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If your weekend plans currently involve scrolling through your phone and saying “there’s nothing to do”, we’ve got news for you. Johannesburg is turning up the volume with live music, serving comedy with a side of wine and taking movie night outdoors in Soweto.
There’s also a festival in the Cradle of Humankind that goes beyond the main stage, plus events worth travelling to Tembisa, the East Rand and Pretoria for. From a night out to something a little different, here’s what deserves a spot on your weekend calendar.
Weekend Weather
Johannesburg is turning up the heat this weekend, and we’re not just talking about the city’s social calendar. Friday is set to hit a sunny 29°C, with Saturday and Sunday not far behind at 28°C. It’s spring doing what it does best, bringing warm days and giving us one less excuse to cancel plans. So, leave the winter layers in the cupboard, grab your sunglasses, sunscreen and get ready to make the most of the weekend. The forecast is looking good, and staying home can wait.
Friday
- Min: 17 °C
- Max: 29 °C
- Weather conditions: Sunny
Saturday
- Min: 18 °C
- Max: 28 °C
- Weather conditions: Sunny
Sunday
- Min: 18 °C
- Max: 28 °C
- Weather conditions: Sunny
Johannesburg North
Ladies of Lavare
- Friday 16 October - Saturday 17 October, Various Times
- Location: Theatre on The Square, West Street, Sandown
- Cost: R180 - R220 via Webtickets
A birthday gone wrong, two sisters stuck in a bathtub and a cake burning in the oven. Ladies of Lavare finds Maureen and her older sister, Vera, in this predicament at their retirement village, where chaos brings old arguments and unexpected revelations to the surface. Starring Shaeleen Tobin and Camilla Waldman, the comedy-drama blends humour with more tender moments as the sisters revisit their past and reflect on the lives they've lived. Being stuck together is awkward enough, but the sisters have years of history to work through.
EmerisChella
- Friday 16 October, 6pm
- Location: 58 Weirda Road East, Sandton
- Cost: R150 General, R300 VIP via Howler
If your Halloween costume has been sitting in the back of your wardrobe waiting for its moment, this might be it. EmerisChella is a Halloween-themed music party hosted by Emeris Sandton in collaboration with Emeris Waterfall Student Life, bringing together a line-up of local talent for a night of dancing. Blxckie, Mdu aka TRP and Uncool MC are among the acts on the line-up, making this one for anyone who enjoys a mix of hip-hop and amapiano. Round up your friends, get creative with your costume and see what happens when student nightlife gets a Halloween makeover.
An Idiot’s Guide to Wine
- Friday 16 October, Various Times
- Location: Hard Rock Cafe
- Cost: R780 via FeverUp
Think you know your wine? Or do you just pick the bottle with the prettiest label? An Idiot’s Guide to Wine invites you to sip, sample and laugh your way through five wines from around the world, with South African comedian Tshireletso Mothebe serving up the jokes using material written by Australian comedian Merrick Watts. Five wines, a comedy set and absolutely no pressure to know your merlot from your pinot noir. Now that's our kind of wine night.
Alex Mall Soul Session
- Saturday 17 October, 10am
- Location: Alex Mall, N3, London Rd, Far East Bank, Alexandra
- Cost: R200 via Computicket
Soulful house takes centre stage at Alex Mall this Saturday, with a line-up that brings together familiar radio voices and DJs from Alexandra and beyond. Metro FM and Kaya FM favourites Wilson B Nkosi, Msizi Shembe and Paul Mtirara join DJ Grant, DJ Young and other names for a full day of music, running from morning into the evening. The all-white theme gives the session its own look, while food and drinks will be available on-site to keep the day going. It's a chance to catch some of the voices you know from the radio behind the decks, right in the heart of Alexandra.
DP World Lions Women vs YesPlay Cobras Women & DP World Lions vs Northern Cape Heat
- Sunday 18 October, 9am
- Location: DP World Wanderers Stadium, Corlett Dr, IIlovo
- Cost: R30 via Cricket South Africa
Why settle for watching one side of the game when you can see both? Wanderers’ hosts DP World Lions Women against YesPlay Cobras Women, followed by the men's DP World Lions taking on Northern Cape Heat. Even if cricket isn't your usual weekend activity, T20 is a good place to start, where each team has a limited number of overs to score runs, making for a more compact game than traditional cricket. There's something special about watching the action unfold in person, from the players taking their positions to the crowd reacting as the game develops.
