Poetry in McGregor: Venues
Welcome to our Poetry Festival Venues. On this page you'll find some information and pictures as well as a Map of the village at the end of this page with the location of all the venues and restaurants.
(1) Venues at Temenos Retreat
The magical Temenos gardens, envisioned by Billy Kennedy, are now renowned for their tranquillity and beauty. Wander along the contemplative paths and discover a variety of Art created by Rose de La Hunt, Guy Walter and Richard Maidwell and local sculptress, Barbara Sowter. Within the grounds is a Library dedicated to Poetry from which guests are welcome to borrow a book and sit quietly in one of our many secluded corners. These are all the Venues inside Temenos:
The Poetry Library in Temenos
(3) Edna Fourie Gallery
50 Voortrekker Street, McGregor
From the McGregor main street one steps into this airy light-filled gallery, exclusive home of the art of Edna Fourie. It is an intimate space with the feel of a sanctuary. Paintings, poems and music engage the visitor in a soulful multimedia experience. During the McGregor Poetry Festival each poetry session held here adds to the rich emotional tapestry of this space.
9 Breë Street, McGregor
D’Amphitheatre at Poena, the home of Lies Hoogendoorn and Hester van der Walt. An intimate outdoor venue born from the red clay of a leiwaterdam.
Poena on Papermine
(15) Vrokijkheid Nature Reserve
Vrokijkheid Nature Reserve is a delightful CapeNature Reserve just 6km outside McGregor. Partly rocky hills and partly Robertson Karoo vegetation, it combines the rugged and the soothing: renosterveld and sweet-thorn trees, and bright botterblom daisies in spring. It has a Braille trail and a wheelchair-friendly boardwalk to a bird hide. “Friends of Vrolijkheid” is a community-based group supporting the Reserve - and nature conservation in the broadest sense.
(18) Bemind Winery
45 Voortrekker Straat, McGregor
Bemind Wyne is 'n droom wat waar geword het in die hartjie van die unieke dorpie, McGregor. Hier vind jy passie, liefde, opwinding en natuurlik fantastiese wyne. Ilse Schutte droom al vir die laaste 10 jaar van haar eie klein garagiste wyn Kelder en het die geleentheid gekry om te begin bou aan die keldertjie begin 2015. Als het begin met goeie wyn, 'n ondersteunende familie en die bree skouers van haar eggenoot. Vandag is Bemind Wyne 'n realitiet en 'n plek waar Ilse haar passie vir wynmaak, wyn waardering en haar mense verder kan uitleef. Na 'n proetjie van Bemind Wyne, word jy vinnig ook n beminde.
(13) Le Bonheur
60 Meul Street, McGregor
Le Bonheur, a small guest house in McGregor, is the venue for the wrapping-up function for the Poetry Festival. Locals and visitors are invited to the “Poetry and Potjie on the Stoep” of Le Bonheur (or inside at the fire if it is cold) for a relaxing evening together.
(10) The Lion House
20 Voortrekker Street, McGregor
This dorpshuis, built at the turn of the previous century, is the home of Jo Nowicki and Mike Kamstra. Apart from the three stone lions that account for its name, there are lions in the colourful stained glass of the front door.
At the back of the property is a magnificent succulent garden, and an airy art studio where Jo teaches drawing according to her own unique method which, she guarantees, will bring out the artist in anyone. She has been sketching for 35 years and her impressive collection of drawings is housed here - in drawers, display files and sketching journals.
(4) Carol’s Pub
An elegant Bed & Breakfast establishment in the main street of the village and run and owned by the Smith family.It has a cosy country pub, where you will be able to mix with the local villagers, 'The Overdraught' which just oozes atmosphere! This is the very popular late night fun entertainment venue for the Poetry Festival. Please pop in and join the locals and visitors for an experience not to be missed.
(6) NG Kerksaal
Corner Voortrekker and Church Streets, McGregor
h/v Kerk- en Voortrekkerstraat
Die Kerksaal is heelwat later gebou op die erf wat eens ‘n tennisbaan was. Hier word konsert gehou, gemeente etes, onthale, Skotse dansklasse en ballet aangebied en eens op ‘n tyd is hier ook Pluimbal gespeel. Die Saal word uitverhoor ter stuiwing van fondse vir die Instandhouding en Onderhoud daarvan. Hier kan met gemak 100 mense vir ete onthaal word en vir konsert of verhoog optredes tot 150. Tydens die fees word hier ook mentorskap voorlesings vir skoliere aangebied. Die gemeente bied ook Saterdag 29 Augustus om 19h00 ‘n ‘n sop en sjerrie aand en met ‘n musiekprogram deur Forest “Herinneringe van gister” – Koos du Plessis.
(5) NG KERK McGREGOR
McGregor het eers bekend gestaan as Lady Grey, vernoem na die eggenote van Sir George Grey, Goewerneur van die Kaap Kolonie 1854-1861.
Na vele verwarring met posaflewerings, met reeds bestaande Lady Grey in die Oos-Kaap stem die Posmeester Generaal in dat ‘n naamsverandering nodig is. Gedurende 1903 verander die naam na McGregor, ter ere van Ds Andrew McGregor wat sedert 1862 predikant was van die NG Gemeente Robertson. Op 7 April 1907 het die dorp se naam amptelik verander na McGregor.
Lidmate van McGregor het afgestig van NG Gemeente Robertson en begin bou gedurende 1904 hul eie kerk en in 1905 word die Kerkgebou amptelik ingewy.
Sedertdien word die Kerk nogsteeds deur McGregor NG Gemeente instandgehou en gebruik vir die Sondae se erediens, troues, doopplegtighede, begrafnisse, Kerssangdienste en ook met vergunning van die kerkraad tans per geleentheid as Venue vir die McGregor Gedigtefees. Ongelukkig is die oorspronklike orrel wat uitgedien was, ‘n paar jaar gelede verwyder en was daar nie genoeg fondse om dit te vervang of te herbou nie.
Met nagenoeg 250 sitplekke en goeie akoestiek leen die Kerkgebou hom daartoe om lesings, sangaanbiedings en voorlesings tydens die fees hier aan te bied. Op Sondag 30 Augustus is daar ‘n spesiale Gedigtefees erediens, met onder andere voorlesings uit die werk van die digter I.L. de Villiers.
(19) Breede Centre
42 Kerk Street, McGregor
The Breede Centre has training facilities with emphasis on practical skills for the local unemployedwho are yearning for a better life. The courses offered range from Woodwork and Garden training to Entrepreneurial and Computer courses. The Breede Centre will host a story-telling event during the Poetry Festival this year.
(17) De Akker
h/v Voortrekker- en Kerkstraat
Hierdie gebou is bekend as die Ou Munisipale-kantore en waar die Toerisme Inligtingkantoor vandag is, was die Biblioteek en is byna 150jr gelede gebou en is in 1974 deur die Nasionale Monumente raad as historiese monument verklaar. Die gebou word goedgunstiglik deur die Langeberg Munisipaliteit beskikbaar gestel as venue vir die randaanbiedings van opkomende sowel as gevestigde digters, wat elkeen op sy beurt
Do not get lost, have a look at the following map to find all our Venues and Restaurants. You can also download the map at this link.
Another great interview about our festival – this time on Radio Namakwaland! see also this article on channel24