Van Riebeeck Festival: 19-21 January 1952 at Bethal The 300 - year anniversary of the settlement is celebrated on a brilliant way, with a stagecoach festival that was part of a nationwide celebration. The tracks of the ox-wagons during the Ox-wagon Trek of 1938 immortalised on cement Part of the stagecoach/mail-coach 19 JANUARY 1952 12.00 pm.: 1.00 pm.: 1.15 pm.: 1.30 pm.: 1.45 pm.: 3.15 pm.: 4.15 pm.: 6.00 pm.: 7.30 pm.: 8.15 pm.: 8.30 pm.: 9.15 pm.: 9.30 pm.: Horse commando meets stagecoach at Railway crossing. Short welcome by Commandant W H S Barnard. Stagecoach/Mail-coach comes on the festival. (While the carriage and procession enters the site, the festival attendees sang the “Transvaal National Anthem”). together singing Psalm 146:1. Scripture reading and Prayer Welcoming by Pause Pause. 4.30 pm.: Rev P J J Delport. Rev G O Meij. (meals and other refreshments served). Main Festival Speech delivered by Mr J E Reeler, Chairman of Union Stagecoach Arrangement Committee. Farmers and horse sports. Braai meat and Folks games. (As a demonstration group, local acts “know each other” Folks Games and Song Camp). Torchlight procession departure from the old Church Square. (Under the direction of the Voortrekker movement). Torchlight procession came on to the festival site. (While the feast zeal is lit with burning torches, festival attendees singing “The song of Young South Africa”). Dictaphone recording Broadcast of conversations over joyfulness years of Bethal and district by the oldest inhabitants. Fireworks. Singing together of “Die Stem”. Closing. 20 JANUARY 1952. 10.00 pm.: 21 JANURAY 1952. 5.30 pm.: 6.30 pm.: Collective worship in the N. H. or G. Church Building. Short religious service by Rev P. W. A. Bierman. Stagecoach/Mail-coach departed under cover of a Horse Commando. 134
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