Can you feel it? That gees in the air? Summer is creeping in, and if you’ve played your cards right, you’ve probably already managed to sneak in a beach day (or two).
We try to stay humble, we really do, but let’s be honest: when it comes to enjoying the festive season, is there anywhere better than Cape Town? (Spoiler: there isn’t. And no, we’re not taking feedback at this time.)
From sunrise strolls along Muizenberg Beach to golden hour sundowners in Camps Bay, the Mother City really knows how to do summer right.
As the days get longer, the vibes get lighter, and everyone collectively remembers what joy feels like, so we’ve rounded up the very best summer festivals happening in and around Cape Town.
If enjoying a picnic with a drink in hand while local artists take the stage is more of your vibe, check out the full Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts line-up!
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🏨 The best hotels in Cape Town
🍳 The best breakfast and brunch spots in Cape Town
🍷 The best wine farms in and around Cape Town
🍕 The best pizza in Cape Town
📍 The best things to do in Cape Town
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There’s no need for an introduction to Rocking the Daisies. The premier event on the music festival calendar is booked out months in advance. Now in its 20th year, event organisers have gone all out, bringing Summer Walker, Mereba, and Sam Tompkins to our shores.
Experience Karen Zoid like never before. Zoid Psalms, a first-of-its-kind production, is a groundbreaking fusion of sacred and modern sounds. Combine the superpowers of a church organ and Zoid’s guitar, and you’ve got next-level energy.
Wonderfontein Wine Estate is the place to be, come 1 November. Bubbly aficionados are in for a fine ‘ol time at the home of Paul René MCC. Come dressed in pink and enjoy a day of bubbles, elegance, and fresh Saldanha Bay oysters.
Two stages. Two nights of the best house and techno beats. Konfusia will headline the intimate electronic music and camping festival. Your ticket gives you access to stages, bars, camping grounds, ablutions, and showers.
Close your eyes. Imagine a utopia deep in a forest. This is Arcadia. The flagship edition of Habitat takes place in the Matroosberg Nature Reserve. With a dizzy lineup, including Becker and Hingt, you’ll be exposed to three days of unadulterated music pleasure.
Time Out Tip: Join fellow yoga enthusiasts for an 8am start on Saturday and Sunday for a class to warm up the body and open the heart.
Who would have thought beer and gin are besties? Well, the folks at the Blouberg Beer & Gin Festival seem to think so. Go along and see what the hype is about. The event will be child-friendly with lots of activities to keep the little ones entertained, while the adults can try their luck on the rodeo bull. Hou vas!
Dubbed as “a profound musical journey that ignites the senses and awakens the spirit”, the Love & Light Festival brings together dance music lovers under one sky. Fans can look forward to welcoming a new day to the sounds of cutting-edge electronic, progressive psytrance, and techno.
How about a cosmic trip through space and time? Described as “a psychonaut’s guide to the galaxy”, the Little Forest Festival is the ultimate psytrance and techno music event to welcome in the New Year.
Featuring an ensemble of local jazz musicians, Jazz in the Park showcases a repertoire of contemporary and classic jazz compositions, including memorable favourites such as ‘My Funny Valentine’ and ‘Summertime’.
Arguably the best-kept secret this side of the equator, Wolfkop Weekender is a five-day event taking place in the Citrusdal valley, among orange groves and on the riverbank. Festivalgoers will experience nature remixed to the sonic sounds of live DJs.
Show me a better outdoor weekend festival. Go on, I’ll wait… Hosted on the banks of the Breede River outside Swellendam, Up the Creek has attracted loyalists and newbies for decades. And if you haven’t been yet, now is your chance.
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