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October is bringing it all to KZN!
You can watch the South African Lipizzaners perform their spectacular displays in Karkloof, raise a stein at Oktoberfest – and many beer runs - head into the Drakensberg for a trail-running weekend or settle in for live music from some of South Africa’s best-known performers.
If you thought things were winding down as we approach year-end, you were wrong!
Get out your diaries (or Google calendars) and start taking notes.
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Durban
Sharks Rugby vs Leinster
- Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
- Time: 6.30pm
- Location: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
- Teams: Sharks vs Leinster
- Tickets: Check Sharks Rugby for tickets.
Get ready for an evening of top-class rugby and plenty of gees when the Sharks take on Leinster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park this October.
Durban rugby fans can head to the stadium on Saturday, 3 October for what promises to be an action-packed clash between the home side and Irish powerhouse Leinster. Expect a lively match-day atmosphere as the Sharks take to their home turf under the Durban lights.
#HatsOn4CPC Fun Walk
- Date: Sunday, 11 October
- TimeS: Arrival from 7am | Walk starts at 8am | Ends approximately 11am
- Location: The Amphitheatre, North Beach Promenade, opposite Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani Hotel
- Route: Along the beachfront promenade towards Moses Mabhida Stadium and back
- Tickets: R100 adults | R50 children aged 4–12 | Under 3s free via PatchSA
- Information: PatchSA and Umduduzi Hospice Care for Children
Get your most outrageous hat ready.
The third annual Durban #HatsOn4CPC Fun Walk is inviting families, schools, businesses and community groups to take to the beachfront in support of children living with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses.
The 5km family-friendly walk forms part of the global #HatsOn4CPC campaign, which raises awareness of the importance of children's palliative care.
Expect plenty of colourful headwear, with spot prizes for the most impressive creations. Babies in strollers, young children and well-behaved pets on leads are welcome too.
KZN South Coast
Take a Moment for You: Creative Painting
- Date: Saturday, 10 October
- Time: 10am–12pm
- Location: 19 Beach Road Restaurant, Amanzimtoti
- Cost: R290, all-inclusive
- Age: Adults and ages 12+
- Bookings: WhatsApp 069 297 8618
Need two hours to switch off?
This relaxed painting experience is designed as a chance to slow down, get creative and enjoy a morning away from the everyday hustle.
Choose from four pre-drawn canvas designs, with all painting materials provided. There’s no formal instruction, although individual guidance is available if you need it.
Your ticket also includes a meal, with options ranging from loaded cheese and bacon fries and waffles to chicken pop baskets, toasted sandwiches and focaccia.
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Paint the Town Pink
- Date: Friday, 16 October
- Time: 6pm –7.30pm
- Location: Circus Circus, Galleria Mall, Amanzimtoti
- Cost: R370, all-inclusive
- Age: Adults and ages 10+
- Dress code: All things pink
- Bookings: WhatsApp 069 297 8618
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this creative evening is marking it with an appropriately pink painting session.
Guests can choose from four pre-drawn tote bag designs and will receive all the painting materials they need, plus a burger or pasta meal.
Whether you’re honouring your own journey, celebrating someone you love or simply showing your support, put on something pink and get creative.
Around the World: Paint Night
- Date: Friday, 23 October
- Time: 6pm–7.30pm
- Location: Circus Circus, Galleria Mall, Amanzimtoti
- Cost: R345, all-inclusive
- Age: Adults and ages 10+
- Dress code: Pick a country and dress the part
- Bookings: WhatsApp 069 297 8618
Fancy travelling the world without leaving Amanzimtoti?
This creative evening lets you choose a destination and paint a pre-drawn canvas inspired by one of eight famous landmarks.
Choose from South Africa’s Table Mountain, Italy’s Colosseum, Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, Greece’s Acropolis, India’s Taj Mahal, Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Japan’s Mount Fuji or Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay.
All painting materials and a burger or pasta meal are included. Now all you need to decide is where you're going.
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KZN Upper Highway
Run Collective Beer Run
- Date: Saturday, 17 October
- Time: 2pm
- Location: Morewood Activity Centre, Hillcrest
- Distance: Five 2km trail loops
- How it works: One beer after every 2km loop, with a new loop starting every 20 minutes
- Tickets: R140 from Racepass
The challenge sees runners tackle five 2km trail loops, with one beer every lap and a new loop starting every 20 minutes. You can expect a mix of trail running, good vibes and plenty of laughs as runners try to keep both their legs moving and the beers flowing.
KZN Midlands and Drakensberg
South African Lipizzaners at Karkloof Polo Club
- Dates: Saturday, 3 October at 12pm | Sunday, 4 October at 2pm
- Location: Karkloof Polo Club
- Tickets: From R150 via Quicket
The magnificent white stallions of the South African Lipizzaners are heading to Karkloof.
The two performances will showcase classical horsemanship through music, precision, spectacular movements and the remarkable partnership between horse and rider.
It’s an opportunity to see these iconic horses up close while experiencing a unique part of South African equestrian heritage in the Karkloof countryside.
