Marchelle Abrahams

Tokyo has its karaoke bars. Athens has its taverns. Cape Town has First Thursdays. What started as a free monthly initiative to encourage locals to visit art galleries and cultural centres after dark has now morphed into an institution of sorts. Inspired by similar events in London, co-founders Gareth Pearson and Michael Tymbios wanted to put a unique spin on the event. In a 2015 post on Medium, Pearson said that the premise behind the concept was for art galleries and other cultural attractions within a walkable area to stay open late on the first Thursday of every month. The duo explained: “The very first edition in November 2012 included just six spots on the map, one being a little pop-up exhibition we threw together in an empty retail space.” These days, First Thursdays is a whole lot more than walking Bree Street. It’s the infectious spirit of a city that plays hard. How about injecting some early excitement into your Easter Long Weekend with Time Out Cape Town’s ultimate guide to First Thursdays? Sign up to Time Out Cape Town's free newsletter for expert recommendations on new things to do, see, eat and drink in the Mother City. You can also follow Time Out Cape Town on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok! TIME OUT RECOMMENDS: 😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🏨 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

The rave scene in The Matrix Reloaded (2003) always has me feeling some kinda way. Maybe it’s the way their sweaty bodies move in unison like a single organism, or that they’re dancing because the end of the world is nigh. Fluke’s Zion provides the backing track for the iconic setting. Today, it remains a classic in the progressive house genre. That single take was reflective of music’s power to evoke a frenzy of passion and community. And that, in a nutshell, is indicative of what club culture is. It’s the coming together of people who share a common love for music. Dance. Companionship. Connection. That trend is more evident than ever. Before the pandemic, nightclubs were packed to the rooftops with queues of patrons waiting to get in. Wear the wrong outfit? Gated. Look inappropriate? Gated. Under the influence? Gated. Well, the last one is warranted. But there was a certain aesthetic attached to gaining entry.  Meet some of the creatives behind these events Pulling off any of the suggested experiences we've curated below requires a team of creative minds who are exceptional at their work. Nobody knows this better than Léa Debbah, the founder of Edition Events. Debbah started hosting events at the tail end of the pandemic when people were craving connection. “I saw an opportunity to bring people together through music, creativity, and culture in a more intentional way,” she explains. Debbah wanted to create spaces that were more inclusive and diverse. “From the beginning, i

Welcome, fellow land dwellers. If you’re reading this, you’re almost a week into the Holy Month of Ramadan and have already run out of Iftar ideas. Or, maybe you’re curious about how Muslims observe Ramadan in Cape Town. Either way, you’re in the right place.  A spiritual reset This year, Ramadan began on Wednesday, 18 February, coinciding with the start of the Chinese New Year and the beginning of Christianity’s Lent, and marking a rare overlap of sacred calendars.  For Muslims, Ramadan typically lasts between 29 and 30 days, meaning it’s expected to end on or around Wednesday, 18 March or Thursday, 19 March 2026. As always, the final date is determined by the moon's sighting and marked by the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr.  It is most significantly associated with fasting from sunrise to sunset. Yes, kinda like intermittent fasting, for the wellness crowd. Only, the intention behind it isn’t the physical sacrifice of giving up food and drink. The act of fasting is a spiritual reset and a time for reflection and gratitude. Unfortunately, social media has dimmed the significance of the occasion leading up to Eid al-Fitr. Islam has become more of an aesthetic for influencers during Ramadan. The beauty, the food, and the decor all appear so exotic. But many don’t go into the “why” and the “how” of the holiest month on the Islamic calendar.  A word of advice: Even if you’re curious or have Muslim friends or family, do your research, and I don’t mean TikTok posts or memes. No

