The first Franschhoek Literary Festival took place in 2007 with two main objectives:

• To bring together a broad cross-section of mostly South African writers and a few distinguished authors from overseas, aiming to present quality events that inspire and inform.
• To raise funds for local community and school libraries, for which the FLF Library Fund was established.

The Festival runs from Friday to Sunday during the third weekend in May, preceded by the Book Week for Young Readers. The events take place in village venues within a few minutes' walk of each other, which creates a vibrant ambience in streets buzzing with book-lovers.  

The emphasis is on informal discussions and spirited debates between several writers with a chairperson, or one-on-one conversations, and occasional talks. Starting at 10am and ending at 5pm, up to nine one-hour events run concurrently with half an hour between each (except where otherwise stated). Fringe events include literary and publishers' dinners, book launches, writing workshops, a school spelling bee, and classical music concerts. The FLF is honoured to host the shortlist announcements of the annual Sunday Times Literary Awards - the non fiction Alan Paton Award and the newly named Barry Ronge Fiction Prize.

Porcupine Ridge Wines and the Sunday Times have funded the FLF since 2010, and their support is essential to the planning and organisation of the festival. Click on SPONSORS for details.

For further information or general enquiries about the Festival, email Sheenagh at help@flf.co.za.