Usher in the month of May with any one of the marvellous events from this round up of the best things to do this weekend in Cape Town. This first weekend of the month boasts everything from delightful food and drink festivals to unforgettable live music performances, volunteer opportunities to once-in-a-lifetime cruises, incredible exhibitions, and more.
Simon’s Town Wine Festival
Taste the latest offering and award-winning vintages at the Simon’s Town Wine Festival. Confirmed wine farms joining for the event are Bon Courage Wine Estate, Piekenierskloof Wines, The Hills Winery, Ayama Wines, Stellenbosch Hills, Klein Goederust and many more.
Proudly Cape Town craft brewery, Shackleton, as well as South Beer will also be serving up crispy cold brews on tap while the talented culinary team serve a selection of canapes and snacks throughout the evening. Topping off the night is the musical stylings of saxophonist Matthew Reid, promising a programme of bluesy tunes to set the mood.
Cost: R150pp, including wine tastings and canapés. Book via email ínfo@simonstown.com or call 071 878 9450
When: Friday 3 May from 6pm
Where: The Residency at Simon’s Town Museum, Court Road, Simon’s Town, Cape Town
Durbanville Sauvignon Soirée
Spend International Sauvignon Blanc Day at the Durbanville Sauvignon Soirée, enjoying an exclusive tasting journey through the cool climate valley, featuring the finest local Sauvignon Blancs curated by passionate winemakers. Discover the ageability of this beloved varietal with a special showcase of international selections and the top 10 Sauvignon Blancs from 2020 by Sauvignon SA. Plus, be the first to taste the highly anticipated Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc 2024, a collaboration wine crafted by the members of the Durbanville Wine Valley.
Each ticket includes tastings of 10 different producers’ Sauvignons Blancs, two arrival canapés by Cassia Restaurant, international wines from France and Italy, and live music by professional jazz, funk, blues and swing acoustic guitar player, Jacob Swann. Reservations for dinner at Cassia Restaurant can be made by phone.
Cost: R250pp, book via Quicket
When: 3 May 5pm to 8pm
Where: Cassia Restaurant, Nitida Wine Farm Tygerberg Valley Road, Durbanville, Cape Town
Cape Gate Flavour Fest
Get your dancing shoes ready for a festival of fun at Cape Gate Shopping Centre. Set outside Entrance 2 under a bedouin tent, Flavour Fest is a jam-packed event offering a huge variety of delicious food, live music, DJs, and games for all ages. Some of the many food vendor options include hearty and fragrant curries from Cape Malay House, authentic Cajun cuisine from Touch of Creole, smash burgers and other fast-food favourites from Truck Norris, and more.
All guests are given three wine samples on arrival, from which they can choose their complimentary glass of wine. Once guests have had their fill of the delightful food and drinks available, they can groove to the rhythm of live music performances by event headliner Early B, his opener DJ Justin Vega, and other amazing acts including Nadia Louw, Damian Beer, Eva Morgan, and Desmond Wells.
Cost: R100pp, book via Webtickets
When: Friday 3 May 5pm to 11pm | Saturday 4 May 2pm to 11pm
Where: Cape Gate Centre, outside entrance 2 (near Woolworths), cnr Okavango Rd & De Bron Rd, Cape Town
Cape Town International Jazz Festival
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival returns for another two-day extravaganza featuring a fantastic selection of local and international jazz acts set to move attendees to their feet. Always known to ignite stages and connect music lovers, this 21st edition of the festival promises a new vibe, as well as the addition of masterclasses.
This year, the highly anticipated event brings talented international acts from the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and India, including Matt Bianco (UK), Kokoroko (UK), and The Yussef Dayes Experience (UK) to name a few. There is also a fantastic selection of local acts who have had no trouble making names for themselves in South Africa, including the likes of Mi Casa, Kujenga, Thandi Ntuli, and Judith Sephuma.
Cost: From R950, book via Ticketmaster
When: Friday 3 May 6pm till late | Saturday 4 May 5pm till late (plus free concert in Greenmarket Square on 2 May)
Where: Cape Town International Convention Centre, Convention Square, 1 Lower Long St, Cape Town
Liesbeek River Clean-up
For those in the mood to give back to their community this weekend, the Liesbeek River Clean-up is the perfect opportunity to do just that. The monthly Liesbeek River cleaning campaign is an Observatory Community Project which ensures the cleaning up of the Liesbeek River and its accompanying river paths for pedestrians, runners and cyclists.
Volunteers can drop in at any time for an hour or two to help with the clean-up campaign. Trash bags and litter pickers are provided, but volunteers and members are encouraged to bring gloves, sanitizer, hats, sunscreen, and boots if it’s a wet day.