When I was 11, the only exercise I got was scaling our back wall, climbing the neighbour’s tree, and attempting to retrieve the juiciest loquats.  The kids these days are built differently. They’re hanging out at coffee shops, playing board games with their chommies. They’re connecting at silent book clubs and joining gyms.  For Generation Alpha (born between 2010 and 2024), fitness centres and sports clubs are becoming the new social spaces. They are less formal and far less intimidating than school extramural activities. Gym culture is the new cool, and private gyms and franchises are locking into that trend. More Gyms Courting the Younger Generation The United States first noticed the uptick in younger memberships in 2024. According to the Health & Fitness Association, the older portion of Gen Alpha (16-year-olds) accounted for 30.8% of total gym memberships. That’s a third of many gym’s annual membership income. And while pre-teens don’t qualify for independent contracts, many are using their parents’ memberships to take advantage of the perks. That soon, too, might come to an end, because Cape Town gyms get it. They’re feeding into the zeitgeist and early adoption of healthy habits. It’s called supply and demand. Check out below which Mother City gyms are game for junior members. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Cape Town🍽️ The best restaurants in Cape Town🍸 The best bars in Cape Town🛏 Where to stay in Cape Town

I read an article the other day about how generations born during the boom of the Internet era will never experience the simple pleasures of childhood. It’s knocking on a friend’s door when wanting to play or waiting for the street lights to turn on, your cue that it’s time to go home. For me, Sundays were the best. My sister and I knew that if we behaved ourselves, our father would take us for a Sunday afternoon drive after lunch. If the planets aligned, and Neptune was in retrograde, we’d all pack into our Nissan Skyline, my dad’s pride and joy.  Yho, the way he loved that car! Most of us grew up looking forward to Sunday drives, whether it was a trip around the Cape Peninsula or through the Huguenot Tunnel. Now you can make your own memories with Time Out’s 10 scenic drives for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

By the time you read this, you’re probably planning your Christmas Day lunch. If not, then you should at least be thinking about it, right? No? Procrastination is not going to get that table booked.  And because Cape Town is tourist-central every festive season, time is not on your side.  Depending on your mood and budget, Time Out has curated a list of spots around the Mother City to enjoy a memorable Christmas lunch, ranging from buffet-style to the very top-notch experiences.   Why go mediocre when you can spend all your money on yourself? Cape Town is home to award-winning restaurants. So take advantage of it!  And of course, we haven’t forgotten about the plant-based fans. Thankfully, restaurants are catering to environmentally conscious tastes.    Time Out Tip: Besides MIKO, other eateries are extending their culinary prowess with vegan dishes. And they’re pretty decent as well. No “swap out this for this” options.  

Many associate high tea with aristocrats and royalty. But here’s a little braai broodjie morsel for you. You’re right to assume it has its roots in 19th-century Britain. What you might not know is that high tea was first thought up by the working class.  The modern version of supper, these hardworking men and women would have a substantial evening meal after a long day’s work. They’d eat at a high dining table, unlike the rich folks who preferred a “low tea,” a social affair served at low chairs and low tables. And here we thought high tea was all about sipping from a porcelain teacup with your right pinky finger pointed out.  If you fancy a cuppa, Time Out is serving the tea (piping hot) on the best high tea spots in Cape Town, high brows and higher dining tables not included.

You know that song ‘Dilemma’ by K.Keed? She raps, “I feel like bad decisions”. This line basically describes what New Year’s Eve should be. Do people still do that? Use one night of the year to throw away their name and their inhibitions for the sake of spontaneity? I get it. I was once young, free, and regretting my life choices, and a New Year’s Eve party gave me carte blanche to do silly things without worrying about the consequences. Now, people think before they act, which is always a good thing. But if you plan on painting the town red, do so responsibly. In the meantime, here’s a list of New Year’s Eve events happening in and around Cape Town. As a country, we’ve gone through the most this year, so let’s show 2025 flames and send her off with a bang. Psst: Keep an eye on this list as we'll add more parties as they become available. 

