Darling is the perfect distance from Cape Town. Far enough to be an adventure for the kids but close enough to drive through for an evening’s entertainment such as Darling Brew‘s ‘Carols by Candlelight’. Find Darling Brew Tasteroom & Brewery on the West Coast Way Culture Route.
This annual event is the perfect way to start off the festive season and judging by the turnout of locals and out-of-towners, I was not the only one who thought so! With about 200 people in attendance, I was glad I had the foresight to book a table and a picnic. Darling’s renowned charcuterie, The Flying Pig, are now working their culinary magic in the kitchens at Darling Brew’s Tasteroom and assembled a delicious platter of local cheeses and cured meats accompanied by fresh sourdough bread.
I am not really a beer drinker, although perhaps I should do a Darling Brew beer tasting just to be sure. Luckily they stock my favourite craft cider from local brewery d’Cider, which is owned by Lukas Wentzel, the winemaker at Groote Post Vineyards. A berry d’Cider seemed an appropriately Christmassy beverage for the occasion.
While waiting for the sun to set enough for us to light our candles, the kids played on Darling Brew’s extraordinary jungle gym while I browsed Darling Presbyterian Church’s Christmas craft stall. All their delightful offerings were handmade by members of their congregation and I was able to get a head start on my Christmas shopping.
Dusk fell and it was time for ‘Carols by Candlelight’ with live music by Glyn Lewis whose voice and guitar added a festive folk sound to the traditional Christmas songs. We started off with one of my favourite carols ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ and sang our way through eighteen classics with the Darling College Choir occasionally giving our voices a rest with performances of ‘Silent Night’, ‘The First Noel’ and ‘O Christmas Tree’.
The younger children got into the swing of things, twirling and dancing and drawing smiles from the crowd. It was a wonderfully relaxed family evening and as always I was charmed by the friendliness of the Darling locals. Darling Brew’s ‘Carols by Candlelight’ with definitely be part of our Christmas traditions each year.
The door fee for the evening was R40 and included a songbook and a candle for each of us. Proceeds from the evening and from the craft stall went towards the Darling Presbyterian Church.
Darling Summer Beer Festival Line Up
This year, the festival features six guest breweries, including: Riot Beer, Black Eagle Brewing Company, Mountain Brewing, Everson Ciders, Garagista and D’Cider. Live music and stand-up comedy will keep festival goers entertained, – with this year bands including Moonshine Jazz, the Stone Jets, Sunset Sweatshop and Red Tape Riot, whilst the comedians include Gino Fernandez, Schalk Bezuidenhout and Charles Tertiens.
Darling Brew will be serving their craft beer straight from the brewery tanks, making the craft lover’s dream of fresher than fresh beer, a reality. Local food stalls at the festival will provide an array of delicious artisanal foods, including vegetarian fare. There will also be Darling Brew merchandise and festive gift boxes on sale for those wanting to grab a Christmas gift for the beer lover in their lives.
Darling Brew’s festivals have come to be known as not only the perfect event for beer lovers, but also for family’s looking for a day out – with a large play area for children making it a kid-friendly day out.
Darling Summer Beer Festival
Location: Darling Brew, 48 Caledon St, Darling
Date & Time: 16 December, 10am – 8pm
Cost: R120 per adult, R80 for big kids over 12, Free for kids under 12
Tickets: Available via webtickets
Find Darling Brew Tasteroom & Brewery on the West Coast Way Culture & Foodie Route.
Distance from Cape Town: 76km
Darling Brew Tasteroom & Brewery: 48 Caledon Street, Darling
Brewery, Restaurant, Tastings & Sales, open-air kids play area, MTB-friendly, Live Events
School Holidays & Flower Season: Open 7 days a week.
Tasteroom operating hours:
- Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 am to 5 pm Kitchen closes at 4 pm
- Friday 9 am to 7 pm Kitchen closes at 6 pm
- Saturday 9 am to 5 pm Kitchen closes at 4 pm
- Sunday 10 am to 4 pm Kitchen closes at 3 pm
- They are also open for private functions. The restaurant works on a walk in basis but large groups are encouraged to book
They are also open for private functions. The restaurant works on a walk in basis but large groups are encouraged to book.
Contact: +27 (0)21 286 1099 | [email protected] | www.darlingbrew.co.za
Darling Presbyterian Church
022 492 2060
Glyn Lewis – Acoustic Guitarist/Vocalist
084 4160 711
West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature
West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.
Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way:
Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve.
For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Follow us on on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.West Coast Way is a unique collection of themed routes that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors when they do an adventure-filled Cape West Coast self-drive trip for a day trip or a West Coast Holiday. The new West Coast Way “basket” of free routes on offer include the West Coast Way Tractor Route, the West Coast Way Berg Route, the West Coast Way Foodie Route, the West Coast Way Cultural Route – as well as the newly launched West Coast Way Wild Route, all of which are designed to showcase the many attractions and activities that are already on offer on the Cape West Coast and inland areas – but may be unknown to many. For more information on West Coast Way, the other routes on offer, and the list of 101 Things to Do on the West Coast visit www.westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Connect with West Coast Way on Facebook and Twitter at WestCoastWaySA.