Every December, Cape Town comes alive with an effervescent celebration of community spirit and local culture. This flourishing event that heralds the festive season is the annual DSTV Kyknet en Kie Mitchells Plain Festival; it’s a jamboree of food, amusement and kinship that transforms Westridge Gardens into a carnival of communal revelry. The festival this year is scheduled to occur from the 1st to the 3rd of December, and the excitement for the event is already in the air.
Cape Town’s urban landscapes were transformed into lively murals advocating for ocean conservation and community activism through Sea Walls South Africa, an initiative by the PangeaSeed Foundation in collaboration with the Save Our Seas Foundation. The event brought together 18 muralists to address urgent marine issues such as plastic waste and community involvement in protecting marine life. The murals serve as educational devices advocating for ocean care through imaginative storytelling and embody the concept of ‘artivism’, symbolizing the transformative power of art in inciting change.
The night to remember was the 16th Annual Crown Gospel Awards with toptier entertainment and emerging artists from Gauteng. The venue was adorned with black and gold opulence, but chaos and disorder were palpable with confused seating arrangements and unforeseen difficulties faced by VVIP guests. Despite the hitches, the event was a triumph and a promising precursor for exciting times ahead in South Africa’s flourishing gospel music community. The night honored gospel’s finest, including Sindi Ntombela for Best Female and Jumbo Album 3C for Best Male, with outstanding performances and spontaneous laughter.
Get ready for a mindblowing international fashion spectacle at the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow on November 28th. With over 230 experts from 60 countries, the summit offers a diverse mix of talent and unique viewpoints. South Africa is set to take center stage, showcasing its dynamic fashion history with contributions from prominent figures like Stephen Manzini and David Tlale. The summit aims to shake up established fashion markets and influence global trends while promoting international cooperation in shaping the future of fashion.
The 3rd African Union Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity was a groundbreaking event held in Pretoria and attended by influential global figures. The conference aimed to involve men and boys in the fight against genderbased violence and advocated for positive masculinity. President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the need for men to take center stage in bringing about change and encouraged traits like empathy, emotional intelligence, respect for diversity, and vulnerability. The conference serves as a vital platform to reinforce political commitment, expedite collective actions, and establish men’s role in eliminating violence against women and girls.
James Blunt is set to tour South Africa in 2024 to promote his latest album “Who We Used To Be.” The tour will begin in Cape Town on September 12 and continue in Pretoria on September 14. Fans can purchase tickets starting from December 1, 2023, on Ticketmaster.co.za, and Blunt’s new album sees him teaming up with gifted producers to enhance his musical style. The Grammynominated artist is known for his soulstirring lyrics and unique vocal quality and is excited to get back on tour and share his new tracks with his fans.
Jimmy Carr is a master of comedy and shock, with a unique style that blends laughter and gasps of surprise. His upcoming ‘Terribly Funny’ standup comedy tour is already breaking ticket sales records, showcasing his growing popularity. With performances in over 40 countries, Carr’s international fan base demonstrates his broad appeal and remarkable ability to connect with diverse audiences.
A magnificent 8.5 meter high Christmas tree designed by Pongrácz has lit up Cape Town’s Silo District. The tree is a fusion of artistic innovation and traditional Christmas aesthetics, with cascading golden baubles and a starshaped stopper that emits light from a cuttingedge outdoor laser. Visitors can share personalized messages on the tree, and it also acts as a stunning backdrop for Instagramworthy photographs. The Pongrácz Christmas tree will continue to spread holiday cheer until 10 January 2024.
Cape Town’s annual Festive Lights SwitchOn event is a dazzling spectacle of joy that transforms the city into a glittering fantasy land. This year’s theme, ‘Cape Town: A Future of Hope’, blended the city’s rich heritage with the possibility of a technologically advanced future. The event catered to a diverse crowd and featured a fantastic lineup of local artists, a stunning 3D video mapping display, and a shared sense of unity and excitement for the festive season.
Experience a oneofakind cinematic journey at the Galileo Open Air Cinema in Cape Town this December. With special holiday screenings featuring classic and contemporary films, the cinema offers a festive atmosphere with themeappropriate decor, essential movie snacks, and a minimarket offering a variety of delights. The enchantment extends beyond the screen with giant lawn games, mingling with other movie enthusiasts, and the breathtaking backdrop of Kirstenbosch Garden. Book early for an unforgettable experience under the starlit sky.
James Blunt, the acclaimed artist, is set to make a highly awaited comeback to South Africa after nearly a decade. He is known for his unique vocal quality and modern, melodious soft rock music and will be promoting his latest album “Who We Used To Be” during his global tour in 2024. Fans eagerly anticipate his performance at the Grand Arena, GrandWest, on Thursday, 12 September 2024, in what is expected to be a night brimming with melodic soft rock tunes.
Cape Town’s Festive Lights SwitchOn is a breathtaking canvas of radiant light that ushers in the festive season with a vibrant spectacle of color and light, binding the community spirit. The event features 6,000 meters of LED rope lights, crafted into diverse designs, extending through Adderley Street and Darling Street. Safety remains a top priority, and the event organizers incorporated renewable energy for the second year in a row to power the festivities. A large Christmas tree at Grand Parade added an additional touch of holiday merriment to Darling Street.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is set to host the Sixth BRICS Sherpas Meeting in Durban from November 30 to December 3, 2023. The assembly of emissaries from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa plays a crucial role in preparing for the main summit by addressing various issues and laying a detailed foundation for subsequent conversations. The meeting carries exceptional significance as it symbolizes the end of South Africa’s term as the Chair of BRICS and serves as a platform to further the conversation on cooperation and collaboration with other nations.
Belinda Davids, a gifted South African vocalist, will perform her widely applauded tribute to Whitney Houston, “The Greatest Love of All,” for one night only on December 2 at the Grand Arena in GrandWest. The show promises an engulfing spectacle complete with stateoftheart sound, lighting, and theatrical effects. Davids’ tribute explores Houston’s musical legacy with renditions of her greatest hits. Fans are recommended to book tickets early due to the show’s incredible popularity.
Kanye West hosted an unforgettable starstudded soiree in Dubai, showcasing the city’s opulent architecture and establishing it as a top destination for glamorous celebrity events. The night was filled with chartbusting music, dazzling decor, and a guest list that included Ty Dolla Sign and other entertainment industry elites. The event’s global impact was felt through social media, with fans from around the world participating in the celebration. Kanye West’s party has redefined the way we view celebrity gatherings and left everyone craving for more luxurious events in Dubai.
The 2023 Netball World Cup held in Cape Town has been awarded ‘Event of the Year’ at the Hollard Sport Industry Awards, cementing Cape Town’s position as a top destination for premier sporting events. The event was a grand spectacle of sport, attracting worldwide interest and setting a new benchmark for future sporting events in Cape Town and globally. The success of the event was a result of the unwavering commitment and collaborative effort of Netball South Africa, the Western Cape Government, National Government, and other partners, showcasing the remarkable potential that Cape Town possesses for hosting memorable events that captivate the world.
