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

A fun fact about October: It comes from the Latin word octo, meaning “eight.” I was today years old when I learnt that October was the eighth month in the early Roman calendar before two extra months were added. Enough trivia for now. You didn’t come here for dinner party small talk. You came here to get your weekend plans sorted.

If you’re in Stellenbosch from Saturday, the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees will be in full swing. Check it out, but book your tickets early.

There’s plenty for the kids to do these school holidays, from making magical mooncakes at Willowbridge to joining the Canal Walk Kids Club for the current squishy craze invading our algorithms.

For the grown-ups, Soul Sisters comes to the Grand West Arena, and VarieTease! makes an appearance at Greenhaus in Sunningdale.

CBD

MOSAIC

• Wednesday, 30 September - Saturday, 3 October, 7pm
• Venue: Artscape Arena, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore 
• Cost: R180, bookings via Webtickets

South Africa has no shortage of talent on the dance front, and MOSAIC is a testament to that. The show brings three dance companies together in one powerful celebration of movement, identity and imagination. And like a mosaic, each company offers its own piece of the puzzle in one shared experience.

Zukiswa

• Friday, 2 October, 9pm
• Venue: The Athletic Club and Social, 35 Buitengracht St 
• Cost: R200, bookings via Fixr

Jazz aficionados will savour the rich, rhythmic sounds coming from Zukiswa. Coupled with the cosy atmosphere of The Athletic Club, it has the makings of an enjoyable evening. Think expressive jazz and personal connections.

ATLANTIC SEABOARD

Oceanus Symphonia

• Saturday, 3 October - Sunday, 4 October, 1:15pm and 2:15pm
• Venue: V&A Amphitheatre, Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront 
• Cost: Free

Consider this your taste of what’s in store for March 2027. Oceanus Symphonia is an extraordinary live music experience. Bring the kids. Bring Gran. Bring the entire bang lot. You won’t want to miss this: the ocean as you have never seen, heard or felt it before. 

Hyundai Charity Match

• Saturday, 3 October, 2pm - 6pm
• Venue: Green Point Salesian Football Club, Stephan Way, Green Point 
• Cost: From R50, bookings via Quicket

What happens when 30 influencers and creators get together on a soccer pitch? Chaos. Lots of it. And fun. Bagloads. The influencer charity match returns for 2026. This year, organisers are using the platform to raise awareness of menstrual health and access to sanitary products. Fans can support by donating sanitary pads at the door.

SOUTHERN SUBURBS

Norval Foundation's Holiday Art Club 

• Wednesday, 30 September - Friday, 2 October, 10am
• Venue: The Norval Foundation, 4 Steenberg Rd, Tokai 
• Cost: R320, bookings via Webtickets

If your little Picasso has been using your walls as their canvas, best you enlist them in the Norval Foundation’s holiday art club. Here, they can create to their heart’s content, from experimenting with mixed media to artistic techniques.

Cape Ballet Africa - ELYSIUM

• Saturday, 3 October - Saturday, 10 October, 3pm and 7:30pm
• Venue: The Pam Golding Theatre at The Baxter, Main Rd, Rondebosch 
• Cost: R200 - R495, bookings via Webtickets

A captivating ballet production that brings together four diverse works of celebrated choreographers Balanchine, Duato, Tindall and Reid, Elysium offers a unique perspective on the human experience. 

Time Out tip: The production will host a special seniors performance on Thursday, 8 October, at 11am and 7:30pm. Discounted tickets are available from R200.

CAPE FLATS

Thumberlina - Puppet Show

• Saturday, 3 October, 11am - 1:30pm
• Venue: Rainbow Nursery School, 2 Langton Rd, Mowbray 
• Cost: From R50, bookings via Quicket

Thumbelina is a famous fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen. Puppeteer Suzanne Lemoine reinterprets the story of a tiny girl and her adventures with marriage-minded toads, moles, and cockchafers as a magical puppet show.

Paras ‘Sibalukhulu’ Dlamini

• Sunday, 4 October, 3pm - 6pm
• Venue: Guga S'thebe, Langa, Washington St, Langa 
• Cost: From R150, bookings via Quicket

Celebrated vocalist, songwriter and performer Paras ‘Sibalukhulu’ Dlamini comes to Cape Town as part of his Ingoma Busuku (Song of Night) celebratory concert tour. For the special performance, Paras brings his powerful Zulu vocals, African musical traditions and contemporary jazz.

NORTHERN SUBURBS

Canal Walk Kids Club: Squish Studio

• Friday, 2 October - Sunday, 4 October
• Venue: Centre Court, Canal Walk Shopping Centre 
• Cost: R130, bookings via Webtickets

Canal Walk’s Centre Court is the place to be this weekend. Get ready to squish, squeeze, and create. The little ones will design their own one-of-a-kind squishy in a hands-on creative experience. Each session starts every hour on the hour.

Soul Sisters 2026

• Saturday, 3 October, 8pm
• Venue: Grand Arena at Grand West, 1 Jakes Gerwel Dr, Goodwood 
• Cost: R250 - R395, bookings via Ticketmaster

Lemme hear y’all flow, sisters! Featuring Salome, Rene Johnson, Leonie Le Roux, Karen Kortjie, and others, Soul Sisters is an electrifying night of nostalgia and feel-good vibes. It’s a celebration of soul, sisterhood and timeless hits. And for less than R500 a ticket, it’s a steal.

WEST COAST

VarieTease! A Burlesque & Variety show at Greenhaus

• Friday, 2 October, 8pm - 10pm
• Venue: Greenhaus, 14 Leadville Way, Sunningdale 
• Cost: From R200, bookings via Quicket

VarieTease is a night of bold beauty and unapologetic entertainment. Step into a world of glamour, intrigue and a mix of burlesque, live singing, and drag tease. Expect dazzling costumes, outrageous comedy, audience participation and a celebration of self-expression.

Atlantis Fun Day 2026

• Saturday, 3 October, 8am - 5pm
• Venue: Atlantis Dunes, CF22+C5, Atlantis 
• Cost: From R700, bookings via Quicket

Why go to Dubai when we have Atlantis? The Four Wheel Drive Club of the Western Cape and Toyota South Africa present the 18th edition of the Atlantis Fun Day. R700 gets you vehicle entry, driver and co-driver into the event.

CAPE WINELANDS

PGCE Sip & Paint

• Friday, 2 October, 5pm - 8pm
• Venue: Victoria Hub, Coligny St, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch 
• Cost: From R130, no under-18s, bookings via Quicket

Calling all art lovers, fun-seekers, and wine enthusiasts. Uncork your creativity, sip on delicious drinks, and have a blast creating your own masterpiece. Unleash your hidden talents, mingle with fellow art enthusiasts, make new friends, and share some laughs.

LGBT Spring Market Day in the Winelands

• Saturday, 3 October, 11am - 6pm
• Venue: The VOW Wedding & Events Venue, 2 805 R44 Road, Paarl 
• Cost: Free options, bookings via Quicket

A family-friendly event, the Spring LGBT Market is an inclusive, fun day for everyone. Enjoy delicious food, locally made products, music, and drinks. Meet members of the LGBT business community in the Western Cape and support LGBT-owned businesses. 

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