Events in South Africa

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South Africa 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: 1 January 2009
Time: 9am

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: 31 January 2009
Website: www.jbmet.co.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: 23 November 2008 to 5 April 2009
Time: Sundays 5.30pm to 6.30pm
Website: www.nbi.ac.za

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: 6 - 9 May 2009
Time: 5-9pm
Website: www.waterfront.co.za

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

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: 28 - 31 May 2009
Time: 10am to 9pm
Website: www.gourmetsa.com

Comrades Marathon

Comrades Marathon

The world's greatest ultra-marathon, the Comrades is a gruelling test over 56 miles (90km) between Durban and Pietermaritzburg every year. The race alternates between the uphill run from Durban and the downhill from Pietermaritzburg, and is a real test of physical endurance. The winners usually take about five and a half hours to complete the course. In 2008 the race will start in Durban and finish in Pietermaritzburg.

Date: June 200, TBC
Website: www.comrades.com

Garden Celebrations © South African National Botanical Institute

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden Concerts

A wide variety of musicians and choirs are featured on the programme during the run of the afternoon concerts at Poortview, held every second Sunday from mid-May through to September. The audience can enjoy soaking up the winter sunshine alongside the lake to the tune of a gamut of musical genres, from light classical through to modern favourites. Phone the gardens on +27 (0)11 958 1750 for more information.

Venue: Malcolm Road, Poortview
Date: 11 May to 28 September 2009
Time: 1pm to 3pm alternate Sundays
Website: http://www.sanbi.org/frames/sisulufram.htm

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: 20-28 March 2009
Website: www.cape-epic.com

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: 8 March 2009
Time: 6.15am
Website: www.cycletour.co.za

Vodacom Durban July

Usually held on the first Saturday of every July, the annual Durban July is South Africa's equivalent of the Royal Ascot in the UK, with superb thoroughbreds, but also high fashion, fine cuisine and elegance. It is the premier horseracing event in the country where the rich and famous go to be seen and is the most talked about social gathering among racing enthusiasts.

Venue: Greyville Race Course
Date: July 2009 TBA
Website: www.durbanjuly.info

Grahamstown Arts Festival

Grahamstown National Arts Festival

The annual Grahamstown festival held every June/July is one of the most important cultural events on the South African calendar and is Africa's biggest annual celebration of the arts attracting over 50,000 people. A diversity of art forms is represented in over 500 shows from street theatre, dance and comedy to opera, drama, craft fairs and workshops.

Venue: Various throughout Grahamstown
Date: 2 July to 11 July 2009
Website: www.nafest.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: 3-4 April 2009
Website: www.capetownjazzfest.com

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