indwe magazine – Oct 2005

Bloemfontein Rose Festival

Roses serve many purposes, mostly as tokens of love, sympathy, repentance, and atonement. Roses also signify the coming together of people, and no venue could be more appropriate for the bringing together of people than the City of Roses, in an event that is diarised long before the first rosebud blossoms into a rose.

Text: Juliette Pool
Images: © Getty Images/Touchline Photo
October in Bloem-fontein means only one thing, the Rose Festival. This is the time when everything takes second place to the roses, when Bloemfontein lets its hair down, and the entire population of the Free State seems to converge on the provincial capital. Since its inception in 1976, the Rose Festival has bloomed into an annual event that is anticipated with unabated enthusiasm. Locals preen, groom and nurture their rose gardens in the hope of impressing the judges’ eyes at the festival. Little girls get couched, frilled and prepped by anxious mothers for the Miss Roosknoppie competition. Garden fundis get their hands dirty for a chance to reveal their artistic flair with flowers and plants. Bloemfontein in October sure is blooming good fun.
The Rose Festival has come a long way since its inception. Initially, the activities were limited to the Sanlam Plaza, and the programme spanned just a couple of days. Over the years it has drawn consistent interest from the public, becoming more popular by the year. Today the festival stretches over the entire month of October, every day sprouting something new and interesting.
The festival opens on Saturday the 1st of October with the Rose Fairy Ball. The 1st and 2nd of October also see the Bloemfontein Botanical Gardens come alive with artists and art exhibitions. The first weekend in October thus serves as the grand introduction of the festival to old friends, newcomers and curious visitors. Music for all ages is performed by both local and national artists, and Potjiekos, Braaivleis and Mieliepap feed the multitudes.
For the more energetic, the Rose Festival Cycle Marathon offers a unique cycling challenge through the hills and turns of Bloemfontein. The marathon takes place on Saturday the 8th and starts at Northridge Mall. This day also sees the crowning of the Ons Stad/Hyperama Miss Bloemfontein Rose, an event which takes place at the Hyperama.
For some, the most exciting event on the festival calendar is the Rose Garden Competition. Those passionate about roses have been grooming their prized roses for months, experimenting with new types of roses, keeping a keen eye on their roses and giving them all the love and attention of a newborn baby. The Rose Garden Competition is their chance to reveal their pride to the world. This annual competition takes place in different categories, including businesses and institutions, residential gardens, and townhouses. The judging of the gardens takes place from the 17th to the 19th of October.
Another highlight on the calendar is the Miss Roosknoppie Competition. Young girls are encouraged to participate in this fun-filled competition with their best Sunday dresses. The competition runs from the 17th to the 19th, with the semi-finals taking place on the 20th and the finals on Friday the 21st of October. The venue for this event is the Sanlam Plaza, with entertainment and refreshments to keep non-participants in the swing. The Miss Rosebud pageant is followed by a music festival for young and old, with everyone invited to join in the festivities.
The festivities are centred around the Mimosa Mall, which forms the heart of the festival from 19 to 23 October. This shopping and entertainment Mecca boasts 1.1 million visitors per month and is the largest shopping centre in the central region! The Mall plays host to mass flower displays created by local nurseries as well as the official Rose Festival display of the municipal department of parks and cemeteries. This year’s theme is “Roses on the Move.” The champion Rose Cut Competition is also held in the Mall, with approximately seven hundred entrants from as far afield as East London taking part. At least 15,000 roses will be on display this year, so a visit to the Mall is a must!
The Southern Centre joins in the fun with a Miss Bloemfontein Fairy Rose Competition for little girls between 6 and 10 years old, while Central Park in the CBD plays host to a choral festival.
Bloemfontein not only blossoms into a paradise of roses during October, but also offers numerous other attractions for the visitor. The popular Gecko Restaurant at the Botanical Gardens offers fine cuisine in beautiful surroundings. The Oliewenhuis Art Gallery has become a major attraction among tourists, with its neo-Cape Dutch design and intriguing history.
To round off this month of rosy celebrations, an elegant Rose Festival Dinner/Ball is held on Friday the 28th of October at the Floreat Hall. The ball promises to be fit for kings and queens, from fine dining to dancing among rose petals. But before these kings and queens depart from Bloemfontein, they will participate in the last treat – the Rose Picnic on Sunday the 30th. The picnic is held on four farms on the Renosterspruit in breathtaking rose gardens with more than 6,000 rosebushes. Cost is R55 per person.
Through all the excitement, one is sure to need some shut-eye. Numerous accommodation options are available in Bloemfontein, catering for families, business travellers and small groups. The charm and hospitality for which Bloemfontein is famous can be experienced in guesthouses, B&B’s and hotels. Most accommodation facilities are located in close proximity to the venues of the festival. Remember, the early bee gets the most beautiful rose, so book right away, and South African Express will get you there in time – in comfort and style!
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