Rose Fair History

 

What started as a small fair has grown over the years to an enormous event which is a fixture on the Western Cape social calendar and has become well-known throughout our country.  The Rose Show attracts people country-wide, as do the impressive open gardens. Added to this is the wonderful Greyton Rose Fair Open Air Market which boasts around 100 stalls!

The Rose Fair involves the entire village and local shops, restaurants, artists, schools, and churches get involved to make this a wonderful weekend for visitors and locals to enjoy.

Initially, profits from the Rose Fair went towards feeding those in need. Then, as the event grew in size over the years, donations were given regularly to a range of community charities. To date donations have been made to:

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• repair a much-needed scope for our local doctor;

• support the work done by Greyton Red Cross;

• purchase musical instruments for Greyton Primary School;

• upgrade scholars’ toilets at Uitkyk Primary School;

• the Greyton Genadendal Education Fund;

• sponsor bursary children at Greyton House;

• build a playground at the library for all children to enjoy;

• the SAPS Widows & Orphans Fund;

• equipment for pre-primary education in our village.

 

A great debt of thanks is owed to people like Eugenie Hampson, who founded the fair many years ago, Sakkie Buys, who chaired Greyton Seniors’ for several years, and, most recently, chairperson Gill Moore, who has worked tirelessly over the years to make a success of the Rose Fair.

 

Greyton Seniors’ was disbanded 3 years ago, and the Greyton Rose Fair is now run as a project by Greyton Valley Community Project NPC . Although those behind the scenes may have changed, the ethos and objective of the Greyton Rose Fair remains unchanged … to get the whole Greyton community involved in doing something that adds value to the lives of all Greytonians