Like music, art is subjective. Either you like it or you don’t.  I remember once visiting a wine farm in Franschhoek to do a story on hotel galleries, and came across a piece. I don’t recall the artist, but what stuck with me was the look in the woman’s eyes. It was jarring and evocative. The oil painting evoked feelings of longing and melancholy.  If tragic beauty could be immortalised in a painting, this would be the benchmark. The reality is that it was hidden beyond the reach of everyday people, part of a private collection only for the eyes of the wealthy and privileged. Many view the idea of visiting an art gallery as a walkabout at the Zeitz MOCAA or a collection at the South African National Gallery. Yet, there’s another world of independent galleries that spotlight artists and strive to make their work more accessible. Even established creatives are championing the next generation. Award-winning visual artist Blessing Ngobeni is an outspoken advocate for creating platforms and accessibility to art. This is a man who took his lived experience, having spent several years behind bars, and used it as the match to light the spark. His art mirrors society: the light and the dark. For Ngobeni, making art accessible is important, and he adds that even dealers and galleries are open to discussing payment terms. “We don’t mind because if we don’t do that, we don’t participate in changing the narrative of ownership of art.” You don’t need to be an avid art lover to appreciate i

My childhood summers consisted of three drinks: metallic-tasting water straight from the tap, Sparletta, and tea. Yet, nothing beats the cold, refreshing taste of Oros aan-maak (premix) drink as it hits the back of your throat. Sweet and sour intertwined in a marriage of convenience. Throw in a few ice cubes, and you’ve got the mocktail equivalent of the Screwdriver. Nothing compared to it until I made the mango lassi’s acquaintance. The sun was a big, bright, shiny disk in the sky. I was hot, agitated, and heavily pregnant. Not an Oros in sight. My husband returned to our stuffy one-bedroom flat, bearing a gift. One sip and I was a gone girl.  Fresh mango pulp, yogurt, honey, cardamom, and crushed ice. The combination is really the girl she thinks she is. The drink has its origins in the Punjab region of India and dates back to around 1000 BC, according to foodie blog Classic Indian. While most of us enjoy it as a summer drink, mango lassi was initially used as a digestive aid. How’s that for your Chappies installment of “Did you know…” While the rest of the globe raves about matcha this and matcha that, nothing trumps a fresh mango lassi. For those who prefer their drinks without viral hype, we’ve curated a list of lesser-known cafes and food joints that serve the authentic Indian drink as we head into summer.

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! TIME OUT RECOMMENDS: 😋 The best restaurants in Cape Town🏨 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 Sign up to Time Out Cape Town's free newsletter for expert recommendations on new things to do, see, eat and drink in the Mother City. You can also follow Time Out Cape Town on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok! Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do allow u

Paarl has long been the home of the Western Cape’s most prestigious public schools. That’s what it’s known for. Oh, and for birthing some of the country’s greatest rugby players (Handré Pollard, we see you, and we salute you). For decades, it’s struggled to keep up with Stellenbosch’s cosmopolitan vibe. Stellies has thrown its marketing budget at its boutique wineries and award-winning restaurants. Paarl has brandy and that massive granite rock.  In recent years, the town has made its mark as a premier wine destination. But the Boland dorp wants more. It wants to claim the tourism crown in the Winelands. SMEUL officially places it in the race for that crown. Tucked in the original cellar of the newly revived Zomerlust Boutique Hotel in Paarl, the restaurant signals chef Kevin Grobler’s bold return. A serious glow-up for Boland fine dining. For the Paarl local, SMEUL (Afrikaans for “smoulder”) is more than a restaurant; it’s a statement. The kitchen runs entirely on open flame and wood-fired Dover stoves. No shortcuts. Just fire. Instinct and skill. Chef Kevin’s resume is a testament to his tenacity. A stint at Michelin-starred Restaurant JAN in Nice, Delaire Graff, and SCAPE has cemented his presence on the local and international foodie scene. However, SMEUL is his most confident, most unapologetic expression yet. If the woody aroma drifting from Zomerlust Boutique Hotel in Paarl’s main road doesn’t entice you, the contemporary, quirky decor grounded in the hotel’s heritage

