CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

•  The Alzheimer’s support group meets today at 10 am at Riverside Old Age Home, 450 Bulwer Street, Pietermaritzburg. Inquiries: Lorna at 033 396 6607 or Jane at 033 386 4477 or 082 940 0225.

• BirdLife KZN Midlands (Pietermaritzburg) members will be going on an outing to Darvill on Sunday at 8 am. For more information contact Gordon Bennett at 033 386 5555. On July 9, the organisation will be holding an evening meeting at Ezemvelo headquarters at Queen Elizabeth Park, Pietermaritzburg, at 7 pm.

• The Friends of Architectural Heritage and the Durban Art Deco Society will be visiting the Phansi Museum and Roberts House at 500 Esther Roberts (Frere) Road, Glenwood, on Sunday at 10.30 am. Paul Mikula will show members around, talk about the restoration of the old Victorian house, which is a national monument, and the collection of priceless African artefacts. Meet in the courtyard at 10 am. Admission is R15 for members and R25 for non-members, which includes entrance to the museum. Book by phoning Helen at 031 301 1951.

• The Diabetes South Africa Northdale Support Group meets on July 6 at 7 pm in the Motivational Centre, 773 Greytown Road, Pietermaritzburg. Inquiries: 033 346 0934.

• The Bats low vision support group meets at Woodgrove on July 8 at 10 am. Inquiries: Penny at 033 355 0269.

• A Diabetes South Africa open meeting will take place on July 8 in the Dutch Reformed Church Hall, Dryden Road, Hayfields, at 7.30 pm. The speaker is ophthalmologist, Dr Allan Sara. Inquiries: 033 346 0934.

COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE

• The 93rd Dellville Wood Commemorative Service, organised by the SA Legion of Military Veterans (Pietermaritzburg branch), on behalf of the city council, will be held at the Garden of Remembrance in Leinster Road, Pietermaritzburg, on July 12 at 11 am.

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

• Matric art pupils are being invited to sign up for a one-week art workshop with Denis Essom, a former graphic design lecturer at the AAA School of Advertising in Johannesburg. The workshop — which will run from July 6 to July10 between 9 am and noon — is geared towards gaining practical art examples to boost end-of-year matric exhibitions and to hone interview portfolios and skills should pupils wish to pursue careers in design. Studio places are limited to ensure individual attention, so those interested should book as soon as possible on 033 345 2116 (ah) or 072 117 0017.

DANCE AND EXERCISE

• Yoga classes for strength and flexibility take place in Scottsville on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5.30 pm. Phone Jenny at 033 386 3323.

• Yoga classes take place in Hilton on Mondays at 5.30 pm. Phone Moira at 072 800 5294 or 033 343 4014 (a/h).

• Chi Kung is a fun exercise to keep you healthy. Classes take place at Lincoln Meade and cost R20. Phone Dianne at 082 457 0849 or 033 396 2147.

EVENTS

• The Natal Museum at 237 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg, is hosting a sleepover, Night at the Museum, tonight from 6 pm. The programme includes storytelling, a museum tour, an art workshop, face painting, movies and lots more. Admission is R85. Phone Bona or Viranna at 033 341 0500 to book.

• Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust will be hosting a Durban July hat parade tomorrow. Visitors are encouraged to wear hats and to take advantage of specials on plants, cakes made by ZenAfrica, and a variety of arts and crafts in the Woza Moya shop and flea market, a tea garden and lots more. Phone 031 765 5866.

• Creighton’s annual Aloe and Eshayomoya Steam Train Festival and Country Market takes place on July 11 and July 12. For more information, phone Terry at 084 581 0142 or Glynnis at 083 273 8037.

• Howick Community Church is hosting a presentation by Jenny May Hudson, titled The Music in You, at Pipkin Farm on the Dargle Road on July 11 from 9 am to 1 pm. Admission is R40. To book, phone Sally Butlin at 033 330 4280 or 084 678 6200 or e-mail sally.butlin@ni trosoft.co.za or phone Jenny Beard at 033 330 3044 or 082 845 5276 or e-mail jen ny.beard@mweb.co.za before July 7.

FILM

• A film about the relationship between a disabled woman and a troop of baboons is highlighted in the film, Healing Power of Nature — Distant Cousins, which will be screened at the Natal Museum in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday at 2.15 pm. There will be time for discussion and questions from the audience afterwards. The event is a fundraiser for Hope for an Environmentally Friendly City. Tickets are R10. Booking is essential at 033 342 4088 or 033 344 3094.

HEALTH

• The Phelophepa health care train, a corporate social responsibility initiative of Transnet, will be snaking its way through the province until the end of September, providing general health screenings, optometry, dental services and counselling for as little as R5, if not free. The train will be in Mtubatuba today and Bergville from July 6 to July 10.

HOLIDAY FUN

• Val Maggs is hosting three holiday art classes in painting, drawing and craft for children aged between seven and 12 at the Val Maggs Art Studio, 355 Prince Alfred Street, Pietermaritzburg, today from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, on July 8 from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm and on July 18 from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Admission is R50. Phone Val at 033 342 1638.

