Cape Town Annual Events

Wondering what is happening in the Mother City each month? Find a list of some of Cape Town’s most famous and popular events below.

Summer Events

Cape Town summer highlights:

  • November – April: Kirstenbosch Sundowner Concerts & Open-Air Cinema @ Kirstenbosch Gardens, Newlands – 021 799 8783/ www.sanbi.org
  • September – March: Paul Cluver Amphitheatre Music Concerts @ Somerset West
  • January – March: Oude Libertas Summer Season Concerts @ Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch

Summer events in Cape Town:

    • Late November/early December: OBZ Festival @ Lower Main Road, Observatory – www.obzfestival.com
    • December: Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival @ Cape Winelands – 021 876 3603/ www.franschhoek.org
    • December: Rock The River @ Cape Town
    • December/January: MCQP: Mother City Queer Project Party @ Cape Town – www.mcqp.co.za
    • January: Cape Town Minstrel Carnival @ various locations across the CBD
    • January: Suidoosterfees @ Artscape Theatre, City Centre – 021 406 2835/ www.suidoosterfees.co.za
    • January: L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate @ Kenilworth Race Course, Kenilworth – 021 700 1600/ www.lqp.co.za
    • Late January/early February: Shakespeare in the Park @ Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, Wynberg
    • Late January/early February: J&B Met @ Kenilworth Race Course, Kenilworth – 021 426 5775/ www.jbmet.co.za
    • February: African Mining Indaba @ CTICC, City Centre – http://www.miningindaba.com
    • February: Cape Town Pride @ various locations across the CBD – 021 425 6463/ www.capetownpride.co.za
    • February: Up the Creek Music Festival @ Breede River Valley
    • Late February/early March: Design Indaba Expo @ CTICC, City Centre – 021 465 9966/ www.designindabaexpo.com

Autumn Events

Cape Town autumn highlights:

  • Sporting – cycle, running and various other races
  • Culture – jazz, film and other cultural events

Autumn events in Cape Town:

    • March: Cape Argus Cycle Tour @ various routes across the peninsula – www.cycletour.co.za (early March)
    • March: K-Day @ Cape Town – www.kfm.co.za/events/kday-2014 ‎ (29 March this year)
    • March: Power-Gen Africa @ CTICC, City Centre – www.powergenafrica.com (starts 17 March)
    • March: Cape Winelands Film Festival @ Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch – 021 809 7380/ www.oudelibertas.co.za
    • March: Tulbagh Goes Dutch @ various locations in Tulbagh – 023 230 1348/ www.tourismtulbagh.co.za
    • April: Cape Town International Jazz Festival @ CTICC, City Centre – 021 422 5651/ www.capetownjazzfest.com
    • April: Taste of Cape Town @ Jan van Riebeeck Sports Fields, De Hoop Avenue, City Bowl – www.tasteofcapetown.com
    • April: Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon @ various routes across the peninsula – 021 671 9407/ www.twooceansmarathon.co.za
    • April: SA Cheese Festival @ Bien Donné, Franschhoek – 021 975 444/ www.cheesefestival.co.za
    • May: African Utility Week @ CTICC, City Centre – www.african-utility-week.com
    • May: V&A Waterfront Wine Affair @ Dock Road, Waterfront – 021 408 7600/ www.waterfront.co.za
    • May: Riebeek Valley Olive Festival @ Riebeek Valley, Boland – 022 448 1584/ www.riebeekvalley.info
    • May: Franschhoek Literary Festival @ various locations in Franschhoek – 021 876 2861/ www.flf.co.za
    • May: Good Food & Wine Show @ CTICC, City Centre – 021 797 4500/ www.gourmetsa.com

Winter Events

Cape Town winter highlights

  • Film festivals
  • Winelands festivals

Winter events in Cape Town:

    • June-July: Vodacom Funny Festival @ Baxter Theatre, Rondebosch – 021 680 3989/ www.baxter.co.za
    • June: Wacky Wine Weekend @ various locations in Robertson – 023 626 3167/ www.wackywineweekend.com
    • June: Cape Town Book Fair @ CTICC, City Centre – 021 418 5493/ www.capetownbookfair.com
    • July: Encounters South African International Documentary Festival @ various Nu Metro cinemas across the city – 021 465 4686/ www.encounters.co.za
    • August: Cape Town Fashion Week @ CTICC, City Centre – 021 422 0390/ www.africanfashioninternational.com
    • August: TRI Continental Film Festival @ various Cinema Nouveau cinemas across the city – 021 788 5462/ www.3continentsfestival.co.za

Spring Events

Cape Town spring highlights:

  • August – November: Whale Season
  • August & September: Flower Season

Spring events in Cape Town:

    • September: Out in Africa: South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival @ various Nu Metro cinemas across the city – 021 461 4027/ www.oia.co.za
    • September: Voorkamerfest @ various locations across Darling – 022 492 3427/ www.voorkamerfest-darling.co.za
    • September: Out the Box Festival @ various locations across City Bowl – www.unima.za.org/festival.html
    • September: Rocking the Daisies @ Cloof Wine Estate, Darling – http://rockingthedaisies.com
    • September: Crazy Store Table Mountain Challenge @ Tafelberg Road, City Bowl – 021 424 4760/ www.crazystore.co.za
    • September: Hermanus Whale Festival @ various locations across Hermanus, Garden Route – www.whalefestival.co.za
    • Late October/early November: Cape Town International Kite Festival @ Muizenberg/Zandvlei, False Bay – 021 447 9040/ www.tourismcapetown.co.za
    • October: Khayelitsha Festival @ OR Tambo Hall, Khayelitsha – 021 442 9628/ www.khayelitshafestival.co.za
    • November: FNB Whisky Live Festival @ CTICC, City Centre – 021 880 0180/ www.whiskyfestival.co.za
    • November: Discovery Cape Times Big Walk @ various locations across the peninsula – 021 685 3333/ www.bigwalk.co.za

Looking for up-to-the-minute information on Cape Town events, attractions and other things to see and do? Check out the CometoCapeTown Blog or find us on Facebook