 AI might be changing how we plan holidays, but Pangea reckons the best part of travel still happens offline. The global social travel platform has launched Pangea Trips, a new collection of more than 50 group travel experiences planned for 2027, including adventures to some unconventional destinations. The idea is simple: use AI to figure out where travellers might want to go, then let real people, local knowledge and shared experiences take it from there. Pangea’s community now numbers more than 100,000 travellers, including globetrotters who have visited every country in the world. Their recommendations feed into the platform’s travel intelligence, helping shape everything from where groups stay and eat to which neighbourhoods and lesser-known spots make the cut. Pangea I SuppliedPangea isn’t promising travellers another algorithmically generated list of “must-see” attractions. Speaking exclusively with Time Out, Pangea founder and CEO Matt Gray explains that the company’s mission has always been to help its community explore the world together. “Africa is the largest continent, with 54 countries, so there is no doubt it’s a key focus for our community of off-the-beaten-path travellers and us,” says Matt. He hopes Pangea can help open up new destinations in less visited places and expand its community’s worldview along the way. Where Cape Town fits in PangeaSnapshot from Nomad Week Cape Town 2025. This launch takes Pangea from beta to a more robust global platform. Fo

Welcome to the second week of spring. The sun is sun-ning. The flowers are flower-ing. All is good with the world, unless your sinuses are sinus-ing. Then, I’d suggest you stay indoors for the foreseeable future. For the rest of you spring chickens lacing up for the OUTSURANCE Gun Run, good luck and stay hydrated. And for those cheering from the sidelines, it's best to park and walk. Traffic around Green Point is going to be not so lekker. Take a chance on Mamma Mia! The Musical! at the Artscape all the way through October. Remember, the winner takes it all; you snooze, you lose on tickets. Local artist Zarah Cassim has an exhibition at The President this month. Worth a visit if you’re interested in depth and perception.  And, yes, Chester’s Got Talent, or at least he thinks he does. You be the judge of that as the puppet master and his sidekick, Conrad Koch, take the stage at Cafe Roux on Friday. CBD MAMMA MIA! The Musical! Artscape I FacebookABBA fans will be delighted to hear all the band’s greatest hits. Friday, 11 September - Sunday, 11 October, 5pm Venue: Artscape Opera House, Cape Town CBD Cost: R200 - R580, bookings via Ticketmaster If you missed the 2023 instalment, you’d better book now. Tickets are selling out fast. ABBA fans will be delighted to hear all the band’s greatest hits, including ‘Dancing Queen’ and ‘Take A Chance on Me’, on the bill. Come along and join the fun with your feel-good energy. Baggage Claim FacebookBaggage Claim at the Labia Sunday,

The City of Cape Town has opened an additional round of its Film Fund for productions nearing completion. Following the success of its third funding round, the CoCT is inviting local filmmakers to apply for financial or municipal services support for projects due for completion during the 2026/27 financial year. The deadline? Wednesday, 7 October 2026. So, consider this your gentle nudge to get those applications in.  View this post on Instagram A post shared by kykNET (@kyknettv) Emerging talent, you’re up The Film Fund is designed to do more than help get productions over the finish line. It aims to boost the local economy, create jobs across Cape Town’s film and media industries and give emerging talent a leg up through training and skills development. Two projects supported by the fund screened at this year’s Silwerskerm Festival, while projects backed in earlier rounds have been making their way around the festival circuit, putting Cape Town talent in the spotlight. “The City is pleased to launch an additional Film Fund call as an extension of Round Three, aimed at filmmakers with projects nearing completion,” said Alderman JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.  “We look forward to supporting a new selection of projects that will continue to showcase our city’s creative excellence and strengthen its position as a premier filmmaking hub,” Alderman JP Smith added.  READ: Khaki Fever: A safari comedy so sexy it needed two 'intimac