When: 4 May (the first Saturday of every month) 9am to 2pm
Where: Liesbeek River, Observatory, Cape Town (start place is different each time and is communicated via the newsletter)
RETZA 2-Hour Royal Enfield Coffee Ride
RETZA invites motorcycle enthusiasts – both Riders and Non-Riders – to join a leisurely morning coffee ride along Cape Town’s breathtaking coastline. Taking place each Saturday of the month of May, this is a great opportunity to step out of one’s comfort zone for an unforgettably thrilling experience. There are two tour routes that attendees could enjoy, alternating weekly between The Coastal Ride and the Harbour Ride.
Attendees are to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the tour departure to complete all the formalities, receive their motorcycle gear and morning coffee, and to check their Royal Enfield for the ride. Please wear a pair of pants (preferably jeans) and solid shoes (no open toe or sandals). Helmets and jackets are provided for those who need.
Cost: R350pp – R850pp, book via Quicket
When: Saturday 4 May (rides take place every Saturday of the month) 9am to 11am
Where: RETZA Classic Enfield Tours & Rentals, 9 Factory Road, Brickfield Rd, Salt River, Cape Town
The Noordhoek Superbowl
Take part in the Noordhoek Superbowl, a 21km trail run around the skyline of the magnificent natural mountain amphitheatre that forms the backdrop to the leafy suburb of Noordhoek. The route has 1,189m of accumulative height gain, and includes the summits of Chapman’s Peak (593m), Noordhoek Peak (754m) and the lesser-known Spitskop (492m), before the final descent into the finish.
The race starts on the beautiful Noordhoek Common and finishes at the famous Noordhoek Farm Village.
Cost: R785 – R1100pp, book via Howler
When: Saturday 4 May 6am to 3pm
Where: Starts at Noordhoek Common, Noordhoek Main Road, Cape Town
The Mirage Catamaran Bubbly Brunch
The Mirage Catamaran holds a special event this May: a luxury ocean journey featuring bubbles, brunch, and the techno beats of DJ Roxy Louw. For four hours, guests sail out on the Cape Town waters, surrounded by jaw-dropping views of Table Mountain and the harbour, with the possibility of even spotting some curious sea creatures.
For drinks, guests are treated to bottomless Zonin Limoneto, and a special bar allows guests to craft their own perfect Bloody Mary with a selection of fresh garnishes from celery to bacon. Waiters are also on hand to take any other drink orders (excluded from the ticket price). For food, guests are treated to a delicious variety of canapes, larger meals, and a delightful dessert option.
Cost: R1500pp, including a 4-hour cruise, canapés, bigger bites and bottomless Limoneto. What’s on in Cape Town readers receive a special 20% off tickets. Use code ‘whatsonincapetown‘ when booking via email info@miragecatamaran.com or call 071 206 7319
When: Sun 5 May 11am to 3pm
Where: V&A Waterfront, Cape Town. Meet at the Pierhead, near the Silo District
Oracle Bones Art Exhibition
In celebration of 2024 International Chinese Language Day, Groot Constantia’s Learning Centre presents the exhibition ‘Spirits on Turtle Shells and Cattle Bones: Oracle Bone Script Art’. This weekend is the last weekend to learn about fascinating oracle bone scripts and how they have inspired a massive collaborative project, resulting in a series of beautiful images.
Ancient inscriptions on ‘oracle bones’ (pieces of ox bone and turtle shells used in divination rituals in ancient China) are considered the ancestors of Chinese characters, and those found so far date back over three thousand years. These inscriptions are arguably the lifeblood of esteemed traditional Chinese culture.
Cost: Free entry
When: 19 April to 5 May 2024 | 10am to 5pm daily
Where: Learning Centre, Groot Constantia, Cape Town
Fynbos Illustration & Card Making + Terrarium Workshop
Join the DIY Craft bar for a DIY double-hitter this Saturday. From 10am to 1pm, partake in their Fynbos Illustration & Card Making workshop and create some beautiful floral cards. Attendees will also learn how to draw fynbos in imaginative, stylised ways. There will be fynbos to smell, reference, and be inspired by and after the workshop, attendees can make up a little bouquet for themselves to take home. The ticket price includes paper, inks, watercolours, pens, and sparkly paints from Harvest Moon.
Following the morning craft workshop is the Terrarium Workshop from 2pm to 4.30pm. Grace from Gracelands Terrariums hosts a two and a half-hour workshop detailing how to create a terrarium from scratch. The workshop covers layering, the necessary materials needed, various fauna and flora, and methods of maintenance. During the workshop, attendees can sip on a botanical cocktail.
Cost: R600pp (Fynbos & Card Making), register via Karen Vermeulen | R480 – R670pp (Terrarium Workshop), RSVP via DIY Craft Bar
When: 5 May | 10am to 1pm (Fynbos & Card Making) | 2pm to 4.30pm (Terrarium Workshop)
Where: DIY Craft Bar, Red Herring Centre, 65 Beach Rd, Noordhoek, Cape Town