Tshwane Tourism Association (TTA) is pleased to announce that Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, in collaboration with TTA, is planning the first Menlyn Park Tourism Expo to take place during Tourism Month on 26 – 29 September 2019. This Expo will provide opportunities to promote the many diverse tourism products and attractions in Tshwane.

The Expo, hosted at Menlyn Park, which offers Africa’s most unique and varied shopping experience, will be promoted on multiple outdoor and radio media.

To indicate interest in participating in this exciting opportunity please complete and return the application form before 26 July 2019 as indicated on the form.

From the information above you will see that, as partners in the tourism expo, TTA has been offered a preferential rate for its members for 13 800 incl Vat and 20 700 incl Vat for non TTA members.

Non-members who wish to take advantage of this special rate by joining TTA are welcome to find out more about membership by contacting Liz Oosthuysen, membership@tshwanetourism.com.

If you haven’t heard yet – Le Boat, in collaboration with The Social Mix Events is giving away a boat trip on the Canal du Midi in the South of France. Seven days for six people and an unforgettable experience of beautiful waterways, villages and French countryside. What more could you ask for? Wine and delicious local food? It’s all there, waiting for you along the route.

To win this amazing holiday, scan the QR Code at this link and buy a R50 Lucky Draw ticket with Snapscan. Make sure to fill in your name, cell number and email address. Take a screenshot of your payment and keep it safe. You can enter more than once, but each transaction must be done separately.

Entries close on 27 July at 12:00 and the Lucky Draw will take place on the same day at 15:00 at Market@theSheds in Pretoria.

A Le Boat holiday is the perfect way to travel if you want a relaxing experience that gives you time to soak in the local culture.

As the captain of your own boat, you decide where to stop and what to see. It’s so easy that no boating licence or previous boating experience are required.

Le Boat is Europe’s No. 1 boating holiday company with canal routes in France, England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Germany, Belgium and Holland.

Want to know how to book a Le Boat holiday or hear about special deals? Contact Mareli at TBC Travel on 082 854 6854 or email mareli@thesocialmix.org. Remember to quote the promo code TSM-LB19 when enquiring to get access to special promotions.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing time for the family, a romantic trip as a couple or an active break with friends, Le Boat promises to give you a wonderful holiday to remember.

Appetite Fest, the biggest culinary and entertainment festival that Pretoria has ever seen, returns to Time Square from 13 to 15 September 2019. This year’s three-day Appetite Fest promises to be bigger and better than the inaugural festival in 2018, with an extra day added to give food adventurers more time to explore, as well as more gastronomical experiences and spectacular entertainment. In the cast of culinary artistes already confirmed for Appetite Fest are Gary Mehigan; George Calombaris; Matt Preston and Shannon Bennett of MasterChef Australia. Joining them for this year’s tour to South Africa is the winner of MasterChef Australia 2018, Sashi Cheliah.

“We have extended the Appetite Fest by a day, made it a spring time event and cooked up an array of new experiences that festival-goers are going to love. Amongst these are the ‘Cooking with…’ workshops where food enthusiasts will have the opportunity to actively cook alongside some of South Africa’s celebrity chefs. MasterChef Australia’s charismatic judges will also be hosting Master Classes, giving their fans an opportunity to meet their favourite ‘Aussies’ and watch them in action in the intimate setting,” says Brett Hoppé, the General Manager at Time Square.

Conceptualised by Time Square’s eclectic team of food, beverage and entertainment specialists, Appetite Fest is an exciting platform to explore the tastes, flavours, sights and sounds that make living in South Africa great. The Sun Arena and outdoor areas will once again be transformed into a fairground of inspired food, drinks and entertainment experiences.

In the Sun Arena, a wide range of exhibitors including craft brewers and distillers, artisan food producers, premium drink brands and award-winning wineries will offer a bounty of the country’s finest foods and drinks to test-taste and purchase. Visitors can also watch international and local celebrity chefs show-off their culinary prowess in food theatres and be part of interactive question and answer sessions.

Outside gourmet food trucks they will serve up a diversity of exciting street food, while comedians, DJs and bands will keep visitors entertained in vibrant, authentically South African festival-style. There will also be themed zones for the ladies, guys and kids. For the ladies think craft gin and sushi, and for the guys think bikes and beer. Children will be safe and entertainment in the access controlled, safe and secure Kids Zone with professional and caring child minders. Activities include jumping castles, go-karting, jungle gyms, ball pit, face painting, children’s cooking theatre, coordination games and their very own kid’s food court. For the older crowd, there is Magic Company.

Appetite Fest tickets and experiences are available at Computicket.

Time Square has proudly sponsored the installation of an advanced heat pump water heating system to allow all-year-round swimming for learners at The Glen High School in Menlyn Maine. The heated pool will benefit the learners at The Glen as well as learners from Mamelodi East Pre-Vocational School who attend the developmental swimming programme, sponsored by Time Square, at the school on Saturdays. The heating system, now ready for action, was officially handed over to the school’s Deputy Principal, Sam Manjasha, at The Glen High School on Friday 21 June 2019.

According to Brett Hoppé, the General Manager at Time Square, The Glen High School is one of a handful of public schools in Tshwane that has a pool and swimming coach, Andrew Brummer, wanted to maximize the use of the pool throughout the year by heating it up to allow for winter swimming.