We have the mountain. The ocean. The trails. The city streets. And, if you time your route right, scenery that makes you forget you’re supposed to be counting steps. Now, the Mother City is stepping up (excuse the pun) its running game. On Sunday, 18 October, thousands of runners will take to the streets for the inaugural Nelson Mandela Marathon Cape Town, a major new event created in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.  And with Takealot coming on board as a sponsor, the race is shaping up to be about much more than crossing a finish line. Under the banner “Rise. Remember. Run.”, the event will celebrate South Africa, its people and the enduring values of Nelson Mandela.  A city made for running Cape Town has no shortage of routes for runners who like a little variety with their cardio. Fancy a flat(ish) seaside cruise? The Atlantic Seaboard delivers. Want hills that make you question every life decision? Cape Town has those too. Prefer a trail with dramatic mountain views? Take your pick. The city’s biggest running asset may be the fact that its routes can double as a history lesson. The Nelson Mandela Marathon Cape Town will weave through some of the most recognisable and historically significant landmarks, including the Castle of Good Hope, Company’s Garden, Bo-Kaap and District Six. The event is expected to attract 30,000 participants across multiple race distances, including the marathon, half-marathon and shorter events. Golazo and Itheko Sport Athletic Clu

The Mother City’s street-art scene has never been particularly shy. Now, its colour is spilling beyond walls and onto sports fields, libraries, parks and other public spaces. Over the past year, eight public art projects commissioned through the City of Cape Town’s Arts and Culture Development Branch have given emerging artists a chance to leave their mark across the city. Their work is also giving some decidedly ordinary pieces of infrastructure a visual upgrade. “These artworks show what public art can do when artists and communities are given the opportunity to create something together,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.  The projects, completed during the 2025/26 financial year, brought together eight lead artists and more than 20 emerging and assisting artists. From murals celebrating sport and biodiversity to a first-of-its-kind community mosaic, the work shows how public art can turn familiar spaces into something people stop and look at. And in a city where graffiti and street art have become an increasingly visible part of the urban landscape, that’s a win-win. From sports fields to libraries  Luthando Tyhalibongo (CoCT Media ) I SuppliedGustrouw Sportsfield in Strand At Gordon’s Bay Sportsfield, artists Angelo Waterloo, Marquin van Aarde and Xolisile Sitwayi created a mural celebrating sport and the role recreational spaces play in bringing communities together. The nearby Gustrouw Sportsfield in Strand r

The Mother City is a place of dog walkers, cat people, bird enthusiasts, horse lovers and the occasional resident whose backyard contains chickens named “Walter” or “Sally.” Naturally, all those pets require rules. The City of Cape Town is proposing amendments to its Animal Keeping By-law, bringing a raft of new and updated regulations covering everything from dangerous dogs and stray animals to working horses, glue traps and wild animals in circuses. Here are seven proposed changes Cape Town’s animal-loving residents should know about. #1. Your dog can’t freelance in public  iloliloliCute pug dog with its tongue out, drinking fresh water from its metal bowl on a wooden deck during a sunny day, enjoying a refreshing moment outdoors Cape Town, we have a dog problem. Or, more accurately, a dog-control problem. During the last financial year, the City’s Animal Control Unit received 9,499 calls, including 4,431 reports about stray dogs, 2,839 about dangerous or vicious dogs and 107 involving dogs off-leash. The proposed amendments aim to bring greater clarity to the rules governing animals in public spaces, including requirements to keep dogs under control. So yes, your pooch may consider itself the mayor of the park. Legally, however, it still needs to behave. #2. Stray pets will have less time in the shelter Nobody wants to imagine their missing pet sitting in a shelter. The proposed amendments would shorten the window for reclaiming stray animals. The shelter period would be

The waves lapping at your feet. The warm sun on your back. Music playing in the background as the soundtrack. These are the moments we sometimes take for granted. For us, a beach is a beach. For travellers visiting Camps Bay for the first time, the tinge of the cold Atlantic and the lively sounds drifting from the restaurant strip are worth the trip down South. It’s the sway of the palm trees. The smell of the ocean mixed with sunscreen. The fine white sand glistening in the daylight. Smiling faces. Volleyball. Sandcastles. Melting (overpriced) ice cream. These are the things that make Camps Bay one of the world’s most Instagrammable beaches. And the award goes to… No surprise there, considering that Cape Town continues to collect travel awards like it’s going out of fashion. The recent World Travel Awards Africa is proof of that.  Cape Town was named Africa’s Leading City Destination and Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination. The Port of Cape Town was named Africa’s Leading Cruise Port. As far as luxury hotel accolades go, The Silo was bestowed with Africa’s Leading Design Hotel. Oh, yes, back to our beaches Photograph: istock/Arnold PetersenLion's Head and Camps Bay during sunset New research revealed the most Instagrammable beaches on Earth, measured by Instagram posts per metre of sand. The findings placed Camps Bay Beach near the top, sixth place, to be exact. Australia’s Bondi Beach and Venice Beach were ranked first and second, respectively. Muizenberg B

This is a conversation between my daughter and me when I’m getting ready to go out: Me: How does this look? Her: You’re so cooked. It’s giving… Nanny McPhee Me: Rude! (storms out) For someone who shares the same roof with two under-21s, I know by now that wasn’t meant as a compliment. Translation: I look bad. Bag lady bad. Other parents probably find themselves in the same boat. Having a conversation with your kid and not knowing a single thing they just said. Welcome to the world of Gen Z and Gen Alpha (born 2010-2024) slang, where every word is not as the English language intended. Shakespeare would be rolling over in his grave, and not for good reason. Yes, folks, the Queen’s English is being hijacked by tweens and teens who throw around words like “sigma” and “glazing” as if they rewrote the English dictionary. It was only a matter of time before an analysis of Google search data revealed the most-searched slang words. The methodology behind the survey And guess what? South Africa got a go at it as well. Yes, “67” rated very high. According to Unscramble Words, it raked up about 131,600 searches. While there’s no literal meaning to “six seven,” it’s a perfect example of “brainrot.” Unscramblerer.com used Google Trends to discover the top-trending slang terms and Ahrefs to find search volume. South Africa’s most popular slang terms were discovered in Google Trends with the keyword “meaning”. The company analysed 01.01.2026 -25.08.2026 search data f

Welcome to the first glorious days of spring. Well, if you go with the September equinox, the new season technically starts around mid-September. Mind you, spring isn’t quite spring-ing, considering the erratic weather we’ve been experiencing of late. But don’t let that put a damper on your weekend plans. The Open Book Festival kicks off on Friday. It’s bound to be a goodie for book lovers. There have been a few programme changes. Not to worry, organisers say equally deserving guest speakers are filling the gaps. Springbok supporters, you’re up at 5pm on Saturday. Don your green and gold to watch South Africa take on the All Blacks at FNB Stadium. Join the gees at your closest fan park. After the game, head to Cabo Beach Club where Liquideep takes over the decks. Ease into Sunday at ColorBox Studios for We House Sundays. Or you could let yourself be hypnotized by Andre, the Hilarious Hypnotist at Cafe Roux. READ: Live Sporting Events Guide: Best restaurants, pubs and bars to watch a match CBD Amanxeba ka Odwa Bongo Odwa Bongo I FacebookOdwa Bongo’s brand new show. Friday, 4 September, 7:30pm - 10pm Venue: Youngblood-Africa, 70, 72 Bree St  Cost: From R150, bookings via Quicket The title of Odwa Bongo’s brand new show and the lead single from his forthcoming EP, Amanxeba, is a call to lay down our masks, be honest about our wounds, and create a space where vulnerability is met with compassion rather than judgment.  Cape Town Photography Festival  Cape Town Photography Fes

