Chow down at the FIFA Fan Fest
Grand Parade. Photo courtesy Warren Rohner
The world’s biggest sporting event is around the corner and the City of Cape Town is adding finishing touches to the Grand Parade for the opening of the official Cape Town FIFA Fan Fest. Entertainment for the masses and food for kings are the order of the day, and safety and security is top priority for the organisers.
You’ve already heard about the fantastic live musical acts – established as well as up-and-coming – and the hot DJs who will be entertaining the 25 000-strong crowd. You know that all matches will be shown on an enormous 74m2 screen, that Cape Town’s biggest party will be open daily from 11h00 to 23h00, and that access to the Fan Fest will be free.
What you might not know – until now, that is – is that distinctively South African food and refreshments will be on offer, including a wide variety of traditional Cape tastes: think Malay chicken curry, lamb neck poitjie, boerewors rolls and biltong.
Not forgetting perennial favourites, internationally popular food items will also be available. These include beef burgers, hot dogs, chicken prego rolls, fish goujons, calamari, lasagna, vegetable soup and French fries.
Appropriately for an international event of this kind, all dishes will be Halaal.
Hot and cold drinks will be on offer and wine and beer will be on sale for visitors over the age of 18.
Safety at the Fan Fest will ensured by a combination of private security, emergency services and South African Police Force on the ground. Security check points on Darling Street and at the corner of Buitenkant and Longmarket Streets will keep things organised and protected. Children under the age of 14 will have to be accompanied by an adult and any food, alcohol, weapons or drugs being brought into the venue will be confiscated.
Visitors are encouraged to use the many park-and-ride facilities available throughout Cape Town.
