JANUARY
J&B Metropolitan Horse Race
Cape Town's high society enjoy a day at the races each year. This is one of South Africa's biggest summer racing, fashion and entertainment occasions, and Africa’s hottest horseracing event with prize money of R2-million.
Maynardville Shakespeare Festival
During summertime when the weather is good, in true Cape Town style, the city has its own version of the New York City’s Central Park’s Shakespeare in the Park. Theatre goers often bring a picnic supper to enjoy before the show. Maynardville Open-air Theatre is situated on the corner of Church and Wolfe Streets.
Cape Town Jazzathon
Each January, Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront welcomes locals and visitors alike to enjoy the delights of its free, four-day jazz festival. The Cape Town Jazzathon provides a great stage for local bands and musicians to perform in front of large audiences. In addition to a great programme of free music, there are food and drink stalls, exhibitions and fundraising events.
Spier Arts Summer Concerts Season
The Spier Arts Summer Season celebrates the incomparable artists, musicians, poets and dancers of our continent.
FEBRUARY
Paul Cluver Amphitheatre Music Concerts
Nestling in a towering Eucalyptus forest the outdoor Paul Cluver Forest amphitheatre provides a unique natural venue for a variety of performances ranging from revues, classic and contemporary musical performances and theatre. The entire venue, from seating to stage, has been created from timber felled on the farm.
Cape Country Picnic Festival
Visitors will be accommodated on the large lawn surrounded by oak trees, exhibitors and food stalls. Listen to live background music staged by local performers in a relaxing atmosphere. Browse through the stalls and let your toddler enjoy the kiddies corner. Old and young will be entertained by organised games and activities.
MARCH
South African Navy Festival
The SA Navy once again opens its doors to the public to come and be part of this fun filled festival in Simon’s Town in the East Dockyard. Entrance to the festival is free and gates will open daily at 10am until 6pm. There will be various events in the main arena that both young and old will find entertaining. Some of the attractions to look forward to during the festival are public access to the South African Navy ships and submarines, the German ships will be open to the public, tug rides, flea market and children’s activities. Arena events taking place twice a day include: gun run, navy band, fire fighting and naval dog display. Live displays include Sea Rescue displays, Lynx & Oryx Helicopters, Live Cannon Firings and Diving.
Two Oceans Marathon
The Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon presented by Nike is run under the rules of IAAF, Athletics South Africa and Western Province Athletics. Hosted in the beautiful sea side city of Cape Town, the Two Oceans marathon attracts some 20 000 participants who willingly take on 56 kilometres of open road and challenging mountain climbs. An interesting feature of the route of Two Oceans Marathon, is as the name indicates, it passes both oceans surrounding the South African shoreline - the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. It is therefore as stunning as it is challenging.
Cape Argus Cycle Tour
The Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour is the largest timed sporting event in the world. Attracting in excess of 38 000 cyclists from around the globe each year, this prestigious event is definitely a unique experience for participants and spectators alike.
Cape Town International Jazz Festival
The annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival is home to world-renowned musicians. This proudly South African event is hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre with 5 different stages offering live music for the enthusiastic fans.
APRIL
South African Annual Cheese Festival
Allow the earthy scents of cheese to lure you to the country’s major cheese event – the SA Cheese Festival on the historic Bien Donné farm nestled in the Paarl countryside. Young and old will be sure to enjoy this farm-to-table cheese experience. Enjoy a magnitude of legendary champion cheeses and discover daring new varieties paired with delicacies such as wine, olives and freshly baked bread in a country market atmosphere.
ABSA Cape Epic
The ABSA Cape Epic presented by Adidas takes place every year around the last week of March and the first week of April. It starts in the beautiful Garden Route town of Knysna and finishes nine days later in style at the grand Lourensford Wine Estate, just outside Cape Town. The route changes every year, and leads aspiring amateur and professional mountain bikers from around the world through approximately 900 kilometres of the unspoilt nature of the Western Cape and up approximately 16 000m of climbing over some of the most magnificent passes in South Africa.
The Cape Town Wedding Festival
Celebration House and The Wedding & Honeymoon Association of South Africa (WAHASA) are proud to bring you the Cape Town Wedding Festival - the Cape's annual showcase of all you need to plan a successful wedding. The festival is being elevated to new heights - specifically, to two spectacular marquees perched on top of the Aston Martin building at the Waterfront. So it goes without saying that it's going to be bigger and better than ever before. Most importantly, all the exhibitors at this exciting event are professionals with proven track records - because you just can't afford to take a chance with your big day!
MAY
Cape Times/V&A Waterfront Wine Festival
The Cape Times V & A Waterfront Wine Festival, represents the entire spectrum of Cape wine producers, from top-notch estates to superb boutique wineries which will include 75 leading wineries. Taste your way through sparkling wine, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, viognier, cabernet, merlot, shiraz ... pared with oysters, sushi, caviar, cured meats, smoked salmon, chocolates, cheeses, pastries and much more.
Prince Albert Town and Olive Festival
Prince Albert opens its doors and heart for you to discover the secrets, and revel in the warm hospitality of this beautiful Karoo town.
Cape Gourmet Festival: Good Food and Wine Show
The Good Food and Wine show offers a smorgasbord of gourmet delights, providing unparalleled culinary bliss.
Lambert’s Bay Kreeffees
"Kreef" is Afrikaans for crayfish, and a fees can be both festival and feast. At the Lambert's Bay Kreeffees, held annually in the Cape West Coast town of Lambert's Bay, you'll feast on fresh crayfish and get festive at rock concerts by some of South Africa's favourite musicians
JUNE
National Festival of Golf
The festival provides golf enthusiasts from around the country and the world the opportunity to play on some of the finest courses in Africa and to participate in the biggest event of its kind in Africa. The venue is Africa’s Golf Capital, the spectacular Garden Route.
