The village of Napier is known as a tranquil getaway in the Overberg where you can relax and unwind. But once a year, the friendly folks of this town host a festival like no other. So hang on to your straw hat because it’s almost time for the Napier Patat Festival!

Turning the peaceful village into a vibrant spectacle of activity and excitement, the annual Patat Festival is at the top of the Overberg Social Calendar. Keeping that in mind, we’ve put together 5 ways to prepare for the Napier Patat Festival this year:

Get Scarily Creative

Once only used to keep the pesky birds from your crops, scarecrows are one of the main attractions of the festival. Everyone in Napier and Bredasdorp is invited to assemble the most creative and outrageous scarecrows and display them at their business or as part of the “Spot the Scarecrow Discovery Trail”. Visitors to the festival can vote for their favourites which may or may not include gigantic pigs, preposterous policemen or whatever the locals can come up with.

Image courtesy of Napier Patatfees Facebook page

Find Your Inner Foodie

Gather the sugar, spice and everything nice for the best recipe to be crowned the Potjiekos Competition Champion. Hosted at the Napier Hotel, the Potjiekos Competition is a big hit every year with great prizes to be won. The wood is supplied and entrance is free, all you need to do is show off your potjie skills. So as they say in Afrikaans, laat die potte prut!

Get Ready for Some Old School Fun

One thing that is characteristic about the Overberg is the sense of community and for the Patatfees this definitely rings true as the whole town is involved and joins in. This also makes the event itself quite special and something everyone can enjoy. When the excitement of it all gets a bit too much, why not head to one of the gift and curio shops and browse the shelves for anything from vintage jewellery to postcards to souvenir t-shirts – you never know what you might find!

Image courtesy of Napier Patatfees Facebook page

Prepare to Run and/or Bike Your Heart Out

The festival not only includes fun and games but also a good challenge for the hardy outdoor enthusiasts. Included in the program are the ever popular Napier Patat Festival MTB Race, Half Marathon and Trail Run. Kicking off early on Saturday and Sunday morning respectively, the races takes you through fields of flowering fynbos and gives you a new perspective on the Napier landscapes. So stop being a couch potato and stand a chance to be a sweet potato!

And last but not least, Bring Your Appetitite – Creative and Otherwise

Along with the colourful ensembles of the scarecrows, there will also be a variety of culinary treats to tickle your tastebuds. Pop in at one (or two or three) of the Napier restaurants and try their unique take on sweet potato dishes or even grab something on-the-go from the various food stalls, head out to the Wokini Market and treat your palate to some of Napier’s home-grown wines and beers.

Image courtesy of Napier Patatfees Facebook page - Keith Imaging

Remember that the Napier Patat Festival takes place from 16 to 18 June 2017 and promises to be a proper party! The event also includes a veteran tractor and vintage car show, a Harley Davidson Motorcycle show, live music, entertainment for the kids, a Patatfees Dans on Friday and lots more. Book your stay in Napier today!