Swartland Olive Festival is back & even better

Olives, cheese, wine, putt-putt, market, Springbok rugby & more

Last updated: Monday, 1 September 2025

The much-loved Swartland Olive Festival is back for the first time since 2019, and it’s not just about olives and wine. Riebeek-Kasteel will be a hub of activity with demonstrations from celebrity chefs, a market, olive putt-putt (where you play with olives instead of golf balls), a kids zone, and a rugby fan park.

Here are 12 things to know about the new and improved Swartland Olive Festival, happening from Saturday, 27 to Sunday, 28 September 2025.

The Swartland Olive Festival is back after six years. Image: Swartland Olive Festival

1. BEST OLIVES & OLIVE OILS IN SA

Instead of being spread out across different olive farms, the Western Cape’s top olive producers will gather at the Riebeek-Kasteel town square.

We're talking about olives, olive oils, and wines from Kloovenburg Wine & Olive Estate, Het Vlock Casteel, Babylonstoren, Tokara, De Rustica Estate, and Oudewerfskloof Olive Farm, as well as small olive producers like Laharna Farm Products.

And at the SA Olive Association stand, you’ll find the olive oils named top 10 in the country at the Absa Olive Oil Awards.

There will also be olive products to try, like olive tapenade, olive jam and olive salt. There will be plenty of different cheeses and wines to sample too.

South Africa’s best olive and olive oil producers, like Kloovenburg, will be showcased at the festival. Image: Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Estate 

2. JENNY MORRIS & OTHER CELEB CHEFS 

Top chefs will give food demonstrations on how to get the most out of olives and olive oil in easy-to-recreate recipes. On Saturday, there’ll be demos from Chef Cobus Bekker from Yzerfontein’s Grounded and Food Network TV host Jenny Morris (a.k.a the Giggling Gourmet). 

On Sunday, Nicole Neethling, the attorney-turned-chef of Flour & Oil, will take to the stage, as well as Pieter Malan, the owner of Chef and Co., a director for the SA Chefs Association, and a participant in the prestigious Culinary Olympics in 2024.

3. EXTENSIVE MARKET

Besides the tastings and celeb demos, the town square will also have a market. Some of the favourites to look out for include Magda se Boereseep, Candle Studio, and Herbiza Tea. You’ll also find everything from home decor to footwear, jewellery, clothing, nuts, Turkish delight, and more.

In the spirit of the festival, the market will include products made from olive oil, like those of Disa Biological. The company harnesses the anti-ageing and hydrating properties of olives to provide a range of skincare products. 

There are plenty of items to tempt shoppers. Image: Swartland Olive Festival

4. NEW FAMILY ZONE

The festival has a new dedicated family zone for kids. Here, families will find an olive-coloured jumping castle, soft play area with large foam shapes and a ball pit, and other activities for children. 

Entrance is free for kids under 12 and teenagers get a discounted rate. There will be extra activities scheduled for Sunday, which will be confirmed closer to the time on the Swartland Olive Festival Facebook page. 

There are activities to entertain the kids too. Image: Swartland Olive Festival

5. FOOD STALLS & LIVE BANDS 

Families will also appreciate the array of food stalls at the festival, like Wok & Grill, Masala Cafe, Smash Burger, and Inno's Artisan Pizza. 

There’ll be entertainment too with top local bands. South Africa’s favourite reggae act, the Rivertones, will play at the Entertainment Pavilion on both days. So will Riebeek-Kasteel’s hugely popular Afrikaans folk rock duo RAAF.

Local favourite RAAF will be performing on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. Image: RAAF 

6. PUTT-PUTT WITH OLIVES

Also on the entertainment line up is a putt-putt game at The Mount Royal Golf and Country Estate. There are great prizes to be won; the only catch is that the golf balls will be replaced with olives. They have also planned some surprise celebrity appearances from the golfing world.

7. SEE THE VIP BENEFITS

For the first time ever, the Swartland Olive Festival will have a VIP area. 

For R750, you can enjoy all of the festival, with access to the private Absa VIP Lounge. It’s a stylish luxury tent and adults-only space with its own private bar and viewing area for the stage. A meal is included in your ticket.

You can get a general access ticket and choose to upgrade on the day, but the VIP tickets are limited to 150 per day and are selling fast.

8. TICKET TYPES EXPLAINED 

General access tickets cost R350 per adult, R315 for pensioners, and R150 for kids aged between 12 and 18. Children under 12 get in for free. 

These tickets get you access to all the exhibitors, the market, the food and drink options, and the opportunity to taste olives, olive oils, and other items you may be interested in buying. 

They also give you access to the entertainment, the cooking demonstrations, and the general festivities. 

There is also a cap on general access tickets to avoid overcrowding, so it’s best to book early for the Swartland Olive Festival.

Roads around the town square will be closed so you can explore Riebeek-Kasteel on foot. Image: Swartland Olive Festival

9. FESTIVE FOR THE WHOLE WEEKEND 

In the lead-up to the festival, on Friday, 26 September, some of the streets surrounding the Riebeek-Kasteel town square will be closed to traffic and become a pedestrian area. 

The Jolly Olive, The Co-Op, and the Royal Hotel, among other restaurants, bars, and coffee shops, will be open to welcome visitors to the town and set the tone for the weekend with great food and a festive atmosphere. The road closures will continue on Saturday.

There is a lot to explore in Riebeek-Kasteel beyond the town square. Image: Swartland Olive Festival

10. NO, YOU WON’T MISS THE RUGBY

While most of the Swartland Olive Festival’s activities close at 5pm on Saturday, the Entertainment Pavilion will be open until 8pm to create a fan park for the rugby match between the Springboks and Argentina. 

This game will play on a big screen on the main stage. Alternatively, many bars and restaurants in the area around the town square will also be showing the match and hosting after-parties.

11. PLENTY & FREE PARKING

Plenty of parking will be available for free near the festival area with security on standby. Marshals and signage will be present to direct drivers where to go.

12. STAY & SEE THE SWARTLAND

Just an hour from Cape Town, this festival is a perfect excuse for a short road trip to a town you might not have experienced yet. 

The drive to Riebeek-Kasteel is scenic. Recommended stops on your way include the Eight Feet Village, a coffee bar and restaurant on the Kloovenburg farm, with a beautiful view of the valley. 

If you take the N1, you can stop in Wellington and Paarl, and if you take the N7, you may see some spring wildflowers on the way.

While a lot of the accommodation in Riebeek-Kasteel is already booked for the weekend, you can stay over in one of the nearby towns like Moorreesburg, Koringberg, Malmesbury and Tulbagh, which are between 15 and 35 minutes drive from Riebeek-Kasteel. 

The olives are just one of many reasons to travel to Riebeek-Kasteel. Image: Lucio Patone/Unsplash 

MORE ON SWARTLAND OLIVE FEST

Swartland Olive Festival is happening: 27 - 28 September 2025, 10am to 5pm
Find it: Town square, Riebeek-Kasteel
Book: Swartland Olive Festival tickets via Tixsa
Contact on & see more info: 022 487 1133; Swartland Olive Festival Facebook page

By Sharon Waugh

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