By Dakarai Moyana
Festival goers attending this year’s Castle Lager Braai Day Festival in Harare will have an opportunity to showcase their grilling skills and compete for prizes as organisers introduce “Castle Braai O’clock”, a new interactive attraction placing Zimbabwe’s popular braai culture at the heart of the festivities.
The initiative, announced by Delta Beverages ahead of the October 17 festival at Glamis Arena, will dedicate an hour to competitions and group activities, offering festivalgoers an opportunity to participate in the entertainment alongside a programme of live musical performances.
“A key feature of this year’s festival will be the introduction of the ‘Castle Braai O’clock’ activation, an immersive group experience scheduled from 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm,” Delta Beverages said in a statement.
“The activation will include the ultimate braai master contest and other engaging competitions, with Castle Lager merchandise and additional prizes on offer.”
The introduction of Braai O’clock signals a greater emphasis on audience participation, with the dedicated hour expected to shift attention towards the braai competitions, adding a new dimension to the annual celebration of music, food and social entertainment.
Beyond the grilling contests, the festival will feature more than ten local musicians and DJs, headlined by dancehall heavyweight Winky D, urban grooves star Ex Q and Zimdancehall musician Enzo Ishall.
Emerging performers Jnr Spragga, Atenda Chinx and DJ Loz will also take part, providing a platform for both established and upcoming Zimbabwean talent.
Delta Beverages said the combination of established and emerging artists reflected Castle Lager’s “continued commitment to supporting and celebrating Zimbabwean music talent.”
Ahead of the main event, the company has lined up nationwide promotional activities at popular braai venues, where consumers will have opportunities to win festival tickets, Castle Lager products and other prizes.
The annual festival brings together Zimbabwean music and the country’s popular outdoor cooking tradition, with this year’s edition introducing a competitive element designed to give braai enthusiasts a more prominent role in the celebrations.
