Plan Your Summer Calendar with these Upcoming Cape Town Events & Festivals

Summer is undoubtedly one of the best seasons that Cape Town has to offer. It’s not only our iconic mountains, lush vegetation, crystalline beaches and beautiful sunsets however that draw the crowds, but also the line-up of exciting festivals and events that happen during the summer months. We’ve rounded up some of the best annual activities that offer something for everyone.

Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts

kirstenbosch - plan your summer

One of the most anticipated outdoor live music series of the year, the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts bring the best of local (and sometimes international) artists to the stage. Musical genres vary over the course of the concerts so you can be guaranteed to find something right up your alley. This season showcases the likes of Beatenberg, Jimmy Nevis, Just Jinjer, Jeremy Loops, Prime Circle, Dan Patlansky, The Parlotones, Matthew Mole and more! So pack your picnic baskets, a bottle or two of our delectable Cape Town wines, a blanket (in case the evening air gets chilly) and get ready for a fabulous show – even one suitable for the kids.

Where: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands

When: late Nov-early Apr

Tel & website: 021 799 8783/www.sanbi.org

Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival

Welcome to the ‘Magic of Bubbles’. This is definitely one of the social calendar highlights of the year. Where there are bottles of champagne, there are beautiful people dressed to impress and this festival is no different. The star of this show however is the array of South Africa’s finest Méthode Cap Classiques (MCC).

“The Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival allows visitors to sample exquisite, locally-produced dishes and Cap Classiques with the naturally-beautiful Franschhoek as a backdrop,” says Nadine Mouton, Vice President, Marketing, Mastercard, South Africa. “Mastercard is excited to once again bring this unique and priceless experience to wine and food lovers who admire the country’s best offerings.”

Where: Franschhoek

When: 3 & 4 December 2016

Tel & website: 021 876 3603/ http://www.franschhoekmcc.co.za/

Cape Town Carnival 2017

Cape Town Carnival - Plan your Summer

So, the title kinda says it all. The Cape Town Carnival is exactly that – a loud and colourful celebration of all things inherently Cape Town! The theme for this year is ‘AMAZA – Ocean Odyssey’ with designers, artists, inventors, students, entrepreneurs and sponsors dreaming up and executing all kinds of fantastical floats focusing on our beautiful marine world and the many creatures within. From the real to the imagined, there are sure to be some unique and magnificent sights to be seen.

When: 18 March 2017

Where: Fan Walk, Green Point

Website: http://capetowncarnival.com/

Shakespeare at the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre

Maynardville - plan your summer

This is a great one for the artsy people who love a little cultural inspiration in their day-to-day activities. Shakespeare-in-Maynardville is an annual theatrical experience that sees different Bard-upon-Avon plays wonderfully enacted outdoors under the sprawling trees of the Maynardville Park in Wynberg. It’s a beautiful spot to sit back and relax so pack a picnic basket and a blanket and unwind to the sonnets of Shakespeare.

Where: Maynardville Open-Air Theatre

When: early Jan-late Feb

Website: www.maynardville.co.za/

Design Indaba Festival

The annual Conference of Creativity at Artscape happens in 2017 from 1 to 3 March and showcases 3 days jam-packed with some of the world’s best creative minds spanning the whole of South Africa. It incorporates speakers and multimedia presentations that combine story-telling, performance and also includes music, fashion, film, exhibitions, live performances and a feast of food and drink available.

Where: CTICC

When: 1-3 March 2017

Tel & website: 021 465 9966/www.designindabaexpo.com

These are just a few of the annual occasions to look forward to but be sure to keep a look out in local news feeds and social media streams to keep up to date with other exciting and upcoming events.

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