Cape Town City Guide - Special Events

Kaapse Klopse (Cape Minstrels' Carnival), 2 Jan, New Year ‘karnaval' with a parade through the city centre, city centre to Green Point
Tweede Nuwe Jaar (Second New Year), 2 Jan, informal public holiday, throughout the city
Cape to Rio Yacht Race, Jan, international yacht race, Royal Cape Yacht Club (website: www.southatlanticrace.co.za)
Standard Bank Cape Town Jazzathon, mid-Jan, jazz festival, V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre (website: www.waterfront.co.za)
Maynardville Shakespeare Season, Jan-Feb, open-air theatre, Maynardville Open-Air Theatre, Wynberg (website: www.artscape.co.za)
International Design Indaba, Feb, workshops, lectures and the annual Construction New Media Awards, Cape Town International Convention Centre (website: www.designindaba.com)
J&B Met, Jan/Feb, Western Cape's premier horserace, Kenilworth Racecourse (website: www.jbmet.co.za)
Aqua Opera, Feb, floating operatic spectacular, North Wharf and V&A Marina, V&A Waterfront (website: www.capetownopera.co.za) Cape Town Pride Festival, mid-Feb, gay celebration, 10-day festival, various venues, the Pride Parade is on the last day (website: www.capetownpride.co.za)
Community Chest Carnival, late Feb-early Mar, international food festival, fun fair and fête, Maynardville Park, Wynberg (website: www.comchest.org.za)
Cape Argus/Pick 'n' Pay Cycle Tour, mid Mar, 108-km (67-mile) race around the peninsula, attracting 35,000 cyclists, around Cape Peninsula (website: www.cycletour.co.za)Out in Africa South African Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Mar/Apr, most successful film festival in South Africa, Cinema Nouveau, V&A Waterfront (website: www.oia.co.za)
Cape Town Festival, Mar, arts, culture and heritage festival to promote unity within the city, various venues (website: www.capetownfestival.co.za)
Human Rights Day, 21 Mar, commemoration of the martyrs of apartheid, throughout the city
Cape Town International Jazz Festival, late Mar, Africa's biggest jazz festival, Cape Town International Convention Centre (website: www.apassion4jazz.net)
Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon, Mar, 56km (35-mile) race, around the peninsula from the Celtic Harriers Athletic Club, Main Road, Newlands (website: www.twooceansmarathon.org.za)
Freedom Day, 27 Apr, commemoration of South Africa's first democratic elections, throughout the city
Cape Gourmet Festival, May, food and wine festival, various venues including the Cape Town International Convention Centre (website: www.gourmetsa.com)
Red Bull BWA (Big Wave Africa), Jun-Jul, surfing spectacular, Dungeons, The Sentinel, Hout Bay (website: www.redbullbwa.com)
Youth Day, 16 Jun, anniversary of the 1976 student uprising against apartheid, throughout the city
Man In Focus, Jun, music concerts that appeal to dads and granddads at the outdoor amphitheatre to celebrate Father's Day, V&A Waterfront (website: www.waterfront.co.za)
International Documentary Film Festival, Jul-Aug, various cinemas (website: www.encounters.co.za)
Hout Bay Snoek Derby, Aug, festival in celebration of Cape Town's favourite fish, Hout Bay harbour
Women of Worth, Aug, workshops and events of interest to women, V&A Waterfront (website: www.waterfront.co.za)
Winter Food Fair, Aug, V&A Waterfront (website: www.waterfront.co.za)
National Women's Day, 9 Aug, celebration of the role of women in the anti-apartheid struggle, throughout the city
Floral Art Show, Sep, V&A Watefront (website: www.waterfront.co.za)
Smirnoff International Comedy Festival, Sep/Oct, Baxter Theatre Centre, Rondebosch (website: www.comedyfestival.co.za)
Cape Times/FNB Big Walk, mid-Oct, a walk for charity, a city tradition since 1903, Cape Town and surrounding areas, finishing at the Hartleyvale Stadium (website: www.bigwalk.co.za)
Three Peaks Challenge, early Nov, hike up Devil's Peak, Table Mountain and Lion's Head, start at 0530 at Greenmarket Square (website: www.hikecapetown.co.za)
Whiskey Festival, Oct/Nov, Cape Town International Convention Centre (website: www.whiskylivefestival.co.za)
International Dragon Boat Festival, Nov, North Wharf, V&A Waterfront (website: www.dragonboat.co.za)
Sithengi, mid-Nov, film and television market, Artscape Theatre Centre (website: www.sithengi.co.za)
Cape Town World Cinema Festival, mid-Nov, international film festival, various venues (website: www.sithengi.co.za)
Wiggle Waggle Walkathon, Nov, 4km (2.5 mile) walk for dogs, Constantia School for Boys (website: www.spca-ct.co.za)
Spier Arts Summer Season, jazz, opera, comedy, dance and classical concerts (website: www.spierarts.co.za), Dec-Mar, Spier Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
Mother City Queer Project Festival, gay and lesbian events and themed costume party (website: www.mcqp.co.za), mid-Dec, Ratanga Junction, Century City
Day of Reconciliation, 16 Dec, day of national unity across political divides, throughout the city
Obz Festival, early Dec, street festival and live music, Lower Main Road, Observatory (website: www.obzfestival.com)
New Year's Eve Bash, 31 Dec, open-air concert and party, V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre (website: www.waterfront.co.za)
Kirstenbosch Appletiser Summer Sunset Concerts, Nov-Mar, open-air concerts, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (website: www.kirstenbosch.co.za)