Events

Cape Minstrel Carnival
Cape Town Minstrel Carnival
Every New Year, thousands of minstrels take to the streets in a
dazzling display of colourful satin uniforms, shiny parasols,
painted faces and foot-tapping banjo tunes that accompany the
traditional folk songs, many of Cape Malay origin. The parade is
known colloquially as the 'Coon Carnival' ('coon' referring to a
member of a minstrel troupe) among the predominately
Afrikaans-speaking 'coloured' community who make up the majority of
the performers. The traditional event has its origins in the 19th
century when minstrel entertainers on American cruise ships stopped
off in Cape Town; their sounds and styles were incorporated into
the New Year festivals of the newly freed Malay slaves. The
Carnival begins in the new year and the festivities continue into
January with extravagant street parades; singing, dancing, costume
competitions and marches through the streets from the central city
area of District Six.
Venue: Streets of Cape Town and Greenpoint Stadium
Date: 2 January, annually
Time: 9am

Shakespeare
Shakespeare at Maynardville Open-Air Theatre
Inspired by the annual productions in London's Regent Park,
Shakespeare has been performed every summer at the open-air theatre
in Wynberg, generally performed with a local twist to add to the
entertainment. On warm summer evenings many theatre-goers begin the
evening by picnicking in the park before the show begins. For more
information phone 021 421 7695.
Venue: Maynardville Open-Air Theatre
Date: January to February 2010, TBA
Time: 8.15pm
Website: www.maynardville.co.za

Offroad biking © Gary Perkin
Absa Cape Epic
The Absa Cape Epic has established itself as a prestigious
international event, attracting a competitive field of riders eager
to compete against the best or simply to finish the gruelling
nine-day off-road race. The event has become the largest full
service mountain bike race in the world and is the most televised
mountain bike race ever. The route is changed every year, but
always offers riders a ride through gruelling, but spectacular
surroundings, across 559 miles (900km) of unspoilt nature with
about 52,493 feet (16,000m) of climbing over some of the most
magnificent passes in South Africa. The final day offers spectators
and enthusiasts the chance to participate in the festivities with a
one day mountain bike race, the
Cape Times Vigne à Vigne, as
well as a six-mile (10km) trail run. Participants and spectators
can enjoy the carnival atmosphere in the afternoon with wine
tasting, fine dining and live entertainment, while special
activities are laid on for the children that include jumping
castles, magicians and balloon artists.
Venue: Start: Gordons Bay; Finish: Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West
Date: March 2010 TBA
Website: www.cape-epic.com

Kirstenbosch
Kirstenbosch Winter Concert Series
Come and enjoy Cape Town 's top musical talent in the warmth of
the beautiful Silvertree Restaurant at Kirstenbosch National
Botanical Garden. Tickets include a welcome drink and soup, and
patrons are also welcome to have a main course or dessert and
coffee during or after the concert. The annual event continues from
the summer sunset concerts (November to April), ensuring visitors a
treat in classical and contemporary music all year round. Call 021
799 8783 for more Kirstenbosch event information.
Venue: Silvertree Restaurant, Kirstenbosch Gardens
Date: May to October, annually
Time: 6pm
Website: www.sanbi.org

Spring wild flowers © Darling Wildflower Festival
Spring Wildflowers
The West Coast National Park incorporates the Langebaan Lagoon
and wetland areas, which are the habitat of thousands of migratory
and resident waterbirds, a rocky coastline with some beautiful sea
views and beaches, and wildlife scattered about the interior bush.
It also encompasses the rocky Postberg Peninsula that is carpeted
in a glorious tapestry of wildflowers every spring (open August to
September only). Visitors come from near and far to see the
spectacularly colourful display that the pre-summer season produces
all along the west coast. The small town of Darling is at the
centre of the wildflower region; visitors can walk around the
surrounding wildflower reserves and real enthusiasts can visit the
Darling Wildflower Show where extravagant displays include the
botanical and common names of all flowers exhibited. Call the
Flower Hotline on 083 910 1028 for up-to-date information all year
round.
Venue: Postberg Section of the West Coast National Park
Date: August to September
Website: www.darlingwildflowers.co.za

Farm Flesh, MCQP 2002 © MCQP
Mother City Queer Project (MCQP) Costume Party
Now in its 14th year, the 12-hour MCQP party is the biggest
annual gay event in South Africa, attracting a diverse crowd of
people from around the world. Each year party-goers come in teams
dressed according to the theme that changes every year (Matric
Dance - Back to School in 2007). Costumes are usually elaborate,
sexy and worn without inhibition, and the event is immensely
popular with both gay and straight communities. Different dance
arenas play various types of music to party the night away.
Venue: Cape Town High School
Date: 22 - 23 December 2008
Time: 9pm to 9am
Website: www.mcqp.co.za

