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WEDNESDAY 2426 APRIL 2013
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It’s Bloem Show time } Sidwell Guduka IT’S that time of the year again which means that in the Free State it’s time for the Bloem Show, one of Mzansi’s biggest and most-entertaining family-friendly expos. Lovers of this exhibition should brace themselves for another exciting programme that includes music and other fun activities. The annual show starts tomorrow and it will run until Saturday, 4 May, at the Bloemfontein Showgrounds. “We are privileged to present the Bloem Show for the 130th time this year. The first Bloem Show took place on 25 May 1883. This event survived the First World War and in 1917 the first tractor was exhibited at the show,” Elmarie Prinsloo, CEO of Bloem Show, said during the official launch of the Bloem Show 2013 at Bloemfontein Showgrounds last Wednesday. “This show came to a stand still during the Second World War. After the war, the first show took place in 1947 and since then has gone from strength to strength. Today the Bloem Show is acknowledged as one of the largest shows in South Africa,” she added. According to Prinsloo, more than 120 000 people visited the Bloem Show 2012 over a period of 10 days. “Some 65% of these visitors was from outside Bloemfontein/Mangaung. About 60% of the almost 450 exhibitors was also from outside Mangaung,” Elmarie said. She added that visitors and exhibitors at the Bloem Show had a direct impact on the economy of Bloemfontein/Mangaung and the greater Free State. “Businesses like guesthouses, hotels, the advertising industry, restaurants, shopping centres, the entertainment industry and filling stations benefit greatly from the extra visitors to the City of Roses every year during the Bloem Show,” said Prinsloo. Well-known acts such as Kurt Darren, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Dr Victor and Rasta Rebels, Steve Hofmeyr, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Zahara and local up-and-coming artists will perform during the festival. The gates open at 09:00 until 20:00 daily, except for Sunday where gates will close at 17:00. Tickets cost R60 for adults, for children under 12 and pensioners R20 and entrance is free for pre-school children. For more information about Bloem Show, call 051-4489894/5/6 or visit www.bloemshow.co.za.
FROM left are Qondile Khedama, communications manager of the Mangaung Metro Municipality, Elmarie Prinsloo, CEO of Bloem Show, Tebogo Seseane, Bloem Show consultant, Anza van der Hoven, Bloem Show staff member, and Teboho Loate, director: Department of Arts, Sports and Culture. Photo: Supplied MAIN entertainment events (Pick n Pay stage) Thursday, 25 April – Hyundai presents Kurt Darren (19:00) Friday, 26 April – Miss Windmill Bloem Show with Wynand and Chereé (19:00)
Saturday, 27 April – WWP wrestling (19:30) Sunday, 28 April – Lollos (12:00) Monday, 29 April – Bloem sec presents Bobby van Jaarsveld (19:00) Tuesday, 30 April – OFM
presents Dr Victor and Rasta Rebels (19:00) Wednesday, 1 May – Vertical Signs presents Steve Hofmeyr (19:00) Thursday, 2 May – PWC presents Juanita du Plessis (19:00)
Friday, 3 May – Karlien van Jaarsveld (18:30) and Ovaltrack racing (20:00) Saturday, 4 May – Hansa Pilsner and Lesedi fm presents Sipho Hotstix Mabuse (20:00) and Zahara (21:00) at Vertical Signs main arena.