The VOC Summer Festival, inspired by the energy of Cape Town’s festive season, returns this weekend from 1 – 4 December at Vygieskraal stadium in Athlone. Hosted by VOC and its structures, the festival will bring together thousands of revellers and die-hard VOC listeners, for a weekend of food, family and fun.

Festival organisers say they are on track with the logistical arrangements for the event, which is expected to draw between 20 000 and 30 000 people over the weekend. The countdown to the event kicks off on Thursday evening on a spiritual note with a mass thikr from 8pm to 10pm, which is open to the public at no charge.

On Friday, VOC’s entire operation moves to the festival grounds with all shows broadcasting from the venue after Jumuah. Friday night will see the official opening of the festival, as well as the crowd favourite, a soccer match in which VOC staffers take on the Cape ulema.

Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers will be able to relax to the sounds of Cape Town’s popular musical and nasheed talent at the main stage, with some traditional music inside the popular tea-garden, home to best of local and homemade savouries, cakes and coffee. Some of acts include Waasief Piekaan, Happy Boys, Protégé, Golden Strings, Mahmood ‘Tolla vannie Kaap’ and Adiel Dante.

The tea-garden will also be the centre of all activity on Sunday morning for the annual VOC Breakfast 2016, which will see staff roped in to cook a mean breakfast for VOC listeners. This year’s theme is called “For Old Times Sake’ and costs R120 per person. All ticket holders will be entered into a lucky draw and a stand a chance of winning a trip for two to Turkey, sponsored by Legend Tours.

For the younger generation, there is the colour and adrenalin rush of rides in the theme-park, and for little children, the excitement of the annual VOC Kiddies Party, which takes place on Saturday morning.

Sports enthusiasts can expect a stellar line-up of sporting events from 7-a side soccer, touch rugby and netball to the first ever Mini Olympics, which will put ordinary Capetonians to through their paces. This event was open to the public and more than 300 people entered. Teams must consist of 4-6 players.

The Mini Olympics activities include: sack race, skipping challenge, squat challenge, wheelbarrow race, speed walking, relay running, Tug-O-War rope challenge, Hula Hoop challenge and Zumba. The Mini-Olympics winners will get a weekend getaway for six at the luxury Slanghoek villa, courtesy of ATKV Goudini Spa or a prize sponsored by Buco Hardware. Other sponsors are Live Free Academy and Peninsula Beverages.

Shoppers who are already in the festive season spending frenzy can treat themselves to the myriad of shopping stalls with the latest in fashion, scarves, jewellery, toys and shoes. For those with every culinary craving possible, festival-goers will be spoilt for choice with the best of local food entrepreneurs and take-aways.

Festival-goers will also find the exhibition marquee with the best of local products and services on display. The exhibition is also the perfect platform for local entrepreneurs to market their businesses and there will be spot prizes and lucky draws at the marquee.

Tickets cost R20 for adults, R12 for kids under 12 and R12 for pensioners.There are loads of vouchers and prizes up for grabs all weekend.

The festival is sponsored by the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Government, Peninsula Beverages, Market Toyota Athlone, Mukhtar Hiring Services, and ATKV Goudini Spa.

Remember to post all your pics from the festival on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #vocfest16

A brief schedule of the weekend’s events:
Thursday 1 December
8pm to 10 pm –Thikr open to the community
Friday 2 December
3pm – SSS sports events (including 7-a-side soccer; touch rugby and netball featuring 20 schools across the peninsula)
6pm – VOC invitational soccer team versus the Cape Town legends
8pm – Official festival opening
9.15pm – Ulema versus Legends Professional soccer match
10pm – Main stage entertainment; teagarden entertainment

Saturday 2 December
9am – Kiddies Party (by invitation only)
9am – 6pm Track and Field sports and Mini Olympics
9am – 6pm Soccer tournaments
1pm – Tea garden entertainment
6pm – Main stage entertainment

Sunday 3 December
8am – VOC Breakfast (pre-booked tickets only)
9am – Mini Olympics finals
9am – SSS tournaments quarterfinals, semi-finals and finals
3pm – Trophy prize giving on main stage
5pm – Entertainment
7pm – Official closing ceremony