The Voortrekkermonument is set to host one of the largest Erfenisdag celebrations in South Africa on Thursday, 21 September 2026. The event, themed "Toeka tot toekoms", aims to connect the country's cultural heritage with the next generation. The festival will feature a variety of cultural, musical, and family-friendly activities. Gates open at 07:00 and the program runs until 16:30. Dawid Brand, head of marketing and communications at the Kultuurtuiste, says Erfenisdag is an opportunity to let people experience the country's history firsthand.
The festival's program includes a range of activities for children, known as the Trap der Jeugd-kinderprogram. This year's program has been expanded to offer a variety of experiences, including face painting, art, and craft activities at the Pioniersentrum. Children can also enjoy freshly baked bread, make their own ketties, and visit a model train display. At the Plaaswerf, kids can feed farm animals, go on horse and camel rides, play paintball, and jump on trampolines.
The Lewende Laer offers children the chance to make their own bread and eat it, create clay models, and participate in a whip-cracking competition. According to Brand, the aim is to make the festival an enjoyable experience for children, with plenty of opportunities for them to engage with the country's heritage in a practical way. The festival also features a range of music performances, including Toekomstalent, which showcases previous FAK-Skryf'it finalists.
One of the day's highlights is a historical cannon salute, which will take place at 13:00. The ZAR Kanonniersvereniging will participate in a nationwide cannon salute, with 31 cannons being fired at different locations across South Africa. At the Voortrekkermonument, replicas of the cannons Grietjie and Susanna will be fired. This initiative commemorates the Dutch cannon signal system used during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Afrikaanse Filatelievereniging van Pretoria will host the Erfenis 2026 philately exhibition in the Voortrekkersaal from 24 to 26 September. The exhibition showcases how postage stamps, postal stamps, postcards, and other postal items serve as small historical documents, preserving valuable stories about people, places, and events.
The festival also features over 150 stalls selling food, crafts, and other products. The Dameskring's tea garden in the FAK-Liedjietuin offers a chance to relax during the festival. General admission is R50 per person, with children under six years old entering for free. The admission price includes entertainment, the heritage levy, and parking. Tickets can be purchased online in advance to avoid waiting at the gates.
The festival's entertainment program includes performances by Pieter Smith, the Pretoria Volkspelelaers, and the Barny Armstrong boereorkes. The FAK-Skryf'it final will also take place during the festival, with the winner being announced at 14:20. The musical program concludes with performances by Eloff and Elvis Blue.
Key points
- The festival offers a range of cultural and family-friendly activities.
- A historical cannon salute will take place at 13:00.
- Over 150 stalls will be selling food, crafts, and other products.
