Open-fire cooking, wine and live music set for Olijvenkraal in Paarl
Olijvenkraal Olive & Wine Farm in Paarl will host the three-day FYRE Festival of Food from 18 to 20 September 2026, organisers said. The event, timed for Heritage Month, brings together chef Darren Badenhorst and braai ambassador Jan Braai for a weekend focused on open-fire cooking, local wines and live performances.
According to the announcement, the festival is being presented across four separately ticketed experiences that allow guests to tailor their visit. The programme blends sit-down dinners, long-table feasts, a lunchtime offering and an all-day festival lawn with tastings and entertainment.
| Session | Date & time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening Open-Fire Collaboration Dinner | 18 September, 18:00–23:00 | Four-course menu; welcome drink and live music by Brandon Baartman |
| Saturday FYRE Dining Lunch & Festival Access | 19 September, 11:00–23:00 | Three-course lunch; Venison as participating brand; DJs and tastings |
| Saturday Harvest Table in the Olive Groves (VIP) | 19 September, 11:00–23:00 | Exclusive long-table feast in private olive groves; Boschendal Cap Classique served |
| Festival lawn (general access) | 18–20 September, daytime to evening | Pop-up wine tastings, brandy tasting by sommelier Shane Mumba, live music |
The festival will feature a range of beverage partners and sponsors. Among those listed are Acqua Panna, San Pellegrino, Stella Artois, Perrier, Old Road Wine Co. and Boschendal for Cap Classique. Wines from Olijvenkraal Estate — including a white blend and Shiraz — will be available during certain ticketed meals.
- Event: FYRE Festival of Food
- Location: Olijvenkraal Olive & Wine Farm, Paarl
- Dates: 18–20 September 2026
- Features: open-fire menus, wine and brandy tastings, live music, VIP long-table experience
"Heritage Month is best celebrated around an open flame, where the aroma of sizzling cuts and the clinking of glasses define the spirit of South African culture," the festival publicity said.
Performers and hosts named in the programme include Brandon Baartman (live music on Friday), Kai Liam Connor (live music on Saturday), and an evening DJ set by Oli Ditz. The VIP Harvest Table in the olive groves will feature an acoustic set by Renate Riedemann, while sommelier Shane Mumba will host a premium brandy tasting during the festival.
Organisers have emphasised that the festival experience is deliberately modular: ticket-holders can choose an individual evening meal, the VIP long-table, or general festival access to enjoy pop-up tastings and lawn entertainment. The announcement also notes a cash bar on site.
For Paarl, the event underlines the town’s continuing role as a destination for food and wine tourism in the Winelands. Olijvenkraal sits within a landscape of vineyards, olive groves and historic farms that attract visitors through spring and into summer. The festival could add to visitor numbers over a busy Heritage Month weekend; local businesses and residents should expect increased activity in and around Paarl roads and hospitality venues.
Organisers have provided details of the sessions and partners but did not publish ticket prices in the announcement. Prospective attendees should check the festival’s booking channels for availability and specific ticket inclusions.
The line-up of chefs, wine producers and performers reflects a broader trend in the Western Cape of pairing experiential dining with local produce and hospitality settings — an offering that draws both domestic tourists and international guests to the Winelands during the spring season.
