It’s all about the olive at the Swartland Olive Festival in Riebeek-Kasteel

Calling all Olivophiles and Brine Believers: the Swartland Olive Festival is returning to the historic village square of Riebeek-Kasteel, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September 2025.

Seven leading olive producers from across the Western Cape, wines from the Swartland, chef demonstrations, authentic Platteland food, tasting competitions and live music will put the spotlight on the small but mighty olive and its place of importance in South Africa, at the much anticipated festival in the heart of the Swartland. The festival is presented in partnership with Swartland Tourism and the SA Olive Association.

“If you’re not already an olive aficionado, this is an incredible opportunity to learn the olive language, where visitors can taste the various regions, cultivars and products under one marquee,” says Wendy Petersen, CEO of the SA Olive Association. “As every region’s products taste different, there’s a lot of knowledge to be gained, while sipping, dipping and sampling.”

In addition to olives – from simply brined to smoked to sun-dried -- and extra virgin olive oil, there will be an abundance of other products to try, such as olive tapenade, olive jam and olive salt. But as Cleopatra knew, olives are not only edible; they are also a wonderful source of beauty remedies and treatments, and festival-goers will have their pick of everything from olive face creams to soap to foot balm. Whether you are chucking a handful into a pasta or applying their richness to your skin, olives are rich in antioxidants and bring abundant healthy properties to our lives.

This year’s chef demonstrations will bring in-person cooking flair and fire to the festival, with a focus on how to get the most out of olives in tasty and easy-to-recreate recipes. Featured chefs include Jenny Morris (the popular celebrity chef known as the Giggling Gourmet), Pieter Malan of Chef & Co in Tulbagh, Nicole Neethling of Flour & Oil food workshops in Malmesbury, and Karen Els of MasterChef SA and 2023 winner of Kokkedoor Vuur and Vlam.

From tasty treats to soulful beats, chart-topping Afrikaans multi-instrumentalist folk rock duo RAAF (previously known as Bottomless Coffee Band) will be performing  at the festival on both days.

Besides its role as a maverick in revolutionising the face of South African wine, the Swartland is inextricably linked with olives, with several wine farms also known for their superior olive production. Its dry land farming, irrigation and drainage are home to olive trees which thrive under stressful conditions and produce beautiful products and cultivars. The Swartland Olive Festival brings these two important local products together in a celebration of their important role in the community.

“The Olive Festival is more than an event – it’s a homecoming,” says Ann Heyns, Swartland Tourism Manager. “It’s where friends reunite, stories are shared, and visitors become part of our extended family.”

“We have a number of olive cultivars grown in South Africa and they produce a very high quality of olive oil, thanks to our climate, terroir, and the makers themselves,” explains Petersen. “ South Africa currently imports 2/3 of its olive oil; we can easily flip this to 1/3 or less, with support for our Western Cape-based industry. Greater market demand for local olive oil would open doors for job creation, expansion, and while we are already being recognised internationally for our premium products, a bigger place on the world stage.”