Basters have their fun day

For the second year in a row, the Rehoboth community celebrated Baster Day last week.
“Following the success of last year’s event we decided to make Baster Day an annual event always planned for the first Saturday of December”, says event organizer, Patrick Jankowski.
Opened by the community’s traditional leader, Kaptein John McNab, just short of 40 families who are engaged in the home-craft sector of the town’s local economy, put there products on sale.
Vendors were not required to pay a fee but they were asked to make a donation. The funds help support Rehoboth charities and community organizations. Some of the home-crafters sold Baster delicacies such as traditional ginger beer, pumpkin fritters, roosterbrood, skaap pot and jam tarts knows locally as Hertzoggies, whilst others showcased hand-made jewellery, traditional garments, ornaments and riempie stools.
In addition to the food and crafts on sale, pony rides, a jumping castle and a water slide provided entertainment for the kids.
Jankowski and his band of helpers were kept busy from early morning until midnight. Throughout the day they arranged games for the kids. The older folks too had fun with a dance held in the evening where langarm music proved a hit with young and old alike.
Sporting a Proudly Baster T-shirt, Jankowski says the event serves three purposes. “Firstly it provides a forum for crafters to generate income and secondly an opportunity for early Christmas shopping. More importantly it draws together Basters from Rehoboth and further afield, in a spirit of oneness that fosters community service, sharing with others and caring for the underprivileged, whilst having fun.”