Cape Town’s Best Summer Events

There’s always something happening in Cape Town, but it’s not always possible to say when. In true laid-back Mother City fashion, plans are made and cancelled on a whim. This adds to the improvisatory feel of the place, but does make forward planning rather difficult. Thus many of our Calendar events are penciled in, rather than set in stone.

During the summer Capetonians are treated to a range of outdoorsy festivals and events, be they sports-, culture- or music-related. Be sure to keep an eye on the local press for updates, or phone the Cape Town Tourism Bureau for the latest on what’s going on.

SUMMER EVENTS

Kirstenbosch Sundowner Concerts

Where: Rhodes Drive, Newlands
When: late Nov-early Apr
Beat the Sunday blues with a few good bottles of wine and a sunset backdrop during the popular weekly Kirstenbosch sundowner concerts. These performances have become a summer institution among Capetonians, so get there early if you want a grassy patch from which to see hot local talents like Freshlyground, the Parlotones and Fokofpolisiekar.

OBZ Festival

Where: various locations in Observatory
When: late Nov-early Dec
Each year the slightly grungy ’burb of Obz transforms into a hotspot of cultural happenings for this street festival. Top local musos pump the jams from a number of stages and a market sells local and imported threads as well as its fair share of food.

Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival

Where: out of town – various locations in Franschhoek
When: early Dec
So, what’s the difference between Methode Cap Classique and champagne? Grab a glass and start sampling the barrage of bubblies at this fabulous affair to find out. There are gourmet offerings from the area’s restaurants too.

Suidoosterfees

Where: Artscape Theatre
When: 26-31 Jan 2010
A multicultural festival named after the Mother City’s feisty south-easterly wind, which is famous for playing havoc on the streets, chasing runaway skirts and acrobatic plastic bags. The festival aims to promote the art world’s Big Five – dance, music, theatre, film and fine art. Offerings range from mainstream to arthouse with a special focus on
productions in Afrikaans.

Cape Town Minstrel Carnival

Where: City Centre
When: 1-2 Jan
There’s something about the luminous multi-coloured satin suits and frenetic banjo-strumming of the Cape Minstrels that puts Capetonians in the party mood. The tradition has roots in the practices associated with slavery, when 2 January was given as a holiday to the slaves. Today singers and musicians still march through the streets of the Mother City (usually along Wale Street) complete with face paint, twirling parasols and some infectious beats, while ringing in the tweede nuwejaar (second new year).

L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate

Where: Kenilworth Race Course, Rosmead Avenue
When: early Jan
Horsing around takes on a distinctly classy air at this annual racing event. Already in its 148th year, the Queen’s Plate (in honour of Her Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, naturally) will see Kenilworth racecourse transformed into an arena of haute couture, vintage cars, fine wine and gleaming thoroughbred fillies ready to tear up the track.

Shakespeare at the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre

Where: Maynardville Open-Air Theatre
When: early Jan-late Feb
The annual Shakespeare-in-Maynardville experience is an essential experience, as is the preceding picnic in the park. Each year sees a different Bard-production brought to life on the tree-shrouded stage. Be sure to bring a blanket or two, as the open-air theatre gets quite chilly in the evenings.

J&B Metropolitan Handicap

Where: Kenilworth Race Course, Rosmead Avenue
When: end Jan/beginning Feb
Fancy takes on a whole new meaning at this swish equestrian extravaganza. Primped and preened lads and ladies get kitted out in their theme-appropriate best, sip champagne, pose for the social pages, and of course watch the feisty fillies kick up clumps of grass all along the ten furlongs of the Kenilworth Racecourse.

Spier Arts Festivals

Where: out of town – Spier Estate, R310 Lynedoch Road, Stellenbosch
When: Feb-Oct
This three-in-one arts extravaganza held in the cultural hub of Stellenbosch runs through most of the year. The initiative promotes South African and pan-African artists in a range of events encompassing an open-air poetry festival, a performing arts festival and a music festival.

Design Indaba Expo

Where: CTICC
When: late Feb-March
Local architects, decorators, designers and a host of other illuminated thinkers showcase cutting-edge creations during this annual expo.

Cape Town (Cape Argus) Cycle Tour

Where: Cape Peninsula
When: early March
Each year over 40,000 keen cyclists from hither and thither converge to partake in this epic 109km pedal. The scenic circular route starts in the City Centre, and snakes its way through the Southern Peninsula and past the Atlantic Coast before coming to an end in Green Point.

Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon

Where: Newlands
When: Sat, Easter weekend
Every Easter Weekend dedicated joggers slog it out in the 56km ultra marathon, which starts in Newlands and winds its way along the bends of the picturesque Chapman’s Peak Drive before ending at the UCT campus. The more timid athletes trot the equally popular 21km half marathon route following the length of Southern Cross Drive.

Credit: TimeOut Cape Town

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