South Africa

The tiny South African town that hosts the longest-running cherry festival of its kind every year

Bianke Neethling • 16 July 2026

At the foot of the Imperani Mountain in the Free State lies a tiny town called Ficksburg, which is known for its cherries.

Labelled South Africa’s ‘cherry capital’, Ficksburg hosts an annual Cherry Festival, which is the oldest crop festival in South Africa.

Ficksburg itself is one of South Africa’s oldest towns, established in 1867 by General Johan Fick, Commander-General of the old Orange Free State Republic.

Fick had won the territory in the Basotho Wars, as the general had been tasked with protecting the border between the then Basotholand and the Orange Free State.

Ficksburg is located between the foot of the Imperani Mountain and the banks of the Caledon River. It is close to the Lesotho border.

After Fick established his eponymous town, the government encouraged settlers to live there by offering them land, horses, guns, and ammunition.

Today, Ficksburg is considered a gateway to Lesotho and to the Katse Dam, and it boasts a large, cosmopolitan population. The 2011 census recorded its population at 5,400 residents.

Its economy is based mainly on mixed agriculture, with a focus on asparagus, cherries, and deciduous fruits such as peaches and apricots.

The Ficksburg district is known for its sandstone formations of the mountains. Many of the older buildings in and around the town were built of sandstone.

According to the town’s website, the Union Buildings in Pretoria were built from sandstone that was quarried in the area surrounding Ficksburg.

Ficksburg is also the place to be for steam train enthusiasts, with the town hosting a large collection of privately-owned locomotives and rolling stock.

Its proximity to nature also makes Ficksburg a good travel destination for nature enthusiasts, with many hiking trails up in the Maluti Mountains and scenic game farms in the area.

Ficksburg’s Cherry Festival

One of Ficksburg’s main attractions is its Cherry Festival, which has been held every year in November for 58 years, making it the longest-running crop festival in South Africa.

According to the town’s website, the festival attracts 30,000 visitors annually, who come to enjoy orchard tours, cherry tasting, and entertainment.

Ficksburg’s Cherry Festival was born in 1968 and was started by a group of young locals who had recently joined the Junior Chamber International (JCI).

The JCI is a global non-profit and leadership network. The group of young men had opened a Ficksburg chapter for the organisation and were looking for a project to launch it.

They considered many ideas, but ultimately landed on a Cherry Festival – a decision that would cement Ficksburg’s reputation as South Africa’s ‘Cherry Town’ for years to come.

Prior to this, cherries had been a core part of Ficksburg’s identity for years, with the first cherry crop planted in the area in 1905.

The first cherry seed was planted on a farm called Platkop in the Clocolan district, and some of the original trees that were planted are still on the farm today.

However, it was the annual Cherry Festival that cemented the crop as Ficksburg’s main moniker, making it the cherry capital of South Africa.

“Through the years, the Cherry Festival has grown in stature and has become one of the events in South Africa with thousands of visitors during the cherry time,” the town’s website states.

“Special bus tours have become very popular, and Ficksburg has become a must for tour operators.”

Today, the festival is operated by Ionia Cherry Farm, which was established on the same farm where the town’s first cherry tree was planted, and it offers a host of events and sights for attendees to enjoy.

Typically held in the third week of November, the festival offers cherry-picking tours, live concerts, on-site camping, wine tastings, Orchard Pilates, and a Christmas Market.

Many well-known South African musicians have performed at the festival, including the Soweto String Quartet, Prime Circle, Kelly Khumalo, Jeremy Loops, and Spoegwolf.

The annual Cherry Festival has also become an economic powerhouse for Ficksburg due to the influx of tourists it attracts each year.

Hundreds of businesses in the area benefit from the event, including local farms, guest houses, artisans, retailers, and tour operators.