World City Guide

Special Events

Kaapse Klopse (Cape Minstrels’ Carnival), New Year ‘karnaval’ with a parade through the city centre, 2 Jan, city centre to Green Point Stadium
Tweede Nuwe Jaar (Second New Year), informal public holiday, 2 Jan, throughout the city
Cape to Rio Yacht Race, international yacht race, Jan, Royal Cape Yacht Club
Standard Bank Cape Town Jazzathon, jazz festival (website: www.waterfront.co.za), mid-Jan, V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre
Maynardville Shakespeare Season, open-air theatre, Jan–Feb, Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, Wynberg
International Design Indaba, workshops, lectures and the annual Construction New Media Awards (website: www.designindaba.com), Feb, Cape Town International Convention Centre
Old Mutual Marathon, Feb, Old Mutual Sports Fields, Jan Smuts Drive, Pinelands
J&B Met, Western Cape’s premier horserace, Jan/Feb, Kenilworth Racecourse
Aqua Opera, floating operatic spectacular, Feb, North Wharf and V&A Marina, V&A Waterfront
Community Chest Carnival, international food festival, fun fair and fête, late Feb–early Mar, Maynardville Park, Wynberg
Cape Argus/Pick ’n’ Pay Cycle Tour, 108km (67-mile) race around the peninsula, attracting 35,000 cyclists (website: www.cycletour.co.za), mid-Mar, around Cape Peninsula
Out in Africa South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, most successful film festival in South Africa (website: www.oia.co.za), Mar/Apr, Cinema Nouveau, V&A Waterfront
Cape Town Festival, arts, culture and heritage festival to promote unity within the city (website: www.capetownfestival.co.za), Mar, various venues
Human Rights Day, commemoration of the martyrs of apartheid, 21 Mar, throughout the city
North Sea Jazz Cape Town Festival, Africa’s biggest jazz festival, late Mar, Cape Town International Convention Centre
Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, 56km (35-mile) race (website: www.twooceansmarathon.org.za), Mar, around the peninsula from the Celtic Harriers Athletic Club, Main Road, Newlands
Freedom Day, commemoration of South Africa’s first democratic elections, 27 Apr, throughout the city
Cape Gourmet Festival, food and wine festival (website: www.gourmetsa.com), May, various venues
Cape Times and V&A Waterfront Wine Festival, over 90 of the Cape’s top wine estates, producers and wineries gather for exhibitions and tastings (website: www.waterfront.co.za), May, V&A Waterfront
Red Bull BWA (Big Wave Africa), surfing spectacular (website: www.redbullbwa.com), Jun, Dungeons, The Sentinel, Hout Bay
Youth Day, anniversary of the 1976 student uprising against apartheid, 16 Jun, throughout the city
Man In Focus, workshops, touch rugby tournaments, music concerts and other events of interest to men (website: www.waterfront.co.za), Jun, V&A Waterfront
Children’s Festival, workshops, events and entertainment for children (website: www.waterfront.co.za), Jun/Jul, Market Square, V&A Watefront
International Documentary Film Festival (website: www.encounters.co.za), Jul, various cinemas
Hout Bay Snoek Derby, festival in celebration of Cape Town’s favourite fish, Aug, Hout Bay harbour
Woman In Focus, workshops and events of interest to women (website: www.waterfront.co.za), Aug, V&A Waterfront
Winter Food Fair (website: www.waterfront.co.za), Aug, V&A Waterfront
National Women’s Day, celebration of the role of women in the anti-apartheid struggle, 9 Aug, throughout the city
Spring Flower Show (website: www.waterfront.co.za), Sep, V&A Watefront
Smirnoff International Comedy Festival, Sep/Oct, Baxter Theatre Centre, Rondebosch
Cape Times/FNB Big Walk, a walk for charity, a city tradition since 1903 (website: www.bigwalk.co.za), mid-Oct, Cape Town and surrounding areas, finishing at the Hartleyvale Stadium
Three Peaks Challenge, hike up Devil’s Peak, Table Mountain and Lion’s Head (website: www.hikecapetown.co.za), early Nov, start at 0500 at Scott House, 108 Long Street
Whiskey Festival (website: www.waterfront.co.za), Oct, Jetty 2, V&A Waterfront
International Dragon Boat Festival (website: www.waterfront.co.za), Nov, V&A Waterfront
Sithengi, film and television market (website: www.sithengi.co.za), mid-Nov, Artscape Theatre Centre
Cape Town World Cinema Festival, international film festival (website: www.sithengi.co.za), mid-Nov, various venues
Wiggle Waggle Walkathon, 4km (2.5 mile) walk for dogs (website: www.spca-ct.co.za), Nov, Constantia
Spier Arts Summer Season, jazz, opera, comedy, dance and classical concerts (website: www.spierarts.org.za), Dec-Mar, Spier Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
Long Street Carnival, music, dance, theatre and arts, Dec, Long Street
Mother City Queer Project Festival, gay and lesbian events and themed costume party (website: www.mcqp.co.za), mid-Dec, various venues
Day of Reconciliation, day of national unity across political divides, 16 Dec, throughout the city
Obz Festival, street festival, Dec-Feb, Lower Main Road, Observatory
New Year’s Eve Bash, open-air concert and party, 31 Dec, V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre
Kirstenbosch Appletiser Summer Sunset Concerts, open-air concerts (website: www.kirstenbosch.co.za), Nov-Mar, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens