EVENTS · CAPE TOWN · CAPE PENINSULA
Events & Festivals at the Cape
From the Thursday Market in Noordhoek to the Cape Town Jazz Festival — Cape Town's event calendar is as diverse as the city itself.
The Cape Peninsula hosts extraordinary events year-round. From wine tastings at historic estates to outdoor concerts on the beach and food festivals — this guide highlights the best events around Kommetjie and Cape Town.
Year-Round — Something Every Week
Regular events as part of the rhythm of life at the Cape
Cape Point Vineyards Thursday Market
The Thursday Community Market at Cape Point Vineyards is Noordhoek’s social event of the week: street food from around the world, local wines, live music and the most spectacular sunset on the Peninsula. Families, surfers, wine lovers — this is where the community gathers.
💡 Arrive before 5pm for easy parking and a good spot on the lawn. Bring a blanket.
Neighbourgoods Market — Old Biscuit Mill
The Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill is one of Africa’s top food and design markets: over 100 stalls with street food, local producers, craft beer and fashion. Come hungry — portions are generous and the quality is first-class.
Oranjezicht City Farm Market
The OZCF Market Day at the V&A Waterfront is Cape Town’s prettiest organic market: fresh produce straight from local farms, artisanal bread, specialty coffee and breakfast with sea views. Sustainable, authentic and relaxed.
Summer (November – March) — Festival Season
Outdoor festivals, open-air cinema and concerts
Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts
The Kirstenbosch Sunset Concerts are Cape Town’s favorite summer ritual: every Sunday, local and international acts perform on the open‑air stage in the botanical garden. Picnic, wine, sunset over Table Mountain — pure magic.
💡 Buy tickets online (from R220). Gates open at 4pm — arrive early for the best spots. Don’t forget a picnic blanket and a wine cooler.
Cape Town International Jazz Festival
CTIJF is Africa’s largest jazz festival and one of the world’s top five: over 40 acts on 5 stages at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. From South African jazz and Afrobeat to international headliners. An absolute must for music lovers.
Galileo Open Air Cinema
Galileo screens films under the open sky at Cape Town’s most beautiful venues: Kirstenbosch Gardens, the V&A Waterfront and various wine estates. Bring a picnic blanket, snacks and a warm jacket (evenings can get chilly).
Cape Town Cycle Tour
The Cape Town Cycle Tour is the world’s largest individually timed cycle race: 35,000 cyclists ride 109 km around the Cape Peninsula — through Kommetjie, over Chapman’s Peak, along the coast. It’s a spectacle even as a spectator when the pelotons roll through your village.
Winter (June – August) — Whales, Wine & Cosiness
Rain, but also whales, lower prices and fewer tourists
Whale Season
From June to November, southern right whales enter the waters of False Bay to calve. You can often spot them without binoculars from Fish Hoek, Muizenberg and even the coastline near Kommetjie — sometimes just 50 meters from shore. Hermanus (120 km) even has an official Whale Crier.
💡 Bring binoculars — though the whales are often so close you won’t need them. Boothek Bay near Simon’s Town is a particularly good spot.
Franschhoek Bastille Festival
Franschhoek celebrates its French Huguenot heritage with the Bastille Festival: wine tastings, French cuisine, boules tournaments and lively street parties. The estates open their cellars for special tastings.
Cape Town Art Fair
The Investec Cape Town Art Fair is Africa’s leading international art fair: over 100 galleries from across the continent and around the globe showcase contemporary art. Talks, performances and exhibitions make CTAF a cultural highlight.