Cyclists battle it out on Chapman's Peak © SA Tourism
Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour
The Argus is the largest timed sporting event on earth,
attracting more than 35,000 cyclists from around the world. The
spectacle is watched by thousands who line the 67-mile (108km)
route, which follows some of the Cape's most spectacular coastal
scenery. The race is enjoyed by serious cyclists and social riders
alike.
Venue: Start: City Centre; Finish: Greenpoint Stadium
Date: 14 March 2010
Time: 6.15am
Website: www.cycletour.co.za

Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Ranked as one of the best jazz festivals around the world, the
city of Cape Town comes alive for two days in March to the
captivating beat of swinging jazz music from around the world.
Hosting forty international and African stars, the CTIJF is an awe
inspiring musical jam of jazz and its popular music relatives,
soul, funk, kwaito, blues and more. Hosting the likes of Cesaria
Evora, Herbie Hancock, Youssou N'dour, India Arie, Randy Crawford,
Hugh Masekela, George Duke, Al Di Meola, Archie Shepp, Erykah Badu,
Miriam Makeba, Andreas Vollenweider and Angie Stone the Cape Town
International Jazz Festival is one dynamic music event not to be
missed.
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)
Date: April 2010 TBA
Website: www.capetownjazzfest.com

Wines © wine.co.za
Cape Times Waterfront Wine Affair
Featuring many of the Cape's top wine estates, producers and
boutique wineries, with over 300 different wines to taste, the Wine
Affair offers a unique opportunity to sample many of the Western
Cape's finest wines under one roof. Chat to enthusiastic wine
makers and mix with wine lovers in a relaxed environment. A variety
of wineries also offer a wide selection of gourmet food tastings to
complement their wine, while an array of delicacies, such as local
and French cheeses, sushi, oysters, olives and olive oils, pestos
and chocolate will be available to taste and buy.
Venue: Market Square, V&A Waterfront
Date: May 2010 TBA
Time: 5-9pm
Website: www.waterfront.co.za

Sushi display
Cape Gourmet Festival
Widely acknowledged as South Africa's premier food, wine, travel
and lifestyle event, the annual Gourmet Festival is a blend of
culinary events showcasing its restaurant industry to the rest of
the world. It is the only African associate of the esteemed World
Gourmet Club in St Moritz and is the finest culinary festival on
the continent, highlighting international as well as local foods.
Incorporated into the extravaganza is the Good Food and Wine Show,
the pinnacle of the festival, where chefs cook the best of
contemporary South African cuisine.
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)
Date: Good Food & Wine Show: May 2010 TBA
Time: 10am to 9pm
Website: www.gourmetsa.com

Southern Right Whale breaching © South African Tourism
Hermanus Whale Festival
Celebrating the Southern Right Whale, the annual festival offers
art and crafts, theatre, music, a half marathon and surf festival
in addition to some of the best shore-based whale watching
opportunities in the world. Hermanus boasts the world's only Whale
Crier who alerts visitors to whale sightings with a kelp horn every
day during whale season. Every year from July to September the
Southern Right Whales travel thousands of miles to the southern
coast of South Africa to mate and calve in the bays.
Venue: Hermanus
Date: 24 - 27 September 2009
Website: www.whalefestival.co.za

J&B Met
J&B Met
One of the most prestigious and anticipated events on Cape
Town's social calendar, the J&B Met is not only about
thoroughbreds, but is a day of glamorous fashion, entertainment and
sophistication, accompanied by J&B Scotch Whiskey. The
R1.5-million prize money is in keeping with its status as the
premier horseracing event in South Africa, and the Official After
Party is a highly rated post-race event that continues the
festivities well into the early hours.
Venue: Kenilworth Race Course
Date: 30 January 2010, TBA
Website: www.jbmet.co.za

Two Oceans ultramarathon finish
Two Oceans Marathon
Boasting some of the most spectacular scenery of any road event
on earth, the Two Oceans has become the second most famous
ultra-marathon (34.8 miles/56km) in South Africa after the Comrades
Marathon. Runners race over and around the mountains of Cape Town
every Easter Saturday in what is well known internationally for its
scenic beauty despite the gruelling course.
Venue: Start: Main Road, Newlands. Finish: UCT sports fields, Upper Campus
Date: 3 April 2010
Time: 6am
Website: www.twooceansmarathon.org.za

Kirstenbosch Summer Concert © Kirstenbosch Gardens
Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts
Bring family and friends every Sunday afternoon to relax on the
lawns with a picnic and a glass of wine as the sun sets behind the
mountain, while listening to a mixed selection of classical and
contemporary music. The setting provides for one of the most
spectacular concert venues in South Africa, the stage framed by the
backdrop of Table Mountain and all around the well-kept beds of the
Kirstenbosch Gardens.
Venue: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Date: 29 November 2009 to 12 April 2010
Time: Sundays 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Website: www.nbi.ac.za