• The FynArts Festival is the only one of its kind in South Africa, bringing together books, theatre, art, and music in Hermanus from 6 to 14 June.
• News24 journalists Kyle Cowan and Jeff Wicks headline the State of the Shadow Nation breakfast on 10 June, discussing the costs of writing dangerous books about dangerous people versus staying silent.
• Other book highlights include wine writing with News24’s Daléne Fourie, pet trends with Dion Chang, global bestselling authors with Mike Nicol, Sally Andrews and Tony Park, and a Book Club Showdown.

Tickets are selling fast for the Hermanus FynArts Festival, which brings together books, theatre, art and music, running from 6 to 14 June.

“It’s the only festival like this in the whole country. Music, art, theatre, and books, all in one space. Tons of free events, tons of paid events. The streets are going to be really alive,” says books festival curator Paige Nick.

“We have 10 incredible book events happening. Four of them have already completely sold out,” she adds.

Among the literary sessions are News24 investigative journalists Kyle Cowan and Jeff Wicks, who are set to headline the State of the Shadow Nation News24 breakfast on Wednesday, 10 June at 08:00. Kyle Cowan (Mafia Land), Jeff Wicks (The Shadow State), and Micah Reddy (Malema, Money. Power. Patronage) join Twanji Kalula to discuss the risks of writing dangerous books about dangerous people and the costs of saying nothing. Tickets are R500 and are available here.

With the festival’s second News24 breakfast – featuring editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson, Max du Preez, Pieter du Toit and Anthony Butler – selling out within two days, organisers urge festivalgoers to secure their seats early.

Other book events include: News24’s Wine Editor Daléne Fourie in conversation with author Bridgid Hamilton Russell (Red Tape), winemaker Craig Wessels (Restless River), and wine journalist Christian Eedes (Winemag) on the state of wine writing.

Author Mike Nicol (Falls the Shadow) chats to Sally Andrews (Wild Things Never Die,

the latest Tannie Maria mystery) and Tony Park (Die by the Sword) about their global bestselling franchises that have led to awards and movie deals.

Trend analyst Dion Chang unpacks the latest pet trends from his book, A Pawfect Life, with animal behaviour expert Lenke Elferink. Chang will explore outrageous pet trends from Asia – including selling more pet prams than baby prams, offering CBD treats for dogs, and owners buying flight seats for their animals.

Then there’s the Book Club Showdown featuring Bongani Kona, Paige Nick (Book People), founder of the Facebook book club, The Good Book Appreciation Society, Shawn Buck, founder of Cape Town Silent Book Club, Ann-Maree Tippoo, co-founder of IRL Mother City Book Club and John Bradshaw, founder of the Non-fiction Book Club Podcast. They’ll be talking all things book club—and debating what makes the best kind.

Other events in the week-long festival include 12 music shows ranging from the Ndlovu Youth Choir, which is already sold out, to the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, two award-winning plays, art exhibitions, and sculptures along the Hermanus Cliff Path.

The festival is less than an hour and a half from Cape Town, making it the perfect winter outing.

“What’s not to love about Hermanus? You’ve got views, you’ve got restaurants, you’ve got wines, and now you’ve got all these incredible events to enjoy,” says Nick.

See the full programme here.