The McGregor Poetry Festival celebrates 10 years with the theme “Touching the Wild.”

From 18 to 20 November in McGregor, Western Cape.

ENTRIES FOR THE POETRY WRITING COMPETITION NOW OPEN.

The McGregor Poetry Festival has grown to be one of the most popular literary festivals in South Africa. Founder Billy Kennedy says: “Now in its tenth year, we will reflect on our wondrous journey thus far, filled as it was with the exuberant passion and generosity of the many poets who have supported our vision. Once again, the festival will be anchored at Temenos Retreat in McGregor and will celebrate poets, their muses and their creative offerings. Together let us continue to look forward to the poetic path and byways that lie ahead. And we will consider, through poetry, our roles as custodians of wilderness and creation not to mention the need to nurture a certain inner wildness.”

Poetry in McGregor also encourages poets young and old to keep writing. The annual festival poetry competition entries are now open. Entries can be submitted in English and Afrikaans in either the Youth Category for poets aged 7 – 17 years old and the Adult Category for poets aged 18 and older. Please check the website https://www.poetryinmcgregor.co.za for the competition rules and categories and submit your competition entries to our coordinator Jane De Sousa at info@poetryinmcgregor.co.za by Friday 30th September 2022. The poems will be judged by external well-known poets, and their decision will be final. Finalists will be published on https://www.poetryinmcgregor.co.za by 31 October and the prize winners will be announced at the opening event of the festival on 18 November.

There are some great cash prizes for the winners:

Youth Category: 7 – 17: Cash Prizes: First prize: R2500, 2nd prize R1000 and 3rd prize R500.

Adult category: There will be two categories, AFRIKAANS and ENGLISH: the prizes per category are: First prize R5000, 2nd prize R2500and 3rd prize R1000.

A note for poets who are interested in participating in the programme this year: please go to our homepage at https://poetryinmcgregor.co.za/ for info on how to make contact to participate at this year`s festival. The deadline for submissions to participate in the festival is 31 August and you can also mail Jane De Sousa at info@poetryinmcgregor.co.za with any questions.

The programme for The Poetry in McGregor Festival 2022 will be announced in September and ticket sales will open in October. For accommodation options contact McGregor Tourism at info@tourismmcgregor.co.za / 023 625 1954.