Spier Festival of White Lights

Just more than a week ago Marc and I both heard about this event on the radio at the same time - and it just appealed to us: some kind of procession of art and dance across Spier Estate lead by an "angel of light".... So we decided to make an evening out of it and get the benefit of the lovely summer evenings in Stellenbosch for a change. I have been wanting to try out the restaurant on a wine estate just outside town for some time now, and this seemed like the perfect excuse.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day! The farm is really exquisite and just lends itself to overindulgence!

The entrance onto the estate




The grounds leading up to the restaurant



The view from the terrace is spectacular - making us linger and spend way too much money!




The food speaks for itself - tapas style, and MOST delish!



After our wonderful meal, we went off to Spier to find out what this festival is all about - I must say they are incredibly organised! We were given some info at the greet table, as well as a card on which we had to write a good-will message that will be tied to our balloons later (?). We were given directions to a lovely spot on the estate near the river, from which the procession will start. I must apologise though - I have forgotten a bit that I am now a professional blogger (heheheh!) and did not take the proper camera, so had to make do with the cellphone.


The event started getting life when an African group began singing with some drums. Once it started getting slightly dark, the angel appeared! I don't know how long it must have taken him to get into this contraption, but it looked really cool!



After a brief stroll (behind singers and angel) along a path that had the most gorgeous hand-made lamps lighting it up all the way, we came to a spot where we were all handed a balloon. At first we could not figure out why they all looked so luminous, until we saw that every balloon had a small LED light inside - it looked awesome!




Next stop was a dance piece - unfortunately pics did not come out... It was an abstract piece with some physical theater to very powerful music. After that the walk went to the tree... this huge contraption built out of gas piping that they lit on fire - (with fire-fighters on stand-by!). Last stop was a group of fire-dancers, after which all were told to let their balloons go (with messages tied to them) into the night sky. The white balloons with lights inside looked just like little stars.


A perfect evening ended with a glass of wine on one of Spier's terraces. I really wish I could give you a better visual idea of the whole event - promise to never forget camera again!