• The Natal Museum at 237 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg, will be hosting a holiday workshop today between 9 am and 1 pm. Children will be able to enjoy scrap booking, decoupage, chocolate making, clay art, candle decorating, face painting, a treasure hunt, sand art and lots more. Admission is R65 and includes materials and snacks. To book, phone Rashika at 033 330 3027 or 082 326 8807.

• Voortrekker/Msunduzi Museum will host a kids’ holiday programme today between 9 am and noon. Admission is R25 and children will be able to do beadwork, baking, embroidery and rock painting. Materials will be provided by the museum at 351 Langalibalele Street, Pietermaritzburg. Booking is essential. Contact Makhosi at 033 394 6834/5 or e-mail mzwane@msunduzimuse um.org.za

• Model steam train rides take place on Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm at 78 Rundling Road, Pietermaritzburg. Phone Theo at 072 143 3032.

• Rayz Kids World at uShaka Marine World in Durban has plenty of fun on offer for the little ones. Until July 19 there will be buskers, clowns, stilt walkers, mascot shows, pirate magic shows, the chance to dig for treasure, explore a treasure cave and lots more. Admission is R10 for children (parents free). Phone Brandon at 031 328 8000.

• See Grant Jacobs and Rory Booth in The Further Adventures of Rob and Bob at the Catalina Theatre in Durban until July 12. The play tells the story of brothers, Bob and Rob, who get swallowed into the world of TV, from which they can only escape if they help others. Tickets are R30 or R45 for the show and a boat trip round the harbour. Phone 031 305 6889 to book.

• KickstArt presents the colourful children’s classic, Winnie-the-Pooh, at the Playhouse Opera until July 19. The show stars Rowan Bartlett (Pooh), Carol Trench (Piglet), Peter Court (Eeyore), Anthony Stonier (Rabbit), Michael Gritten (Tigger), Liesl Coppin (Kanga) and Marc Kay (Owl). Tickets R100 (adults) and R80 (children under 12) from Computicket.

• This year’s Rainbow Young Performers Project is Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which can be seen at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from July 3 to July 19. Directed by Themi Venturas, the performers, who are all high school pupils, remind us that two people from very different backgrounds can share common ground. Showtimes are 7.30 pm Tuesday to Friday, 2.30 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays and 6 pm on Sundays. Tickets from Computicket.

• Children and their families are invited to visit the Karkloof Conservation Centre during the holidays to learn about birding and nature. The centre offers two exclusive bird hides and a five kilometre farm walk. Take a picnic basket and enjoy a day out in the beautiful Karkloof countryside. The centre is situated 15kms outside Howick. Admission is R20 for adults and R10 for children (free for under fives). Inquiries: 033 330 2992.

• The Flying Germ Show — a spectacular musical and aerial extravaganza — is at Gateway Theatre of Shopping in Umhlanga from July 9 to July 20. Set in a fictitious land of DomestiCity the show tells the story of flying acrobatic germs which infiltrate the city from the toilet bowl and the battle to get rid of them. Show times are 1 pm, 2.30 pm and 4 pm. Entrance is free.

MARKETS, FUN DAYS AND FAIRS

• The Pietermaritzburg SPCA Morning Market will be open on Saturday, July 4 from 9 am to noon at the SPCA grounds, 235 Woodhouse Road. Stalls will be selling books, records, CDs and DVDs, good quality used clothing and linen, white elephant and plants. Inquiries: 033 386 9267.

MUSIC

• There will be a free lunch-hour concert at the Tatham Art Gallery, titled Music for Young People, at 1.10 pm July 8. Sabine Baird (flute and saxophone) and Violetta Osorhean (violin), young violinist Laura Osorhean (11) and pianist Christopher Duigan will demonstrate the mechanics of their instruments and perform everything from The Entertainer and Pink Panther to a classical selection by Chopin, Haydn and the celebrated Czardas by Monti.

• The Pixie Bennett Band and Stealing Love Jones will perform at the Heaxagon Theatre in Pietermaritzburg on July 10 at 7.30 pm. Tickets are R60 (students and pupils R50). To book, phone 033 260 5537 or e-mail hexa gon@ukzn.ac.za

• Azalea Rotary Club is hosting a one-off performance by the Welsh Male Voice Choir of South Africa at the Alan Paton Memorial Hall, Maritzburg College, on July 11 at 6.30 pm. The programme will include Danny Boy, You Raise Me Up, the Welsh national anthem, a Les Miserables medley and lots more. Tickets are R70 for adults, R60 pensioners and R40 students. To book, phone Pearl at 033 345 0303.

SPORT

• The 2009 Safire Insurance Super Classic takes place at the Baynesfield Estate in Baynesfield on July 5. There are three races — a 10 km run or ride for kids and first time mountain bikers, a 25km event and the 45km Safire Super Classic which follows the 25 km event route and a 20 km loop full of single track and technical downhill. Food and beverages will be on sale on the main field throughout the day. The 45 km race starts at 9 am, the 25 km at 9.15 am and the 10km at 9.30 am. Registration is from 7 am to 8 am. To enter visit www.jowettscy cles.co.za

* Submit your events to Estelle Sinkins at arts@wit ness.co.za by noon on Wednesday.