Stellenbosch built its name on wine. Vineyards roll across the hills, and tasting rooms fill up slowly. Most visitors plan a day around a glass, not a grill.
That calm is about to break. On Oct. 10, the wine town hands over Sandringham Farm to more than 40 pitmasters for the first South Africa BBQ Festival.
“Stellenbosch has always been a place where people connect around the table,” said Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of the region’s tourism board, Visit Stellenbosch. She added that the festival moves that connection into the open air, next to the fire.
It’s a change from Stellenbosch’s usual tasting-room pace. Instead, visitors get to meet the pitmasters themselves and watch techniques passed down for generations.
Here’s What’s Actually Happening on Oct. 10
More than 40 South African and international pitmasters will lead demonstrations at Sandringham Farm, just outside Stellenbosch, on Oct. 10. They’ll cover everything from low-and-slow smoking to open-flame grilling.
The South Africa BBQ Festival calls itself a tribute to the many ways people cook with fire. It’s also the event’s first edition, marking Stellenbosch’s first time hosting a festival built around fire instead of wine.
Meet the Pitmasters and Musicians Taking Over the Farm
Festival founder Biggy Smallz built the day around a mix of local and international names, including:
- Pete Goffe-Wood, Ashley Dokter-Mosotho and Borries Bornman.
- Marvyn Buys of Smoked by Buys and Niel van Zyl.
- Richard Bosman, Nic van Wyk and Jay Maan of Mr Braai Guy.
- Yash Singh and Taahir Abader of The Iron Tummies, Meat Ranger and the fire-cooking duo Laaika and Natalie.
Live music runs alongside the cooking all day. Expect sets from Freshlyground, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Jack Parow, Matthew Mole and more.
More Than Cooking Demos: Family Activities and Mentorship
The day isn’t only for spectators. Organizers built in family activities and children’s entertainment, along with food vendors and exhibitors.
The festival also pairs culinary students and young food professionals with experienced pitmasters. They’ll get hands-on time with live-fire cooking and large-scale food prep, plus the teamwork it takes to pull off a day like this.
Tickets for the Oct. 10 festival are on sale now, and organizers plan to add details to the site as the date gets closer. For visitors used to Stellenbosch’s usual pace, it’s a chance to trade a wine glass for a plate of smoked meat, if only for a day.