Did you make your New Year’s resolutions yet? If not, check out our selection of amazing upcoming events in Cape Town for 2019, and you’ll be sure to find something worth including in your to-do list for the year. With so much to choose from, starting from food and wine festivals to museum and theater events to performances by your favorite artists, the year will be jam-packed with special experiences you don’t want to miss!
1 Maynardville Open-Air Theatre Festival (January 17-March 10)
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The Maynardville Open-Air Theatre Festival features a series of Sunday evening concerts from January 17 to Match 10 including performances by Graham Weier and Derek Gripper. The programme of this music event also features Cape Town Comedy Club with Jesters in the Park, Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, and Cape Town City Ballet’s Swingtime in the Park. You can bring your own picnic and there is an on-site bar and a coffee shop.
Venue: Maynardville Open Air Theatre, Piers Road, Wynberg
2 Open Streets: Cape Town (January 27)
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Open Streets Cape Town is all about promoting non-motorized transport and they are hosting the Open Streets programme on Bree Street this January. Their main agenda is that ownership of roads as public spaces should be given into the hands of local communities and individuals in Cape Town. The event features plenty of activities and the entrance is free of charge.
Venue: Bree St, CBD, Cape Town
3 Franschhoek Summer Wines (February 2)
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Franschhoek Summer Wines is definitely one of the most anticipated wine events in Cape Town in 2019. Try seasonal inspired whites and reds and relax on the lawn at the Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards in Franschhoek. Chef Pieter de Jager and his team are in charge of preparing delicious food and live music entertainment is available. This year’s dress code for the event is white.
Venue: Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards, R45 Main Rd, Franschhoek
RELATED: 20 Things No One Tells You About Living In Cape Town
4 Up the Creek Music Festival (February 7-10)
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Head out to the banks of the charming Breede River near Swellendam this February to enjoy South Africa’s longest-running music festival, the popular Up the Creek Music Festival. The line-up usually includes big names, as well as local talented bands. A ticket to the festival will set you back R970. Don’t forget to pack a pair of swimming shorts.
Venue: Just outside Swellendam
5 Cape Town Museum Night (February 21)
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Every year on February 21, Cape Town’s museums and institutions like Iziko SA Museum, SA Jewish Museum, District Sic Museum, Iziko SA National Gallery, Iziko Planetarium, CT Holocaust Centre, SA Sendinggestig Museum, Iziko Slave Lodge, A4 Arts Foundation, Prestwich Memorial, Muller’s Museum and The Granary Building open their doors to the public for free. Expect to see plenty of performances, as well as walkabouts and other cool attractions.
Venue: Various Venues
6 Robertson Wine Valley Hands-On Harvest (March 1-3)
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Robertson Wine Valley Hands-On Harvest is probably one of the best wine events in Cape Town. What makes this event different from other wine gatherings is that you can participate in vineyard safaris, grape stomping and picking, food and wine pairings, and riverside lunches. There is also a variety of outdoor activities available for visitors including river cruises, rock-climbing, skydiving, mountain biking, and golfing. The entrance to this event in Robertson is free and individual activities are available for a surcharge.
Venue: Corner Voortrekker and Reitz Streets, Robertson, Western Cape
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7 Cape Town Carnival (March 16)
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Showcasing art, music, and dance, the annual Cape Town Carnival will take place on Somerset Road in Green Point this March. Visitors will have an opportunity to watch live music performances and the Carnival parade starts at 7 pm. This is definitely one of the must-visit events in the Mother City in 2019.
Venue: Green Point, Cape Town
Recommended Accommodation
8 Ed Sheeran Live in Cape Town (March 27)
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The British superstar Ed Sheeran is scheduled to perform at the Cape Town Stadium in 2019. This will be the first performance in South Africa for this award-winning songwriter and musician. For those who don’t know, Ed Sheeran has won 6 Billboard Music Awards, 5 Brit Awards, 4 Grammy’s and more. His concert in Cape Town is presented by AEG and Big Concerts and the tickets for the show range between R395 and R1360.
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Fritz Sonnenberg Rd, Green Point, Cape Town
RELATED: 12 Reasons to Love Living in Cape Town
9 Two Oceans Marathon (April 20)
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Did you know that the first Two Oceans Marathon had not more than 30 participants in 1970? Today, this is the largest running race in South Africa and attracts around 26,000 contestants from all over the world. Participants can enter the popular 21km half marathon or run the scenic 56 km ultra-marathon. There are also the 2.5km and 5km runs available.
Venue: Main Road, Newlands, Cape Town
10 SA Cheese Festival (April 26-28)
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Celebrating its 18th anniversary, the SA Cheese Festival in Stellenbosch is a three-day celebration that attracts thousands of visitors who can enjoy the festival programme which includes everything from food tastings and live music to the popular Ladiesmith Cheese carving competition. Cheese lovers who wish to have a rather unique experience can book the Connoisseurs’ Experience for just under R1000.
Venue: Sandringham, Stellenbosch
11 Franschhoek Literary Festival (May 17-19)
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Franschhoek Literary Festival sees hundreds of booksellers, publishers, readers, and writers get together in Franschhoek. From book launches and writing workshops to literary discussions, dinners, and even classical music concerts, there is plenty to look forward to. One week before the festival, Book Week for Young Readers event features authors of children’s books participating in reading their works.
Venue: 7690 Franschhoek, Western Cape
12 Wacky Wine Weekend (June 7-9)
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Taking place in the gorgeous Robertson Wine Valley, the Wacky Wine Weekend is all about going from one wine estate to another and sampling vintage wines, taking part in tastings, and getting to know cool local winemakers and listen to their stories. Besides wine, outdoor, sport, family-friendly, and other activities are available. All you need to do is purchase a ticket or as they call it here a passport to be able to enter over 40 wine farms. Wacky Wine Weekend is one of those not to be missed events in Cape Town in 2019.
Venue: Robertson Wine Valley, Robertson
13 Homemakers Expo (August 29-September 1)
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One of South Africa’s biggest events dedicated to home décor, Homemakers Expo offers visitors a chance to purchase everything from paint, resources, and tools to home décor and other equipment. The event is held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and attracts visitors from all over the country. For more information about the event, please write to [email protected]
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre, Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town
14 Open Design Festival (October 18-27)
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Head out to the Cape Town City Hall this October to attend the fabulous Open Design Festival. There is plenty of entertainment here to keep you occupied including workshops, exhibitions, citywide talks, and various events. The good news is that the entrance to most of the festival’s events is free.
Venue: Cape Town City Hall, Darling St, Cape Town
And there you have it…here’s what’s happening in Cape Town City in 2019. The Mother City is one of the places you can find amazing things to do, whether it’s winter or summer, it always has something to offer. You can check out a variety of tours packages for more exciting things to do. If you’re planning to visit Cape Town for a short or longer stay, be sure to get in touch or check out our range of accommodation options for a place to stay.
