Union Festival

The Union Festival was a nation-wide celebration of 50 the years of the founding of Union of South Africa in 1910.

Also referred to as the Festival of Union and as the Uniefees in Afrikaans.

The festival

Taking place in 1960, the festival consisted of national and regional events taking [place in various cities and towns around the country, including Cape Town, Pretoria and Bloemfontein.

Among the events were:

An exhibition of South African publications called Die Boek in Suid-Afrika/The Book in South Africa (9-31 May, 1960).

A mock battle by the SA Armed Forces at De Brug, outside Bloemfontein.

Various new commissioned plays were written and pageants staged for the occasion.

These include:

The Fall by Anthony Delius

Nie vir Geleerdes by N.P. van Wyk Louw

Sources

Uniefees: Die Boek in Suid-Afrika. Union Festival: The Book in South Africa 9-31/V/1960 Uitstalling van Suid-Afrikaanse Publikasies. Exhibition of South African Publications (Uniefeeskomitee/Union Feast Commitee; First Edition, January 1, 1960)

Union Festival 1960 - Cape Town Commemoration Guide - Uniefees 1960 - Kaapstadse Herdenkingsgids Published by Ramsay, Son and Parker (PTY.) LTD, 1960.

Union Festival: Pretoria, 1910-1960 Insecor Industrial Services, 1960

1960 Official Festival Programme - Bloemfontein - 50 years union AC White P.and P. Co.

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