creative cooking demo, Scott Hart and Tielman de Villiers from Magpie Art Collective will host a workshop series over three afternoons on how to make flowers from recycled plastic bottles and Nicky Michel will guide participants on how to create floral arrangements with fynbos.

Make sure to explore our valley for award winning producers of your favourite tipple – Joubert Tradouw Vineyards, Metanoia Gin, Makers Brew craft beers and Joseph Barry Brandy Distillery will keep your cellar stocked.

GALA DINNERWe start the weekend with our celebratory gala dinner - arrival drinks with gin from Metanoia, followed by a sunset stroll through the medicinal gardens to the enchanting long table between the trees. Mark Fransman and Hilton Schilder, well known jazz musicians, will set the scene for an unforgettable evening.

The vibrant painting of local artist Michelle Berry, In A Field of Fun & Fantasy, will be auctioned during the course of the evening, as well as the watering can sculptures created for the festival.

All proceeds go to Barrydale Hospice.

WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTSBe sure to visit the festival market, pop into inspiring talks and workshops and explore diverse open gardens in Barrydale and Smitsville on Saturday and Sunday. We’ve included hikes and runs that are dog friendly, so bring along your furry friends.

All Saturday talks take place at the Karoolkie Guest House (entry included in Map Booklet price). Our lead speaker for the festival is the internationally acclaimed land artist Strijdom van der Merwe. Make a note to visit the vintage bioscope at The Karoo Art Hotel for a matinee show of the Sculpting This Earth documentary from award-winning director Victor van Aswegen. It is the world’s first feature documentary about land art from the southern hemisphere. Yvette Anderson’s talk on the Art of Burning plants is not to be missed. Listen to Dale Imerman speak on The Nature of AI and Annette Muller explain why Weeds are Vital for these Times.

Make sure not to miss the Cyanotype workshop with Nicole Huke and the Scent & Self workshop by Denise Bierman at the same venue. Purchase tickets for these hands on workshops separately.

On Saturday evening, conclude a happy day of activities with champagne and canapés at Die Langhuis with Gert van de Merwe and Jaco van Rensburg.

A leisurely Sunday brunch will be prepared by foodie Peta-Dawn de Jager on the deck of Kamala Karoo Sanctuary, or choose to attend free specialist talks in various gardens by experts and enthusiasts on subjects ranging from rose – and water wise gardening, to community food gardens and river restoration work.

WEEKEND TICKETThe full weekend ticket of R550 includes the Gala Dinner, the Map Booklet with the programme and map to all the participating gardens, art studios and galleries, as well as entrance to all the talks on Saturday. You may also opt to purchase separate tickets for the dinner at R450 per person, or just the map booklet at R150. You do need the map booklet to see where all the participating gardens are and to attend any or all of the talks.

KIDS PLAY PODA first for the festival is a dedicated children’s area in the gardens with a program of nature inspired activities to keep little minds and hands busy while parents visit gardens or attend talks.

Full program on our website www.barrydaleinbloom.com and see what we are up to on Instagram @barrydaleinbloom.

We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful town!