September is a double whammy. Heritage Day lands on Thursday, 24, and the spring school holidays take us by surprise on the same day. How’s that for fun? Have you noticed all the September birthdays? Ke Dezemba was nine months before. You do the math. Just saying… Talking about Heritage Day, Groote Schuur High School kicks things off with its Heritage Music Festival featuring Emo Adams on Saturday, 19 September. And then the Norval Foundation hosts inspiring exhibitions and live performances celebrating the spirit of our beloved nation on Thursday, 24 September.  Intaka Island is doing its part in relieving tired parents of bored kids. It’ll be hosting a school holiday programme from Tuesday, 29 September to Thursday, 1 October. Also, don’t forget the Open Book Fest is happening at the beginning of the month; Trevor Noah returns for the Bafunny Bafunny South African Festival of Comedy at Grand Arena. CBD Open Book Festival 2026 Open Book FestivalOpen Book Festival 2026 Friday, 4 September - Sunday, 6 September Venue: Homecoming Centre, 15 Buitenkant St, District Six  Cost: From R50, bookings via Webtickets Open Book Festival stages 60 events over three days. It’s a celebration, an exploration, and a gathering with books at its centre. The Fest opens with Intentional Recalibrations, an informal talk with authors Sanah Ahsan, Siphokazi Jonas and Lebogang Matseke. Doek On Fleek Pride Picnic Cape Town Doek On Fleek I SuppliedDoek On Fleek Pride Picnic Cape Town Saturday, 5

The Western Cape is beautiful. The mountains are dramatic. The coastline is showing off. And our wetlands, rivers and estuaries are working behind the scenes to keep our ecosystems going. So, naturally, we should probably stop chucking rubbish into them. From Tuesday, 1 September to Wednesday, 30 September 2026, CapeNature and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning are calling on communities, schools, businesses and visitors to join the annual #DontBeTrashy Drive. CapeNature I FacebookThe month-long campaign tackles litter, illegal dumping, plastic pollution, wastewater contamination and discarded fishing gear. Travelling trash And yes, the hashtag is cheeky. The problem is anything but. The month-long campaign tackles litter, illegal dumping, plastic pollution, wastewater contamination and discarded fishing gear. All of which can wreak havoc on the Western Cape’s natural spaces. Because rubbish has a habit of travelling. A wrapper dropped beside a road doesn’t necessarily stay there. Wind can carry it. Stormwater can sweep it away. Rivers can ferry it downstream. Eventually, that innocent-looking piece of trash can land in a wetland, estuary or the ocean, where it becomes someone else’s ecological headache. Wildlife can ingest plastic or become tangled in waste. Habitats can be damaged. And as larger pieces of plastic break down, they contribute to the growing microplastic problem. Mother Nature is not a magical rubbish disposal service. “The #Don

Cape Town has a habit of making locals feel like tourists. One minute you’re complaining about the traffic on Kloof Street; the next, you’re hiking through fynbos or wandering around a world-class museum wondering why you haven’t done this sooner. September’s Heritage Month is the perfect excuse to change that. You don’t need a plane ticket, a week of annual leave or an expensive hotel room. Heritage comes with mountain views, coastal wildlife, contemporary art and plenty of opportunities to get out of the city without going particularly far. Better still, several Heritage Month specials and free-access initiatives make September a good time to explore your own backyard. Go wild during National Parks Week  Photograph: iStock/anyaberkutTable Mountain hike hiker sunset If your idea of a heritage trip involves less museum and more mountain, National Parks Week should be at the top of your list. Running from Monday, 7 to Sunday, 13 September 2026, the 21st annual initiative gives South African day visitors free access to participating national parks. That includes Table Mountain National Park, putting one of Cape Town’s most spectacular natural assets firmly on the local itinerary. Because apparently we all needed permission to appreciate the mountain we see approximately 47 times a day.  South Africans also need to present their IDs, while children under 18 don’t need identification. Still, there’s plenty of mountain to explore without reaching for your wallet. For a bigger da