One of the very best things about Christmas in Cape Town is the warm weather! In the Northern Hemisphere people are shivering in the icy winds, sleet, rain and snow. Here in South Africa the balmy warmth of summer is spreading its goodwill.
Carols by Candlelight is a popular pastime at this time of the year and of course, so much more of an experience when the days heat has melted into gentle breezes and ambient temperatures.
One of our favourites is the annual Christmas concert held at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, this year from the 15th until the 18th December, featuring the Cape Town Concert Brass Band and the Cape Town Male Voice Choir.
Picnicking in the evening air on the grassy slopes of Table Mountain, surrounded by the beautiful gardens, you are transported to the carol about Good King Wenceslas “underneath the mountain” – without, of course, any of the hardships of frost and snow!
Table Mountain is without doubt in its element at this time of the year.
Vergelegen Carols By Candlelight
Many of the wine estates hold carol concerts. Picnic baskets and blankets are the order of the evening, along with your candle, as you will find something magical about the vineyards at night, especially with the glow of hundreds of candles combined with the stillness. Vergelegen at Somerset West hold their concert on the 16th December; Laborie wine estate at Paarl hold theirs tomorrow evening – December 9th.
Why not head out to Paarl early to finish that festive shopping at the Night Market at Laborie? A range of stalls will be offering seasonal foods and crafts perfect for gifts, allowing you time to browse before spreading your blanket onto the lawns for the concert.
A little closer to Cape Town is Durbanville Hills wine estate carols, candles and Christmas gifts event being held tomorrow evening also. The spectacular views of Table Bay and the mountain are incentive enough, but combined with the opportunity to take a break from all the frenzy of the season and relax with a glass of wine, friends and family is a delightful mix.
If you like jazz, then a trip to the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in historic Stellenbosch will be a must! On December 18th, Melanie Scholtz with her band, The Love Apples – how could you not go, with a band name like that to inspire you! – guarantee you a wonderful jazzy winter wonderland sleigh ride of music.
Oude Libertas Carols
Also on at Oude Libertas on the 21st and 22nd December are Carols, Crackers & Christmas with well-known conductor Richard Cock in charge of a combined choir and brass ensemble. Richard is an expert at involving the audience in a special way into the music and the setting once again provides that extra special ingredient to fuse the magic of music and the great outdoors.
With the Cape Town Gospel choir on at the Waterfront Amphitheatre on the 16th December and the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols being held in St George’s Cathedral on 24th December, I can guarantee Cape Town is set to deliver its best carols!
For more great ideas on what to do and see, ComeToCapeTown.com will be delighted to assist you in making the most of your vacation and holiday time.
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