In the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, on the border of the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho (as it’s officially known), you’ll find the unassuming town of Ficksburg. Surrounded by undulating hills and set against an imposing mountain backdrop, the town is a chosen destination for scores of holiday makers. What makes Ficksburg stand out all the more, which might come as a surprise to some, is that it is ‘Cherry capital of the world’. To celebrate this title, the town annually hosts the Ficksburg Cherry Festival. The 2019 event runs from 21-23 November 2019. The festival, which happens to be the longest running crop festival in South Africa, began in 1968. The main events back then were the street parades, the festive Cherry Ball and the crowning of the Cherry Queen. Today, attendees will see that activities and happenings of the festival have changed over time. The Ficksburg Cherry Festival is the town’s main opportunity for a little self-promotion on the South African tourism circuit. It provides employment for the locals and allows visitors to come and sample not only cherries but the taste of life in this pretty corner of South Africa..
