The South African Cheese Festival takes place over the weekend of Friday 28 April to Sunday 30 April 2017 at Sandringham in Stellenbosch. Here are eight great reasons to buy a ticket this year. (You can also enter our competition to win tickets here.)

1. First and foremost, the cheese

The award-winning South African Cheese Festival will feature an amazing selection of the best cheeses in the country, with some unique dairy products, preserves and other goodies that perfectly complement cheese. The Dairy Square is home to the Checkers Cheese Emporium, which houses an impressive variety of cheeses, from cheddars and goudas to hand-made boutique options.

2. The gourmet food and wine to taste and take home

Superb quality eateries in the Gourmet Lane ensure that festival goers are spoiled for choice when planning for lunch or early supper. The AGRI-EXPO MALL features a carefully selected variety of food and drinks to taste and purchase to enjoy at home, and the Checkers Food Market, a mini store, extends your shopping experience with a specially selected variety of quality cheese, meat and wine products.

3. You could win a car

This year, your ticket gives you an entry into the draw for a brand new Chevrolet Utility 1.4 UTEForce bakkie, sponsored by Reeds Motor Group.

4. Great live music

Festival goers will be treated to the sounds of Kurt Darren on Friday 28 April and BlackByrd on Sunday 30 April 2017. Both performances will take place at the Stellenbosch Vineyards Music Gazebo on the festival grounds.

5. You can be a VIP

The Connoisseurs Experience is available for those who prefer exclusivity amongst the thousands of cheese lovers attending the festival. This package includes VIP parking, VIP access, tickets to an exclusive Nataniël show in the Cooking Pot and more.

6. You can take the kids

The SA Cheese Festival is a child-friendly environment with lots of fun and games for the little ones. Kids will be hosted under supervision in the Kiddies Corner and entertained with a variety of activities. The Carnival Park is the ideal place to sit back and relax in the autumn sun with the family after tasting and shopping at the numerous stands.

7. You can meet your favourite celebrity chef

Three theatres enhance the entertainment value this year, with Nataniël, Carmen Niehaus and Leon the Milkman in the Cooking Pot. Chef Nic van Wyk and master brewer Reto Jagger will present in the Standard Bank Tasting Room and Aviv Liebenberg and Charné Loubser of the Private Hotel School will cook up delicious treats in Cape Made Kitchen.

8. You can try your hand at cheese carving

The daily Ladismith Cheese Carving Competition ensures a laugh for those who want to try their hand at sculpting a work of art from a block of cheese. The cheese art will be displayed in glass cabinets for all visitors to see and enjoy.

9. You can take a shuttle home afterwards

Sandringham is conveniently located next to the N1, Stellenbosch turn-off (exit 39), between Cape Town and Paarl, but if you’d like to indulge, you can get a ride safely home. Click here for the details of shuttle services available.

The SA Cheese Festival takes place from 10am to 6pm from Friday 28 April to Sunday 30 April 2017 at Sandringham in Stellenbosch. Tickets are available at any Computicket outlet, Shoprite or Checkers store at R160 per person per day. Senior citizens pay R100 and children 13 years old and younger enter free of charge. No tickets will be sold at the gates.

Enter our competition to win one of two sets of double tickets here.

Visit www.cheesefestival.co.za for more information and follow the SA Cheese Festival on Facebook, Twitter @SACheeseFest and Instagram @sacheesefest.