A Celebration of Community Spirit, Creativity, Outdoors, Irreverence and Fun
This year’s annual Kommetjie Festival brought together locals and visitors for a day brimming with creativity, community spirit and outdoor fun. Held on Saturday 16 November, the festival was packed with team activities, competitions and magical moments that showcased the unique energy and talent of our kommunity, all set against the scenic backdrop of ocean, mountains and blue sky. From early morning yoga to sandcastle-building, potjiekos-making, skateboarding, surfing and tennis contests to the afterparty under the stars, the day celebrated everything we love about our village.
Here’s a look back at some of the highlights of this unforgettable day.
A Joyful Start: Kom Run, Yoga, Dance and Markets
The day began with energy and serenity as locals gathered for the Kom Run and a morning yoga session on the Kom Lawn. Under the golden glow of the early sun, the yoga session set a peaceful and grounding tone for the day, led by René of Soulspace Studio, followed by Nia’s joyful blend of dance and mindfulness.
Meanwhile, the craft market opened its stalls, offering everything from handmade jewellery and vintage clothing to delicious eats. The Kommetjie Lawn buzzed with visitors, some awaiting more of the festive programme for the day, while others were getting their Potjiekos on.
And down on Long Beach, things were warming up with the 9am Volleyball Contest.
Building Magic: Sandcastles in the Sun
On Kommetjie Long Beach, creativity and competition took centre stage. The annual Sandcastle Competitionsaw families and friends bringing their A-games sculpting intricate works of art. The winning sandcastle Pffft… by Francis Boden Jackson and team was a fire-breathing sand dragon, with many other special mentions capturing imaginations in a whimsical marine theme.
Pffft the magic dragon
A sun becomes an octopus
We loved Astro Anya and family’s giant octopus that she says evolved organically from a sun…
Pffft the magic dragon
Drip Town took the family prize, with their epic drippage technique sandcastle.
Getting Fancy for Surfing
The Fancy Dress Surf Competition was a crowd favourite as always, as kids and adults alike hit the waves dressed in colourful costumes from superheroes to sea creatures.
Santa came early…
Spot the rabid seal…
From Fred Flintstone and Faf to Spiderman, Rocketman and a few early Santas, participants brought both skill and humour to this annual festival highlight.
And the winner is…
Some of the prizes for the day went to The Golden Girls as best team costume in the adult category, Chris Bailey for best costume as Kelp Man, as well as Nolan Hooper as Rocket Man, Simone Robbed in her hand-painted wetsuit, Poseiden and Aiden Piccard as the Rabid Seal. In the kids, Ryder Bertish won most committed to the dressup (shaving his head on the beach to be Kelly Slater), the Sunshine Girls / Rainbow Hula Girls won the team prize and Chicken Joe (below) won best surfer. See the dressup winners in this Instagram reel.
An honourable mention…
Of course goes to the Aiden Piccard the Rabid Seal, also one of the adult prizewinners, for being both topical and hilarious with great acting skills.
Skateboarding and Kombledon continue the contests
Not just known for surf, sun and sea, Kommetjie also has an avid culture of skateboarding and tennis! (Not usually at the same time.) While the skateboard ramp set up outside Kom Surf was busy for the better part of the day, tennis championships took place at Kommetjie Primary in the form of the Kombledon Tennis Fancy Dress Tournament.
Kombledon Fancy Dress Tennis Tournament
Meanwhile, back at the Kom… Boeresport!
Back on the Kom Lawn, the afternoon saw a nostalgic throwback with the Boeresport games, filling the Kom Lawn with laughter and cheers. Ball games and races and other crazy games had the kids hopping, running and screaming in good spirits, with even a few doggos taking part!
The Creativity of Kommetjie: Float Race and Living Sculptures
Over at The Kom, the Anything That Floats race was a splashy spectacle as creativity took to the water with the float races for tiny tots and grown-ups.
Most Creative Float
The “Most Creative Float” winner this year was the standout Kom Troop – yet another testament to the irreverent spirit of Kommetjie. We don’t miss a beat!
Sandfish Sculptures
A special feature, not on the official programme, was a chance to see local artist Chip Snaddon’s Clanwilliam Sandfish Sculptures. These beautifully lifelike creations swam their way through the village, along the beach and down to the Kom, capturing attention while raising awareness about this threatened migratory freshwater fish.
Originally built for AfrikaBurn, Chip’s sculptures serve as a symbol of conservation and creativity. Their presence at the festival was a poignant reminder of the importance of protecting our natural world. This glimpse into his work left us eagerly anticipating the upcoming Open Studios Kommetjie, where Chip is featured for the first time as one of the official artists on the route.
Closing with Community: Prizegiving and Music
As the sun set, the festival wrapped up with an afterparty and prize-giving ceremony at the Fisherman’s Garden. It was the perfect way to end a day filled with joy, connection and celebration, while locals got festive to live music under the November night sky. Over at The Green Room, live DJs kept locals going all day and into the night. And of course, up in the sky above, Phil’s kites were a wonder, as always, to behold.
A Shout-Out to Our Village
The Kommetjie Festival was more than just a day of fun; it was a testament to the vibrant spirit of our village. From its creative artistry to its deep connection with nature and its people, the event embodied everything that makes Kommetjie such a unique and inspiring place to call home.
A big thank-you to everyone who helped bring the festival to life – from the organizers and sponsors to the participants and the crowd who came out to support. We can’t wait until next year!
View more highlights on our Instagram story highlight and follow @kommetjiefestival for more.
Stay tuned for more upcoming events, including the much-anticipated Open Studios Kommetjie, where Chip Snaddon’s sculptures and other local treasures will be on display.
Until next time, Kommetjie!
PS – anything missing here? Send us an email! We’d love to add more highlights of the day that we didn’t manage to include or any missing info.