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Oktoberfest at Berlin Café
- Dates: Saturday, 3 & Sunday, 4 October
- Location: Berlin Café in Balgowan
- Information: Berlin Café website and social media pages
- Tickets: Adults R190 | Children U12 R90 | Adult Weekend Pass R360 via Berlin Café
Get ready to say Prost! as Berlin Café hosts two days of Oktoberfest celebrations.
The festival will mark German Unity Day with live music, German beer, authentic German food and plenty of family-friendly entertainment. Carmen Rodrigues is among the first artists announced, with more performers still to be revealed.
There will also be a beer tent, wine and gin stall, more than 20 market stalls, a jumping castle wonderland and plenty of festival food and drink.
Bands Under the Stars Concert
- Date: Friday, 16 October
- Time: 6pm–7.30pm
- Location: Grass area below the SP Quad, St Charles College
- Tickets: Free entrance
- What to bring: Picnic, blankets and chairs
The picnic-style concert will showcase the talents of the St Charles College Junior School and High School Bands, bringing the 2026 Bands season to a memorable close.
Pack a picnic, blankets and chairs, and enjoy an evening of live music with family and friends. Entrance is free.
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Vusi Mahlasela & Guy Buttery
- Dates: Saturday, 24 October at 6pm | Sunday, 25 October at 2pm
- Location: Schlesinger Theatre, Michaelhouse, Balgowan
- Tickets: R250 via Quicket
- Age: Family-friendly
Two acclaimed South African musicians are sharing a stage for the first time at Michaelhouse.
Vusi Mahlasela, known as “The Voice”, is a celebrated singer-songwriter and SAMA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, while internationally acclaimed guitarist Guy Buttery is known for his innovative fingerstyle playing and cross-cultural collaborations.
The double-bill promises an evening of music from two distinctive South African voices.
Kudu Canter Trail Run 2026
- Dates: Friday, 23 – Sunday, 25 October | Race pack collection on Friday from 3pm
- Location: Central Drakensberg, around Spionkop Dam
- Activities: Trail running, walking and 300m dam swimming
- Entries: Kudu Canter website or Tam on 082 888 0329
Trade the city for mountain views at the Kudu Canter Trail Run.
This family-friendly boutique trail-running weekend around Spionkop Dam welcomes both runners and walkers, with scenic routes and a supervised 300m dam swim for adventurous entrants.
Free dam-view camping, a kids’ zone and optional tent rentals make it as much a weekend getaway as a running event. Once Day 1 is done, you can fish, cycle, swim, birdwatch or simply relax in the race village.
There will also be Copperfields Catering, a 24-hour tea and coffee station, a bar and a Kudu Canter apparel shop. Runners are encouraged to bring old running shoes for the event’s donation drive supporting local running clubs.
Luna Paige – Die Reisigers Album Launch
- Date: Saturday, 31 October
- Time: Doors 6.30pm | Show 7pm
- Location: Chamberlain Music Centre, Hilton College
- Tickets: R160 via Quicket
- Information: Charles on 082 331 7271
- Extras: BYOB
Luna Paige brings her acclaimed Die Reisigers album and live show to Hilton for an intimate evening of music, storytelling and visual art.
Inspired by her journey along the Camino and travels through South Africa and Southern Europe, the album explores movement, belonging, loss, self-love, acceptance and the people encountered along the way.
For the Hilton performance, Paige will be joined by André Scheepers on guitar, keyboard and electronic arrangements.
B# Music Show
- Date: Saturday, 31 October
- Location: Mendola Wedding Venue, 1 Hilton Road, opposite Grace College
- Tickets: R130
- Bookings: 079 287 1619
- Extras: BYO picnic baskets
B# returns for another evening of live music, bringing together jazz, rock 'n' roll, golden oldies and ballads. The setlist ranges from Elvis Presley, Cher and ABBA to Adele, Phil Collins, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles and Billy Joel.
Bring your picnic basket and settle in for an evening of familiar favourites. Limited drinks will be available at the venue, while picnic orders can also be arranged in advance.
Midlands Night Market – Halloween Edition
- Date: Friday, 30 October
- Time: 4–10pm
- Location: Stockowners Outdoor Park, Howick
- Tickets: R40 via 068 683 5507
The Midlands’ night market is getting a spooky makeover for Halloween.
Expect a haunted house, trick-or-treating, live music, a beer tent, kids’ entertainment and plenty of food and craft vendors.
Come for the market, stay for the scares – and perhaps leave the lights on when you get home.
Midlands Hospice Beer Fun Run with Rawdons
- Date: Saturday, 31 October 2026
- Time: 10am–1pm
- Venue: Nottingham Road Brewing Company
- Distance: 800m around the dam
- Bookings: marketing@midlandshospice.co.za
Beer, fresh air and a good cause — what more do you need?
Join Midlands Hospice and Rawdons for a family-friendly Beer Fun Run on Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 10am to 1pm at Nottingham Road Brewing Company.
The 800m route takes you around the dam, with a beer/gin table along the way and another waiting at the finish line. You can run solo and sip your way around the route, or team up with friends and split the drinks between you.
Kids can join in the fun too, with free juice available for little runners.
The event is an awareness run supporting prostate and testicular cancer awareness, bringing people together for an easy-going day out while helping shine a light on men’s health.
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