“Obviously this requires a considerable investment and we were excited to help fund the installation of the heat pump system to allow learners to continue their training in the winter months. It is of special interest to Time Square is that the learners from Mamelodi East Pre-Vocational School who are part of the developmental swimming programme are able to continue their lessons throughout the year,” says Hoppé.

The developmental swimming programme, sponsored by Time Square and run by coach Brummer, was introduced in January this year to teach water safety and swimming skills to learners from Mamelodi East Pre-Vocational School who were unable to swim. This project, to enhance water safety, is an extension of Time Square’s ongoing corporate social investment programme which aims to improve the quality of life for people in nearby communities through education, knowledge share and skills development.

The goal is to train 20 learners two swim per quarter, with at least 80 learners completing the programme by the end of the year. The learners are transported from Mamelodi to Menlyn on Saturdays for their lessons with coach Brummer. They are also given a meal and refreshments before heading back home after their lesson.

The dance production AMAWETHU- along with ARTDICTION exhibition and the performance art piece XOVA- joins musicals QINA and ANGOLA: CAMP 13 on the list of works that will be presented by the South African State Theatre at this year’s National Arts Festival in Makhanda.

All productions, except Amawethu, were promoted from the theatre’s Incubator programme- which is a development programme aimed at preparing semi-professional artists for the mainstream industry. The State Theatre prides itself in opening doors of theatre to young people to showcase their talent and tell stories. It remains committed in its project of unleashing young cadres of artists to carry the baton into the future.

Featured in the Main Programme, award-winning musical Angola: Camp 13 written and directed by Sello Maseko celebrates names of struggle veterans that never made it to historical books. This is a story of our people who did not return from the camps. It exposes corruption, greed, betrayal, and sacrifices that took place in the camps. The musical won awards for Best Script, Best Male Performer (Soyiso Ndaba) and Best Stage Manager (late Sibusiso Khwinana) at the Incubator Trade Fair held at The Market Theatre last year. Angola will show at Rhodes Theatre, 01-03 July in Makhanda, before returning to The State Theatre on 10 July to 4 August 2019.

The self-taught smoke artist Anathi Nkanyuza, affectionately known as Elpee, burst the newsfeed with his rare visual art technique when he exhibited at the theatre last year. Using only a candle and paraffin lamp, he applies fire and smoke on paper to turn pieces of colour into something the world has never seen before. His installations feature a series of self-portraits which depict his love for art on how it impacts his life negatively and positively. His exhibition, Artdiction showcases 01-07 July at The Norman Catherine Room in Makhanda.

XOVA, written and directed by Joseph Komani, will star actresses Zimkhita Kumabaca and Zimkhita Nyoka who both lead the cast that will be performing at the NAF from 2 to 6 July in Victoria Theatre. Xova’s festival participation precedes a season run at The State Theatre in August. XOVA- “Ukuxova,” a Xhosa word which means to prepare the dough- is a metaphor for the process of raising a child. The endured hardships of solo parenthood and father absenteeism are brought to stage for examination.

Having completed its three weeks run at The State theatre on Sunday, QINA (Zulu/ Xhosa word meaning ‘be strong’) is geared to showcase in Makhanda, Victoria Theatre, from 2 to 6 July. The musical by Given Wiseman Chauke is based on the depression suffered by the youth in our society today. Backed by afro sounds and thrilling choreography, it delves into stories of young people living in big cities trying to pursue their dreams but struggle to fit in or keep up with the uptown life.

Amawethu tells a human story that seeks to rectify or, rather, to reclaim who we are as a people from our culture and customs – and to correct the distortions that pre-date the African slave trade that led us to believe that African spirituality had a demonic, pagan, uncivilized, barbaric and godless origin. Conceived, choreographed and directed by Luyanda Sidiya, assisted by Phumlani Nyanga, the piece aims to create a system for the black child to appreciate and learn more about who they are. As a revival of sorts, Amawethu seeks to enact the wealth of character long lost in our customs and way of life. Amawethu is at the Great Hall, 05-07 July. Back at State Theatre, it will show from 17 to 28 July.

Nestled in the quaint and charming mining village of Cullinan, just 30 minutes from Pretoria, Cullinan Adventure Zone is home to some of the best adrenaline pumping activities in Gauteng! Adventure Zone offers individuals and companies a wide range of activities to be enjoyed as a fun adventure or as part of a comprehensive team build.

The Amazing Race is one of our best-selling activities for companies or social groups, you experience Cullinan town and hospitality whilst having loads of fun.

If you are a travel agent, tour operator, professional conference organiser, MICE Agent; Corporate Travel and Event Organiser then this is definitely an event not to be missed. Join C and L Travel Collection for an unforgettable day with loads of entertainment and guest speakers.

To receive the invite or to RSVP please email Lyndsey@candltravel.co.za to confirm your attendance.

Date:  21 August 2019
Time:  09:00- 15:30
Venue: Birchwood Hotel & Conference Centre
Cost: R5 700 per table/exhibitor
Bookings: Clair@candltravel.co.za or call 082 732 1785

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See what hot entertainment is on in the city
Africa Associations Congress, 18–20 August 2019, Pretoria
Menlyn Park Tourism Expo, 26–29 September 2019, Pretoria
Gauteng Getaway Show, 4–6 October 2019, Johannesburg