Cape Town has it all … the warmth, sunshine, backdrops, beaches, excitement and entertainment! And never more so than at New Year, when the city turns itself into the party capital of the world.
At The Waterfront
With the summer weather fully upon us, the city pulls out all the stops for New Years Eve and the first few days of the New Year. The enviable warmth means that restaurants are able to spill out onto the sidewalks; the fireworks burst into the night sky showering the Waterfront with colour and magic; and the city is alive with visitors.
Where better to watch the annual fireworks display than from the Waterfront? With an extensive programme of live music, street entertainment, the Waterfront’s restaurants and shops ably support the festivities, culminating in the fireworks on the stroke of midnight.
As a place to visit by day, the Waterfront is a wonderful place to people watch, be entertained by the street performers, browse the shops and relax. By night, it transforms itself into the best party venue in town.
One way to rise above it all is to take the cable car up Table Mountain to watch the last sunset of the old year, then party in style as Cape Town celebrates below you. What a view of the fireworks! Last cable car descends at 1am, leaving you ample time to continue the party elsewhere.
Five piece bands to sidewalk cafes; Big Tops to casinos; Bombay Bicycles to … did I say wild and wacky? Well, in truth Cape Town is so cosmopolitan, everything is available here to suit your tastes.
Save some of your energies though for the 2nd January when the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival comes to town. Often compared to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans or the carnival in Rio, this tradition has its roots steeped in the time of slavery when the inhabitants of District Six were allowed their one day off a year.
Musicians, dancers and entertainers paint their faces white, don their colourful clothing and set off to parade through the streets. Many say the traditions were enhanced with the black banjo-playing minstrels of the American liners that docked in Cape Town. Whatever the truth of it, the magic of the day will stay with you for a long while.
The bands all have amazing names such as “Dixies” or “the District Six Band”. The parades, songs and fun are a celebration of life, rather than a look back to bleak times. Get caught up in the atmosphere and watch Cape Town let it’s hair down!
From all of us at ComeToCapeTown we wish you a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year. For more great ideas on what to do and see, we will be delighted to help you make the most of your Cape Town vacation and holiday time.
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