Out and about in Cape Town: Best things to do this weekend

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Out and about in Cape Town: Best things to do this weekend

The September school holidays officially start on Wednesday, 23 September. Whether you’re ready or not, the big question is: what are your plans, and how much will it cost?

Hold on to that thought as you plot your weekend. And as usual, Cape Town is showing off. We’ve got the Baroque Festival and the 13th European Film Festival, all happening in the city centre.

The Heritage Music Festival at Groote Schuur High kicks off the Heritage Month events. Emo Adams and Take Note will be headlining. And then, of course, all the ladies are in for a treat: Kenny Latimore brings his sultry R&B sounds to the Grandwest Arena. Tickets are still available, although R990 is a hard sell, superfan or not.

CBD

13th European Film Festival South Africa

• Friday, September 18 - Sunday, 27 September, various times
• Venue: The Labia Theatre, 68 Orange St, Gardens 
• Cost: R90, bookings via Webtickets

Showcasing the best films fresh from Cannes, Venice, and Berlin, the 13th European Film Festival in South Africa brings Europe to Cape Town for several weeks. This year’s festival follows families of all kinds, fighting to hold together and carve out a future against everything working to pull them apart. 

Cape Town Baroque Festival

• Saturday, 19 September, 9am - 9pm
• Venue: Various venues across the CBD
• Cost: From R300, bookings via Quicket

Your festival ticket gets you access to all the festival events at the 2026 Cape Town Baroque Festival, excluding the Baroque Woodwind Study Day. This year’s programme will focus on musical instruments and instrumental repertoire.

ATLANTIC SEABOARD

Yacht Rocks - A Heritage Walking Tour Through Green Point

• Saturday, 19 September, 2pm - 4:30pm
• Venue: The Strangers Club, 1 Braemar Rd, Green Point
• Cost: From R100, bookings via Quicket

Game for tracing the remnants of the oldest “common” in South African history? This guided walk will take you from the old border of Kaapstad by the Buitengracht to the remains of the earliest docklands and the Victorian Green Point village. Stop for a quick refreshment at the Urban Park, before ending the tour at the Greenpoint Lighthouse.

Woefie Wandel Dog Walk & Pet Fair 2026

• Sunday, 20 September, 8am - 2pm
• Venue: Green Point Park,  P9, Reddam Field, 1 Fritz Sonnenberg Rd, Green Point
• Cost: R60, bookings via Quicket

Bring your two-legged and four-legged friends along to Woefie Wandel. Your pups will love it; maybe you will too. There’ll be a mobile clinic offering free rabies vaccinations, a pet pop-up spa and a mini fun fair for the kids.

SOUTHERN SUBURBS

Cape Town Silent Book Club

• Saturday, 19 September, 10am - 11:30am
• Venue: La Cuccina, The Baxter Theatre, Main Road, Rondebosch
• Cost: Free, visit their social media pages for further info

The Cape Town Silent Book Club is heading to the south this weekend. With La Cuccina as the host, participants will read their favourite book under the iconic domed orange lights of Baxter Theatre. Bring along your own reading material and a gaggle of friends.

A Bit About Fish Hoek

• Wednesday 12 August - Wednesday, 30 September, 9am- 10:30am
• Venue: The Galley Restaurant, Beach Rd, Fish Hoek 
• Cost: From R450, bookings via Quicket

A bit of Heritage Month flavour: A Bit About Fish Hoek is a guided walk along the area’s shoreline. You’ll get to visit Jager’s Walk, known affectionately by locals as the Cat Walk. Meet the locals and places that have shaped one of Cape Town’s most remarkable neighbourhoods.

Time Out tip: Fish Hoek was historically a “dry town” where title deeds famously prohibited the retail sale of alcohol. Very different from the Fish Hoek you know today.

CAPE FLATS

Coppelia Youth Production

• Saturday, 19 September, noon
• Venue: Joseph Stone Auditorium, Protea St & Klipfontein Rd, Athlone 
• Cost: R50, bookings via Webtickets

Five months of dedicated training have led the young dancers from the EOAN GROUP, Dance for All, and the Cape Town City Ballet to this day. Bringing humour, charm, and dazzling choreography to the stage, Coppélia tells the tale of a clever young woman, a curious fiancé, and a mysterious doll-maker. 

Mother City Core

• Saturday, 19 September, 12:30pm - 2am
• Venue: Trenchtown, 143 Lower Main Rd, Observatory 
• Cost: From R80, no under-18s, bookings via Quicket

If you want to go hardcore, Trenchtown is where it’s going down on Saturday. Expect pop-up markets, live bands, karaoke and DJs wrecking the decks in the garden. Your entrance ticket gives you access to all stages and areas. Mother City Core is a cannabis-friendly event.

NORTHERN SUBURBS

2026 Plattekloof Carnival & Market

• Friday, 18 September - Saturday, 3 October, 4pm
• Venue: Riverside College Rugby field, Burgundy Estate 
• Cost: R30 - R300, bookings via Webtickets 

Whether you’re a big kid at heart or a kid, the Plattekloof Carnival & Market has loads of fun in store. Think fairground rides like the Mexican Hat, the Scrambler and the Tornado. Unlimited rider tickets are also available.

Women’s Business Breakfast

• Friday, 18 September, 8:30am - 11:30am
• Venue: Bellville Golf Club, Jip De Jager Dr, Welgemoed 
• Cost: From R180, bookings via Quicket

Dress up and show up for an inspiring morning dedicated to celebrating women in business and leadership. It’s a great opportunity to connect with like-minded women, gain valuable financial insights and expand your network. 

WEST COAST

Darling Wildflower Show 2026

• Friday, 18 September - Sunday, 20 September, 9am - 5pm
• Venue: Darling Club, Darling
• Cost: Free options, bookings via Quicket

Come to where the wild things grow at the Darling Wildflower Show. The show is both a cultural celebration and a conservation platform, raising awareness of Darling’s fragile ecosystems while showcasing their beauty. You can also join a conservation talk or guided walk.

Table Talk

• Friday, 18 September, 6pm - midnight
• Venue: 23 Transvaal St, Paarden Eiland 
• Cost: From R50, no under-18s, bookings via Quicket

Picture this: a social game night for 18-25-year-olds. No airs. No graces. Just people getting together to play games, enjoy good music, share tasty food and maybe make a friend or two. You’ll even get to design your own custom T-shirt.

Extreme Festival

• Saturday, 19 September, 8am
• Venue: Killarney International Raceway, 6 Potsdam Road, Table View 
• Cost: R40 - R600, bookings via Webtickets

The Extreme Festival is heading back to Killarney. There’ll be no shortage of extreme supercars, SA touring cars, SATC SupaCup, Polo Cup action, open-wheelers, and superbikes. There’s also something for the kiddies: public karting, drift experiences, fun fair rides, live music, a magic show, and a snake show.

CAPE WINELANDS

Rise & Revive Boutique Experience

• Saturday, 19 September, 7:45am - 10am
• Venue: Majeka House Boutique Hotel, 26 Houtkapper St, Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch 
• Cost: From R570, bookings via Quicket

Pencil in a self-care Saturday morning at Majeka House. Rise & Revive is a unique wellness experience. Intentional movement is combined with complete hydrotherapy. Finish your morning with a delicious bite to eat at the Plenitude restaurant.

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