Dancing planes, dancing cars, dancing people, and free entertainment for all - the Dias Festival 2015 is going to be the highlight of the second half of Mossel Bay’s summer.
“The Dias Festival is an annual celebration of cultural diversity in Mossel Bay that’s coordinated by the Municipality to boost tourism and the economy of the town,” said Mossel Bay’s Municipal Manager, Michele Gratz.
The event - which is themed ‘Where Cultures Meet’ - will take place from 29 January to 1 February, 2015.
 Dr. Gratz said that the theme is appropriate since research into the Middle Stone Age archaeology of the region - centred on the Pinnacle Point Caves - has revealed the earliest evidence for the use of ochre as paint, which puts Mossel Bay as the birthplace of culture.
“By tradition, the Festival kicks off with a cultural evening in the Maritime Museum of the Bartolomeu Dias Museum Complex,” she said.
The evening will feature arts troupes and folk dancers who will appear by courtesy of the Consuls General of Portugal, Indonesia, and the People’s Republic of China. These troupes will also appear on the Festival stage at Santos Caravan Park, and will take part in the street parade on the 31st of January.
The entertainment on the Sound Stage in the Festival Arena at Santos Caravan park will run from Friday to Sunday, with performances by Emo Adams and his band, Take Note, as well as Idols finalists Lloyd Cele, Karin Kortje and Jody Williams, who will be joined by Loyiso Bala, Armand Hofmeyr, Pieter Mohr, Freddie Nest, Gerrie Pretorius, David Fourie, Willem Botha, Ampie du Preez, Monique, Nadine, Michael Lindt, and Snotkop - as well as the Mama Africa Xhosa folk dancers, the Grastrapper riel dancers, and troupes of gumboot dancers.
The programme for Sunday will feature country music and brass bands. Entrance to the Festival Arena will be free of charge.
“Mossel Bay has become a popular destination for aero-sports, and we’re excited that the Western Cape Aerobatics will once again form part of the Festival, and that the country’s premier aerial displays team - the Eqstra Flying Lions Formation Team of Scully Levin, Arnie Meneghelli, Ellis Levin and Sean Thackwray - will be taking part in our annual airshow which will also take place during the Festival,” said Dr. Gratz.
The air show will feature a World War II Mustang P51 fighter-bomber and, if weather permits, the Harvards of the Eqstra Flying Lions will perform a night-flying display over Santos Beach.
“This year the traditional ceremonial arrival of Bartolomeu Dias will take a new twist - he’ll be arriving at the Festival Arena by train, courtesy of the new light rail service, which has proven an incredible hit with the public in the short while since its inception,” said Dr. Gratz.
Dias’ arrival will be accompanied by skydivers flying the flags of the countries participating in the Festival, who will land on Santos Beach - near where Dias himself first set foot on South African shores on 3 February, 1488.
Dr. Gratz said that the Festival will include a motor sport gymkhana, a street parade, a fun walk for dogs (and their humans), and a programme of children’s entertainment - which proved such a hit in 2014, that it’s been expanded for this year.
Food and other stalls, a tea garden, a beer tent, and static displays of new vehicles, vintage cars and tractors will be set up in the shade of the trees at the Festival Arena.
“The festival will also be opened officially Friday, the 30th at the Festival Arena by the Western Cape’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ivan Meyer.”
 “It is a Festival for all, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Mossel Bay,” said Dr. Gratz.
 More information:
Dias Festival: www.mosselbayevents.co.za
Mossel Bay: www.visitmosselbay.co.za