Arts and culture
Music, arts and Cape Town culture are alive and well in the Mother City. The vibrant local communities make sure that the entertainment calendar is always chock-a-block.
Cape Minstrel Carnival
The Cape Minstrel Carnival, which happens on January 2 each year, is one of Cape Town’s oldest celebrations. The annual carnival, also called the “Kaapse Klopse”, has seen revellers taking to the streets of the Mother City since the mid-1800s.
Cape Town International Jazz Festival
The annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival is a favourite among music lovers. The melodious affair, previously known as the North Sea Jazz Festival, attracts tens of thousands of local and international jazz fans, to see a mix of world-class performers, some South African, some international.
Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts
The world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden – located at the foot of Table Mountain – is famous for its diverse collection of indigenous flora. The Kirstenbosch Summer Concerts feature different musical styles each week. Popular genres include swing, rock, classical and jazz, with special carol concerts in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Mother City Queer Project
The Mother City Queer Project, the highlight of the gay calendar, kick-starts the summer season in Cape Town. The fancy-dress bash, held every December in South Africa’s “gay capital”, is the city’s most outlandish celebration of all things queer. The MCQP’s quirky themes have included, “The locker room”, “Farm fresh”, “Kitsch kitchen”, “It’s a circus” and “Lights, camera, action!”
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Featured Attraction
V&A Waterfront
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway
City Sightseeing Bus Tours
Cape Point
