Rieyaanah Gladden, 9, from Tafelsig celebrated her birthday party at the Mitchell’s Plain Festival on Saturday November 26, Frozen style, complete with balloons and a birthday cake.
Rieyaanah won the Plainsman’s Win a Festival Party competition last week after submitting a letter saying why she should be chosen as the lucky winner.
Speaking to the Plainsman at the festival, she said: “This is my first birthday party and I am very excited. I am happy to have my party at the festival and it feels good to be with my family, celebrating my birthday. Thank you Plainsman for my party and my awesome gift.”
Rieyaanah said she chose the Frozen theme because it is one of her favourite movies.
“My favourite character is Elsa. She is smart and beautiful. I like the movie because it is interesting and very entertaining. I also like the song Let it go,” she said with a smile.
He mother Suwayba said Rieyaanah’s father died when she was just one-year-and-seven months on July 1 in 2009.
“I am a single parent with an absolutely wonderful child. Time flew and it is great to see her so happy at her party. Thank you for making her birthday special Plainsman,” she said.
The Plainsman is part of the Cape Community Newspapers (CCN) stable.
CCN editor Chantel Erfort said the Plainsman has been involved in the festival for eight years and has been running the party for five years.
“Through our involvement with the Mitchell’s Plain Festival, we wanted to do something that would not only promote our brand, but also give back to the residents of Mitchell’s Plain in some way. In the past we have sold popcorn to raise funds for charity.
“We have hosted talent shows at the festival and in recent years, hosted our very popular Win a Festival Party competition which gives a young child from the area the opportunity to celebrate his or her birthday party, with a group of friends at the festival. We sometimes forget that there are many children who have never had a birthday party, and through this initiative we’ve managed to reach some of them, giving them the opportunity to be in the spotlight, at a birthday party to remember,” she said.
