Author: DWFS

and join the Darling Wildflower Society to celebrate our amazing diversity of spring wildflowers. #darlingwildflowers

We’re calling on all nature lovers, gardeners, and community heroes to join us as volunteers for the 2024 Darling Wildflower Show.

Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to the scene, your help will be invaluable in making this year’s show a blooming success!

Throughout August and September – By appointment

Words fail to describe the mesmerising beauty of the wildflowers in their natural habitat. Witnessing this spectacle firsthand is a must.

The DWFS is set to host wildflower walks in August and September. These leisurely strolls are guided by a knowledgeable Darling local and offer a great opportunity to not only see unique and delicate wildflowers up close but also to learn some fun wildflower facts and the origin of local names like “Piet Snot, Bobbejaantjie and Moederkappies” Suitable for all ages. Easy, informative and family friendly.

Email: darlingwildflowers@gmail.com or mobile: +27 (0)68 151 5692

We are now accepting vendor applications for the 2024 Darling Wildflower Festival! This is your chance to showcase your unique products and connect with thousands of visitors.

Event Dates: Friday 20 September – Sunday 22 September 2024

Location: Darling Sport Club, Jacaranda Street, Darling

Application Deadline: 31 August 2024

Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out! Apply now to secure your spot and make this year’s festival unforgettable.

Contact Hester at 082 396 2258 or oldbiker@axxess.co.za

Friday 20 – Sunday 22 September 2024 at the Darling Sport Club, Jacaranda Street, Darling

What to expect at the 2024 Darling Wildflower Festival

• Landscaped wildflower exhibition and species table
• Darling Wildflower Society guided wildflower walks
• Spacious outdoor market place with a variety of delicious food, drink and local produce for sale
• Tractor rides to view flowers
• Vintage Cars and Tractors on display
• Award winning wines and craft beers to taste
• Music / Entertainment
• Village Shuttle Bus
• Access to seasonal wildflower reserves

Tickets

• R80 Adults & children over 12y
• R60 Pensioners
• R60 Students
• Children under 12 years are free

Ticket will be sold at the event. Online tickets can be purchased now at Quicket

For school and group bookings please complete and return the Group Booking From to the Darling Wildflower Society committee at darlingwildflowers@gmail.com

Online tickets for the 2023 Darling Wildflower Show are now available for purchase on Quicket!

Your ticket includes entry to the landscaped wildflower exhibition, the Darling Museum and access to the market place with a variety of food stalls, crafts and plants for sale.

PRICING

Online Tickets

R85 Adults and children 12 years and up

R65 Pensioners

Children under 12 years are free

@ The Gate

R80 Adults and children 12 years and up

R60 Pensioners

Friday 15 September to Sunday 17 September at the Darling Museum

04 October 2022

We were determined to have a Wildflower show this year after two, Show free years due to the global pandemic. Planning for our Show starts early in the New Year. This  time we were still subject to COVID 19 restrictions, so planning was problematic. We had no idea whether folk would be willing to venture out even if this were allowed. And if freedom of movement were restored in time for the Show, whether there would be limits on the numbers allowed to attend.

All this made Show time a very risky prospect for us. We are a small Society staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers. With extremely limited financial backing a high cost, low attendance Show would spell financial disaster for us. This time we knew we had to plan for a smaller scaleShow, and this meant a move to a lower cost, lower risk venue. Fortunately, the Darling Museum and Swartland Municipality stepped up and provided us with a venue that satisfied our basic needs.

Unfortunately, one of our major partners, responsible for entertainment and the market pulled out of this year’s Show at an extremely late stage which left us a little light in this area. We learned an important lesson here; that will never happen to us again.So, to those of you who were disappointed in our market area we apologise; we know we must and can do better next year.

Having said this, it is the wildflowers that are and always will be, the Stars of our Show. They are unequivocally our number one priority. And by showcasing our wildflowers at this event we raise funds for the conservation and education projects we run throughout the year. So, if it is markets that are your number one priority, we reluctantly recommend that you pass us up and carry on to the market that best satisfies your needs and desires!

Finally, it is Mother Nature and her seasons together with local weather conditions that determine the scale of the displays that we can build. Our flower picking teams can only pick the flowers that are in bloom two days prior to the Show. So put simply, availability drives the outcome and our flower pickers put in the same effort whether the flowers are prolific or sporadic.

So, big thank you from us for coming to support us this year. We are building back from COVID, and we aim to grow and improve the next Show using the experience we gained this year. And to anyone who was disappointed this time we are sorry. But thank you for coming anyway and thank you for your feedback; we will put it to good use!

Society and community members are invited to attend the Darling Wildflower Show Post Show meeting on 13 October 2022 at 6pm at the Darling Museum where we will discuss the highlights, negatives, lessons learned and suggestions of the 2023 Darling Wildflower Show on 15 to 17 September.