While the Free State is struggling to contain a second wave of Covid-19 infections, organisers of the VKB Bieliemieliefees have decided to tentatively postpone the annual festival until the end of May 2021.
Hannelie Cronjé, chairperson of the festival committee, says this does not impact the scheduled Bieliemielie farmers’ days from 11 to 13 February. Attendees, however, will have to adhere to stringent measures in order to contain the spread and impact of the coronavirus.
The Bieliemieliefees annually brings thousands of festival-goers to Reitz. On the line-up for the initial programme was the crème de la crème of Afrikaans music, including Appel, Riana Nel, Early B, Kevin Leo, Mathys Roets and Danie Niehaus.
A revised programme for the May dates will be announced at a later stage, says Cronjé.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused, but we assure you that we’ll make the Bieliemieliefees in May even bigger and better,” she says. The festival’s different categories will be distanced from each other, with organisers planning many new additions to maintain safe social distancing.
Meanwhile festival-goers have taken to social media to express their excitement over the three-day farmers’ days in February. Cronjé says they can look forward to exhibitions by many input suppliers, new technologies for mechanisation as well as cattle auctions.
Event sponsors are furthermore invited to exhibit their promotional material during both the farmers’ days and the Bieliemieliefees at the end of May.