Wacky Wine Weekend
Wineries from Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson pull out all the stops in bringing you the most fun, relaxed and unpretentious wine festival experience! During the course of the festival weekend participating wineries and members will host extra activities that will include adventure, food, sports, kid’s activities, live music and outdoor outings. Join a tractor trip, lazily sit back for a boat cruise.
JULY
Knynsa Oyster Festival
Whether you are sporty, adventure seeking or just plain hungry, the festival is bound to have what you are looking for. The more than 70 sport and lifestyle events on this year’s programme are only part of the reason why you should be extending your visit beyond the weekend sporting highlights. Some 200 000 oysters, super-fresh from the Knysna Lagoon or the Southern Cape coastline, will be consumed during the festival. In addition to oyster-related events such as the Oyster Cooking Competition (these days known as the Oyster and Wine Mardi Gras), Oyster Eating Competition and Oyster Shucking (opening) Competition, some 40 local restaurants, known as Oyster Hotspots, will serve oysters in a variety of ways.
Franschhoek Bastille Festival
Franschhoek, South Africa’s Gourmet Capital, celebrates its centuries-old French Huguenot heritage with a wonderful feast of food, wine and entertainment at its annual Bastille Festival.
Stellenbosch Wine Festival
The annual Stellenbosch Wine Festival plays host to thousands of local and international visitors. A comprehensive programme of festivities includes an opportunity to taste over 500 wines, meet winemakers and watch professional chefs compete in cooking competitions. Other highlights include historic tours, food, arts and crafts, related product and foods stalls, as well as a children's entertainment.
AUGUST
Cape Town Fashion Week
Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week, Africa’s largest gathering of fashion talent, has grown into one of the premiere “new world” fashion weeks providing an international platform for designers from across sub-Saharan Africa. This year’s event celebrates a new creative spirit across the continent and has the theme New World Africa: meaning both the redefining of the continent locally and internationally and a celebration of the opportunities of 21st Century Africa.
Hermanus Wine & Food Fair
The Wine Village in Hermanus presents the annual Hermanus Wine & Food Fair, a highlight on the South African wine calendar. The Hermanus Wine & Food Fair was nominated as one of the 10 best wine festivals in South Africa!
Clanwilliam Wild Flower Show
Clanwilliam, the gateway to South Africa’s finest floral region, is opening its doors once again with its Wild Flower Show taking place from the 21-27 August 2008.
SEPTEMBER
The Hermanus Whale Festival
The Hermanus Whale Festival, the only Enviro-Arts festival in South Africa, is held annually to celebrate the return of the Southern Right whales to the waters of Walker Bay, our magnificent environment and the arrival of Spring! Hermanus, known as the best land based whale watching destination in the world, plays host to thousands of visitors who flock to the seaside resort to exhilarate in the unique natural environment, watch whales, join in the world’s only Welcome Whales Wave and revel in music, comedy, cabaret and African rhythms every night during the Festival.
Nedbank City of Cape Town Marathon
The route links the historic city centre with the wide variety of cultures and communities that makes up the Mother City. Runners gather in the early morning shadow of Table Mountain at the historic Adderley Street close to the Slave Museum and Government Avenue for the 42.2km marathon.
Simons Town Penguin Festival
The Simons Town Annual Penguin Festival takes place over a weekend in September and Simons Town becomes 'Penguin Town'! The annual festival always has an innovative theme to celebrate equal rights for Penguins. The Boulders Beach Ecosphere is home to one of the world's largest thriving colonies of African Penguins and is known as one of the places that visitor to South Africa cannot leave without experiencing. These birds are an icon of the old Naval Town and have woven their magic and affected everyone with their spirit.
OCTOBER
Robertson Wine on the River Festival
This festival will be replacing the popular Robertson Food and Wine Festival. The Festival will be centred on two huge marquees, situated within metres of the Breede River. A focal point of the festival will be a comprehensive showcase of wines from 40 local wine farms, but visitors will also be treated to a wide variety of food and entertainment activities.
Cape Town Flower Show
The Cape Town Flower Show is an annual event which showcases the richness of the Cape Floral Kingdom together with exhibits of southern Africa 's flora and displays of exotic plants. This is a four day event hosting a sensory smorgasbord of show gardens, flowers and floral displays, wines, boutique cheeses, olives and a relaxing collection of classical music.
NOVEMBER
Discovery Cape Times Big Walk
Originally the Big Walk was a tough endurance event from the Parade to Simon's Town and back, but it has developed into a community event which caters for all. The event now has eight walks with distances from as little as 5km through to the historical 80km. The walks start all over Cape Town and finish at Rhodes High School below Table Mountain.
The FNB Whisky Festival
Whisky-Lovers, whether connoisseurs or occasional sippers of a dram or two, are looking forward to the FNB Whisky Live Festival, held in association with the Cape Times, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in November each year.
DECEMBER
Community Chest Twilight Fun Run
Young and old from all walks of life are present; from bunny rabbits to Superman to even a team of scrubs. The race is 4.5km long and begins at The Grand Parade with thousands of people running, jogging, walking and crawling through central Cape Town. It brings Cape Town to life with spectators hanging out doors and windows showing their support for the participants. Whether you come in first or last, it is an all-round fantastic, well-organised event in aid of numerous charities.
Obs Festival
A street festival held annually in the funky suburb of Observatory near Cape Town CBD, there’s plenty of fun to be had with stalls, food, beer tents and live music.
Mother City Queer Project
The biggest party of the year, this is a fancy-dress extravaganza held by but not exclusively for the gay community of Cape Town. Gets bigger, better and wilder every year!
