Out and About in Johannesburg: Best things to do

Joburg, are you in the mood to get out of the house, or are you waiting for a very good reason? This weekend, you could find yourself singing along to soul in Kempton Park, following a trail of true-crime stories around the city or discovering your next favourite cider in Lanseria. There’s also a reminder that a good night out doesn’t always mean heading into the northern suburbs. Sometimes, the best plans are the ones that take you somewhere different.

Weekend weather:

Johannesburg, the weekend forecast is looking brighter than your group chat’s plans. Sunshine is on the cards from Friday through Sunday, with temperatures ranging from a cool 13°C to a warm 27°C. It’s the kind of forecast that makes outdoor markets, garden concerts and a long lunch sound even more appealing. The weather has done its part, now it’s over to you to make the plans.

Friday

• Min: 14 °C 

• Max: 27 °C

• Weather conditions: Sunny

Saturday 

• Min: 13 °C 

• Max: 26 °C

• Weather conditions: Sunny

Sunday 

• Min: 14 °C

• Max: 27 °C

• Weather conditions: Sunny

Johannesburg North

Funny Galore Comedy Club presents Mpho Popps

• Friday 23 October, 7pm

• Location: Simas Funny Galore Comedy Club, 111 Lotsani Ln, Emmarentia

• Cost: R150 via Webtickets

Mpho Popps is heading to Sima’s Funny Galore Comedy Club in Emmarentia for a Friday night of live stand-up. The comedian, actor and television presenter has built a career that stretches beyond the comedy stage, including hosting The Comedy Central Roast of AKA and appearing in The Wife. His mix of comedy and screen experience makes this a chance to see a familiar face in a live setting, where the delivery and audience interaction are part of the experience. Catch him at Funny Galore for a night that puts the focus back on the comedian and his craft.

Sip n Paint your own fan with Special Kei at Ke Ai

• Sunday 25 October, 11am

• Location: Apollo’s Taberina & Mixtarium, 68 4th Ave, Linden, Randburg

• Cost: R300 via Webtickets

Fancy painting something you can put to use long after the event? Sip ’n Paint Your Own Fan brings a creative twist to the usual painting session, with Special Kei hosting at Apollo’s Taberna & Mixtarium in Linden. Instead of working on a canvas, participants will get to personalise a fan with their own design, turning a practical accessory into something individual. The event is linked to Ke Ai, the Linden store known for its Japanese-inspired and quirky finds, making this a different way to spend a Sunday morning for anyone who enjoys hands-on creative activities.

Murder & Crime Tour 

• Sunday 25 October, 1pm

• Location: Sunnyside Park Hotel, Parktown

• Cost: R329 - R399 via Quicket

Johannesburg’s darker history takes the spotlight on this guided Murder & Crime Tour, which explores real cases involving notorious criminals, armed robberies and unsolved mysteries. Organised by Mystery Ghost Productions, the tour covers stories linked to the Foster Gang, the Stander Gang and suspected serial killer Gert van Rooyen, with stops at locations connected to these cases. Participants follow the guide in their own cars, getting out at selected stops to hear more about the people and crimes behind the headlines. For true-crime fans, this is a chance to dig into the real cases that shocked the country and uncover the darker stories hidden in Johannesburg’s history.

Last Sunday Silent Disco

• Sunday 25 October, 4pm

• Location: Radisson RED, Rosebank, Johannesburg

• Cost: R150 - R180 via Howler

Three DJs, three music channels and one rooftop dance floor. Last Sunday Silent Disco is taking over Radisson RED Rosebank, giving you control of the soundtrack through a pair of LED headphones. Fancy amapiano and gqom? Tune in. More in the mood for house and techno? Switch channels. If hip-hop and pop are calling your name, there’s a channel for that too. You can even see what everyone else is dancing to by checking the colours on their headphones. It’s a sunset session with a difference, and nobody needs to argue over the aux.

Johannesburg East

Terraross 

• Friday 23 October, 7:30pm

• Location: 7 Marais Rd, Bedfordview

• Cost: R60 via Quicket

Festival Italiano brings Italian folk group Terraross to Bedfordview for a live performance rooted in Puglia, in southern Italy. The group draws on the region’s musical heritage, combining folk singing with the rhythms of tambourines, accordion and mandolin, alongside dance styles such as the tarantella and pizzica. Rather than a set of familiar Italian pop songs, this is a chance to hear a different side of the country’s music, shaped by local traditions and lively folk rhythms. Pretoria siblings Paul and Christine Gioia will open the evening ahead of Terraross’ headline performance.