Johannesburg West
Into the Depths
- Sunday 18 October, 6:30pm
- Location: Main Theatre at Roodepoort Theatre
- Cost: R200 Children & Pensioners, R220 General admission via Webtickets
A traveller faces ancestral spirits, hidden realms and a series of tests in Into the Depths, a theatrical production that tells its story through fusion belly dance. Combining dramatic choreography with cinematic visuals, the show follows the traveller's journey through five acts of discovery, struggle and transformation. Part of Fusion Fest Africa 2026, it's a chance to see fusion belly dance take centre stage in a story shaped by ancestry, spiritual encounters and the unknown.
Our Origin Festival
- Friday 16 October - Sunday 18 October,
- Location: Impact Hub, Kromdraai Rd, Protea Ridge, Krugersdorp
- Cost: R750 - R11 000 via Howler
A festival where you can catch live music, join a drumming circle, plant a tree and hear Indigenous elders share their knowledge? That's Our Origin Festival. Taking over the Cradle of Humankind for three days, the gathering brings together artists including Bongeziwe Mabandla, TRESOR, Buhlebendalo and Sibusile Xaba, with a programme that stretches beyond the stage into culture, community and caring for the planet. There’s also a children’s village and creative activities for younger festivalgoers, making it an option for families looking for something different from the usual festival set-up.
Johannesburg Central
Untitled Basement Presents: Armand Mukenge - Good Intentions Live
- Friday 16 October, 5pm
- Location: 7 Reserve St
- Cost: R250 online, R300 Door at Quicket
Ever had a song put into words something you've been trying to figure out yourself? Johannesburg singer Armand Mukenge draws on R&B, neo-soul and gospel on his debut EP, Good Intentions, reflecting on love, faith, doubt and the growing pains that come with finding your way in life. He's bringing the project to Untitled Basement for a live show backed by a band, giving audiences a chance to hear the songs beyond their recorded versions. If you're curious about the stories behind the music and want to discover a local artist whose songwriting gets personal, this is a good one to add to your Friday plans.
Johannesburg East
Concerto di Primavera (Spring Concert)
- Saturday 17 October, 5pm
- Location: The Italian Sporting Club, 7 Marais Rd, Bedfordview
- Cost: R100 via Quicket
Italian music is about more than opera singers hitting the high notes, and Concerto di Primavera is here to prove it. Marking the start of Italian Cultural Week in South Africa, the concert brings together opera favourites, traditional Neapolitan songs and contemporary compositions by Ludovico Einaudi. Italian soprano Silvia Di Falco, who has performed at Teatro Bellini in Sicily, will perform alongside pianist Cristina Giannino, with works by Verdi, Puccini and Mascagni also on the programme. With familiar composers alongside traditional Italian songs and contemporary works, the programme offers different sounds to enjoy in one concert. Light refreshments are included before the performance.
Johannesburg South
Outdoor Movie Night - Soweto Edition
- Saturday 17 October, 4pm
- Location: Soweto Equestrian Centre
- Cost: R120 - R150 via Webtickets
Soweto gets its own open-air cinema night this Saturday, with the Soweto Equestrian Centre hosting an evening of films, music and food.Come early to browse the food stalls and find your spot before the screening starts. There’ll be a limited number of bean bags and straw bales available, so bring a camping chair or blanket if you’d rather not leave your seating to chance. The film line-up is still a secret, so no arguing over what to watch before you arrive. For once, someone else is making the movie night decision for you.
Beyond Jozi
Phahlana
- Saturday 17 October - Sunday 18 October, Various Times
- Location: The TX Theatre, Moses Molelekwa Community Centre, Tembisa
- Cost: R50 via Webtickets
There’s more to a broom than sweeping, and Phahlana explores the stories and significance we might otherwise overlook. This solo theatre performance uses movement to explore African women’s histories, the bond between mothers and daughters, and the traditions that survive across generations. Rather than telling its story through words alone, the production uses the body and an everyday household object to explore how culture and memory are passed down. It’s a thoughtful pick for anyone interested in experimental theatre and African stories told in ways that go beyond conventional drama.
Mediclinc Kloof Wolwespruit PinkDrive Fun Run and Walk 2026
- Sunday 18 October, 7am
- Location: 501 Jochemus St, Erasmuskloof, Pretoria
- Cost: R100 Children, R160 Adults via Webtickets
A morning on the trails can do more than get your steps in. The Mediclinic Kloof Wolwespruit PinkDrive Fun Run and Walk brings runners and walkers together to raise awareness of breast cancer, with 2.5km, 5km and 10km routes catering to different fitness levels. The event also offers free breast cancer screenings, giving participants a chance to look after their own health while supporting the cause. The first 1 500 entrants will receive gift bags, so whether you’re lacing up for a longer run or taking a stroll, there’s a way to get involved.
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