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Exhibitions, show bargains, fun for the family and music - once again the Rand Show is offering a smorgasbord of things to do, see and buy.
Cape minstrels add colour to this year’s Rand Show
A GROUP of young traditional dancers from Winterveldt in Tshwane, the Golden Youth Club, stole the midweek day at the Rand Show with their dance, Mzansi.
Performing their celebration of life dance on Wednesday, 26 March, it was the group's first outing at the Rand Show; and its artistic and managing director, Johannah Mahlangu, believes that it will open doors for the dance company.
"We have performed in different places in Tshwane, but never at the Rand Show or even in Joburg. This is good for us. Who knows, we might even end up performing in other countries as well."
While the children and teens of the Gold Youth Club danced the day away, other kids spent hours at the Disney Festival, which caters for youngsters from toddler to mid-teen. With plenty of activities on offer, the children can build sand castles, go on slides and jumping castles, or sing karaoke.
Opening weekend
The Rand Show opened on Friday, 21 March - both Human Rights Day and Good Friday this year - and by Easter Monday on 24 March, 130 000 people had passed through its gates. On Wednesday, however, it was fairly quiet, most likely because it was a weekday and most people were at work.
The metro police and the Emergency Management Services are at the Rand Show to spread the message of safety
But Thandi Majola, a financial adviser at Old Mutual, believes there are other reasons. "We have been exhibiting here for the past four years and this year it is much quieter than previously; I think that is because of the weak rand."
In 2007, nearly half-a-million people visited the show during its annual two-week run.
Those who were there on Wednesday, though, had a great time, from screaming the loudest to bag a prize at the Vodacom stand, to dancing for T-shirts at the Johannesburg metro police and emergency medical services stand. Called Public Safety Kids Zone, it focuses on teaching children safety and the rules of the road in a vibrant, child-friendly environment.
Schoolchildren, on holiday from their desks, simply enjoyed having fun with their friends in a different setting. Mamello Motebang, an 11-year-old from Rekopane Primary School in Mafikeng, said she mainly enjoyed the kids' playing section because she was able to build castles, slide and jump on the jumping castles.
Family fun
The focus of the Rand Show this year, its 113th birthday, is on family entertainment, with the Disney Festival, which has interactive zones aimed kids from toddlers through to teens. Back after an eight-year hiatus are character parades, featuring clowns, carnival performers, the Cape Minstrels and a Scottish pipe band.
As always, the Rand Show offers fun for the whole family
There are also paintball games - on weekdays anyone who is up for it can take part, for an extra R70 over-and-above the Rand Show entrance fee. There is also music, exhibitions, the carnival rides and shopping. The MTN Bollywood Festival, on Sunday, 23 March, was as popular as ever, with a lucky winner bagging tickets to India.
First held at the Rand Show in 2005, the Bollywood Festival has fast become one of the show's most visited attractions.
Upcoming events are the MTN Gospel Concert on Sunday, 30 March and the MTN Afrikaans Musiekfees on Sunday, 6 April, the last day of the show.
This year, the gospel concert will feature Joburg's two-times Grammy Award winners, the Soweto Gospel Choir. It will be the choir's first outing at the show. Well-known artists Simphiwe Dana and Lira are also on the bill.
It is the third musiekfees at the show, and Cebisa Mfenyana, the corporate marketing and communications manager of Kagiso Exhibitions and Events, says it "has grown in stature and popularity, fast establishing itself as one of the headline events on the Rand Show entertainment calendar".
Kagiso owns the Rand Show. Popular artists Karen Ferreira, Jakkie Louw, Shine 4, Pieter Koen, Theuns Jordaan, Nicholis Louw, Kurt Darren and Bok van Blerk are in the line up.
Exhibitions
On the exhibition front, there are more than 600 local and international exhibitors displaying and selling their wares and services.
A trader with some of her merchandise at the Rand Show
Brand and communications is in hall five, while home and lifestyle is in hall six; halls seven and eight are reserved for furniture and appliances; the global traders are in hall nine, while hall 10 houses tourism, arts and culture, featuring domestic tourism and showcasing various arts and crafts.
Outdoor equipment such as caravans, boats, 4x4s, quads, camping equipment and more are on show - and can be picked up at bargain show prices. There is also the popular flea market.
The Rand Show is on at Nasrec, on the corner of Rand Show and Nasrec roads in Soweto, until 6 April. Gates are open from 10am until 8pm daily. Tickets are R55 each for adults and R25 for children under the age of 12. Entrance is free for people over the age of 60, if they have a valid identity document, and for children under the age of two. Parking is R15 a car.
For more information, visit the Rand Show website or telephone 011 494 3860 or 084 426 0410.
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