Johannesburg Central

JUSTICE

• Saturday 24 October - Sunday 25 October, Various Times

• Location: The Lesedi at Joburg Theatre

• Cost: R150 - R180 via Webtickets

What happens when a woman fights to be heard in a society where gender-based violence continues to devastate lives? JUSTICE at Joburg Theatre follows one woman’s struggle to have her pain acknowledged, reflecting the grief of families and communities affected by gender-based violence. Through her story, the production confronts the silence surrounding these experiences and the difficult road towards accountability. It shifts the focus from the statistics to the people left to pick up the pieces, asking who stands beside victims when the attention fades and the fight for justice continues.

Johannesburg West

Joburg Cider Festival

• Saturday 24 October, 11am

• Location: Toadbury Hall Hotel, Plot 64 Beyers Naude Ext, Lanseria, Krugersdorp

• Cost: R390 - R1 250 via Webtickets

Still ordering the same cider every time? Your taste buds deserve a little adventure. The Joburg Cider Festival at Toadbury Hall brings cider makers together for a chance to sample different varieties, compare crisp, dry pours with sweeter, fruitier options and discover local brands that might not be on your radar yet. You’ll also get to meet the people behind the bottles and hear more about what goes into making their ciders, with performances from Stones & Bones, Chymamusique and Lamiez Holworthy adding to the festival atmosphere. By the end, you might have a new favourite cider and a few new names to look out for next time you’re browsing the shelves.

Sunset Music Series presents Ami Faku & Manana

• Saturday 24 October, 1pm

• Location: Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, Malcom Road, Poortview, Roodepoort

• Cost: R195 - R245 Children, R295 - R345 Adults via Webtickets

Joburg, how does an afternoon of soulful vocals, live music and garden views sound? The Sunset Music Series is bringing Ami Faku and Manana to the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden for a concert that pairs two distinctive voices in South African music with one of the city’s most scenic outdoor settings. Faku’s blend of Afro-soul and pop has made songs such as Imali and Ubuhle Bakho favourites among fans, while Manana brings a contemporary R&B sound shaped by intimate songwriting and layered vocals. It’s a chance to hear two artists with different musical styles share the stage, with the gardens providing a beautiful backdrop.

Johannesburg South

Isibane Soweto Tour

• Friday 23 October, 7:30pm

• Location: Blue Theatre at Soweto Theatre

• Cost: R200 via Webtickets

Liso the Musician brings her Isibane Soweto Tour to the Blue Theatre at Soweto Theatre, blending ancestral jazz and worship jazz in a performance shaped by faith, heritage and loss. The concert connects her previous album, ZAF’INGANE, with her upcoming project, SIKHANYISELWE, which honours the memory of her late daughter. For audiences, the draw is hearing how these deeply personal experiences translate into music, from the spiritual influences in her sound to the emotions behind her latest work. The show offers an intimate look at how Liso uses music to honour her daughter while continuing to grow as an artist.

Lifestyle Cancer Awareness Fun Ride

• Saturday 24 October, 8am

• Location: Dobsonville EXT3 Mangala Street

• Cost: R92 - R350 via Webtickets

Dobsonville is getting moving for a cause that deserves attention. The Lifestyle Cancer Awareness Fun Ride brings the community together for a morning of cycling and walking, giving participants a chance to get active while supporting an initiative focused on health education. With both activities on the programme, you can choose between hitting the road on two wheels or taking part on foot. It’s also an opportunity to show solidarity with people affected by cancer and help keep conversations about early detection and healthier living going in the community.

Beyond Jozi

Spring Fling

• Saturday 24 October, 4pm

• Location: The Grand Cafe, 2800 Unknown Street, Dikole, Katlehong

• Cost: R50 via Computicket

Why head into the city for amapiano when Katlehong has a party of its own? Spring Fling brings Busta 929, Stixx and Amu Classic & Kappie to The Grand Cafe, putting the spotlight on the township’s own music scene. It’s a chance to support a local event, catch some of amapiano’s recognisable names on one line-up and enjoy a party without leaving the East Rand. Sometimes the best plans are right in your own backyard.

A night with Langa Mavuso

• Saturday 24 October, 8pm

• Location: Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace, 64 Jones Rd, Kempton Park

• Cost: R395 - R595 via Webtickets

Joburg, if your playlist swings between falling in love and swearing off relationships, Langa Mavuso has the soundtrack for you. The singer brings his Urban Soul sound to the Theatre of Marcellus, blending smooth vocals with stories of love, longing and heartbreak. Revisit Mvula, Panther and listen out for Pretend, where he collaborates with singer Aimee George to explore the complications of a relationship. Come for the vocals, but don’t be surprised if one song has you mentally drafting a message you absolutely should not send.

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