Algerian fans enjoying the Fan Walk during the World Cup. Photo by Roy Barford

Following its popularity during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, Cape Town’s Fan Walk, a 2.6km route from the City Hall to Cape Town Stadium, will be open for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) double header on August 27.

The Fan Walk added to the hype of each FIFA World Cup™ match, with fans able to exchange friendly banter and take photographs together in the streets. Hundreds of thousands of people took advantage of this experience during the tournament, which saw Cape Town hosting eight matches.

The August 27 PSL double header will see new Cape club Vasco da Gamma take on Orlando Pirates at 18h00, after which Ajax Cape Town will host Bloemfontein Celtic at 20h45.

It is expected that the park and ride service enjoyed by fans during the World Cup will be operating for the double header.

Forty thousand tickets, priced from R40 to R80, are available through Computicket.

See our Fan Walk gallery for more photos.

Without further ado, here are some of the people and the sights that supplied the “wow” factor to Cape Town’s Welcome Party tonight. Wearing their colours with pride, people off all shapes and sizes pulled through for what was the first in a line of awesome parties to come. Ayoba! Photos by Ingrid Sinclair.

Spirited fans joined in the Cape Town celebrations tonight. Photos by Ingrid Sinclair

It was a party that only Cape Town could deliver – a thousand vuvuzelas blown by revellers who were dressed up to represent South Africa, to support Bafana Bafana and to show the world, to “show ‘dem”, how it is done here at the southern tip of Africa. Big and small, old and young, ugly and not, it was an incredibly diverse crowd (as cosmopolitan as the Mother City herself) united under one banner – South Africa is ready to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup™!

Not to be outdone by our sister in the north, Cape Town came out in full support and gates to the Welcome Party, which was held at the Grand Parade (also the site of the FIFA Fan Fest), were closed earlier in the afternoon when the grounds reached capacity.

Facilities at the Fan Fest are top notch, with more than enough bar staff, plenty of visible security and a comfortable amount of space for everyone. If this is a sign of things to come, we are in for one doozy of a party! No-one had anything to complain about and, in fact, complete strangers came together to build an amazing camaraderie. 

We even got to take a get a photograph of Cape Town’s favourite weatherman, eTV’s Derek van Dam. A procession of TV characters and mascots, Cape minstrels and other over-the-top but ripe-for-a-celebration individuals were making their way up Darling Street and beyond to complete the Fan Walk in front of thousands of cheering locals and internationals.

But these were not the only interesting characters around tonight. People were sporting their Bafana Bafana shirts, their loudest (and biggest, and most colourful) hats, flags were big and flags were small … It was a festival of colour and sound unlike anything the city has seen. Even babies and toddlers were dressed up in beanies and bright yellow jackets to show their support.

eTV’s Derek van Dam gave the Welcome Party the thumbs-up!

What had been a beautiful winter’s day turned into a gorgeous winter’s night; there was no wind, the sky was clear, Table Mountain was lit up in all her glory, and not a sign of rain.

These are exciting times indeed as Cape Town’s biggest event – and the country’s proudest moment – comes to life. And the best part? It’s all happening here at home. We welcome all the visitors from far and not-so-far away, and we say … Ayoba!

Check out some of the photos from the night here.

See also:

•    Welcome the World party in full swing
•    Welcome party injects Cape Town with 2010 FIFA World Cup fever
•    Awesome concert kicks off 2010 FIFA World Cup

The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ has turned out to be a firm family favourite and a wholesome event that’s open to all ages. And the all-age access lends an undeniable cuteness to proceedings. Here are some images of the most adorable toddlers we’ve spotted over the last two weeks or so. Photos by Ingrid Sinclair.

Nice and warm on Dad’s shoulders at the FIFA Fan Fest on the Grand Parade

The best seat in the house

This little tyke took part in the world-record attempt for the biggest Diski Dance

Mom and baby took part in a march up Long Street to celebrate the fist match of the tournament

One of the performers who took part in the official Welcome Party‘s procession along the Fan Walk

All smiles

The photographs below, of football fans on Cape Town’s Fan Walk, ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain, were taken by Roy Barford.

See also: Vasco da Gama FC gets behind Portugal in Cape Town