Johannesburg’s Festive Weekend: An Exuberant Unveiling of Mirth, Leisure and Cultural Wealth

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johannesburg festive weekend

Johannesburg is hosting a festive weekend full of Christmas cheer and cultural wealth. From an open-air cinema experience to a Christmas town at the botanical gardens and a theatrical masterpiece, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Come with your loved ones and immerse yourself in the festive spirit of Johannesburg.

Johannesburg presents a delightful assortment of experiences this Yuletide season, overflowing with the infectious fervor of Christmas and a pronounced love for all things cultural. From an open-air cinema experience to a Christmas town at the botanical gardens and a theatrical masterpiece, these events provide the ideal mix of entertainment, culinary delights, and artistic engagement. Rally your loved ones, mark your calendars, and prepare to plunge into the festive spirit of Johannesburg.

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Welcome to Johannesburg, the pulsating core of South Africa that is perennially alive and kicking. This Yuletide season, the city presents a delightful assortment of experiences, overflowing with the infectious fervor of Christmas and a pronounced love for all things cultural. Here we present a carefully selected roundup of events scheduled between the 15th and 17th of December, for a thrilling, pleasure-packed weekend.

The Outdoor Cinema Experience

Setting the wheels in motion for this festive extravaganza is an open-air cinema experience at Norwood Mall. A charming blend of nostalgia and memory-making, the drive-in cinema will feature the timeless Christmas favorite, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”. This event brings together friends and family in the comforting warmth of a classic tale. Priced at R200 per vehicle, which can fit up to four individuals, the evening promises a hearty dose of laughter, bonding, and conviviality, under the vast, star-studded sky. The film commences at 18:30 on Friday, the 15th of December, creating an ideal kickoff to the weekend.

Christmas Town at the Botanical Gardens

Next up in line after the cinematic indulgence is the Christmas Town at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens. An ebullient tribute to the festive season, this event is designed to delight all visitors, regardless of their age. The gardens will metamorphose into a bewitching wonderland, playing host to candy cane hunts, gingerbread decorating workshops, a colorful craft market, and an array of mouth-watering food stalls. With the general admission priced at R130 and complimentary entry for children under six, the event assures that the jubilant aura of the season envelops everyone. The fiesta kicks off at 17:00 and continues till Christmas Eve, offering ample time to participate in the revelry.

A Theatrical Masterpiece

Injecting a dose of theatrical grandeur into the weekend is the acclaimed play “A Year with Frog and Toad” revived by the National Children’s Theatre. This delightful musical voyage takes viewers through the changing seasons with an engaging cast of characters, including Frog, Toad, Snail, Birds, Squirrels, and more. This enthralling theater experience is especially suitable for children aged three and upwards, making it an ideal cultural engagement for young, developing minds. With tickets priced at R130 per person, the show will run till the 22nd of December, offering a splendid chance to witness the enchantment of theatre.

A Fusion of Culture and Celebration

These distinct events, each located within the vast expanses of Johannesburg, unite diverse facets of culture and celebration. They provide the ideal mix of entertainment, culinary delights, and artistic engagement. Whether you decide to chuckle with the Grinch, traverse the marvels of a Christmas town, or immerse yourself in the captivating tale of Frog and Toad, your senses are in for a delightful surprise.

Keep in mind, these aren’t just events, they are experiences. So rally your loved ones, mark your calendars, and prepare to plunge into the festive spirit of Johannesburg. Embark on this exhilarating journey of mirth and exploration, and let the city astound you with its manifold allure.

1. What is Johannesburg hosting this weekend?

Johannesburg is hosting a festive weekend full of Christmas cheer and cultural wealth.

2. What is the Outdoor Cinema Experience?

The Outdoor Cinema Experience is an open-air cinema experience at Norwood Mall featuring the timeless Christmas favorite, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas”. It will take place on Friday, the 15th of December, and is priced at R200 per vehicle, which can fit up to four individuals.

3. What is Christmas Town at the Botanical Gardens?

Christmas Town at the Botanical Gardens is an event designed to delight all visitors, regardless of their age. The gardens will metamorphose into a bewitching wonderland, playing host to candy cane hunts, gingerbread decorating workshops, a colorful craft market, and an array of mouth-watering food stalls. It will take place from 17:00 until Christmas Eve, and general admission is priced at R130.

4. What is the theatrical masterpiece being presented?

The theatrical masterpiece is the acclaimed play “A Year with Frog and Toad” revived by the National Children’s Theatre. This musical voyage takes viewers through the changing seasons with an engaging cast of characters, including Frog, Toad, Snail, Birds, Squirrels, and more. It is suitable for children aged three and upwards, and tickets are priced at R130 per person.

5. What is the price range for these events?

Prices for the events mentioned vary, with the Outdoor Cinema Experience priced at R200 per vehicle, Christmas Town at R130 for general admission, and tickets for “A Year with Frog and Toad” also priced at R130 per person.

6. When does “A Year with Frog and Toad” end?

The show “A Year with Frog and Toad” will run until the 22nd of December.

Emma Botha is a Cape Town-based journalist who chronicles the city’s shifting social-justice landscape for the Mail & Guardian, tracing stories from Parliament floor to Khayelitsha kitchen tables. Born and raised on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, she still hikes Lion’s Head before deadline days to remind herself why the mountain and the Mother City will always be her compass.

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