December in the Riebeek Valley: dates for your diary

December is when many people finally slow down, and the Riebeek Valley is a good place to do it. The village keeps its usual rhythm into the holidays, and there are a few dates worth knowing if you are planning a stay.

The month opens with First Fridays on 4 December, when shops and restaurants in Riebeek Kasteel stay open from five until eight in the evening, often with specials. Mullineux & Leeu also holds its first-Friday tasting that evening; it needs booking, so contact the winery ahead of time.

The next morning, Saturday 5 December, the Riebeek Valley Village Market sets up opposite Kasteel Motors from half past nine until two. It is a charity market for Riebeek Animal Welfare, with handmade crafts and homemade food, and a good place to stock the kitchen for the weekend.

Before December arrives, look out for the ACVV Christmas Market on the town square, with stalls, entertainment, carols and the switching on of the Christmas lights. The village diary lists it for November, but the date had not been confirmed when we wrote this, so check with the ACVV in Riebeek Kasteel before you plan around it.

For an outing, Tulbagh is a short drive away. Its tourism office lists the Tulbagh Horse Show from 3 to 5 December and the Witzenville Faire on 4 and 5 December. Back in the valley, Boxing Day brings the annual all-day cricket match between Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West.

Between the dates, let the summer set the pace: walk early, keep the hot afternoons for the shade or the pool, and save the evenings for the terrace. If the whole family is coming for the holidays, Goud, Silwer and Groen together sleep up to ten, each with its own kitchen and outdoor space.