The final stretch of 2014 is here, with sunny weather and holidays waiting. There are so many great things happening around the country, whether you love exhibitions, Jurassic size play parks for the family, live music or food fests. Here’s what’s happening this month.
1 – 6 Dec: UPDOG Pop Up Shop – CPT
Pichulik
Set in The Bello Studio at The Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town, UPDOG is a collaborative showcase of some of SA’s best creatives selling their best products. Designers include Moscot, Pichulik, Super by Retrosuperfuture, Simon and Mary, Jana and Koos and more. They’re open every day this week except for Sunday, so pop in and support our local talent.
Venue: The Bello Studio, Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock
Time: 10:00 – 17:00 daily
Entrance: Free
For more info, go to facebook.com/popupdog or popupdog.co.za
2 Dec – 1 Mar: Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures Exhibition – PTA
Seen by over five million people worldwide, this exhibition has faithfully reconstructed the tomb of Tutankhamun to scale. There are over 1,000 exquisitely reconstructed burial treasures produced by the finest Egyptian craftsmen under scientific supervision. The exhibition also includes a multimedia presentation illustrating the story behind the exploration and excavation by British archaeologist, Howard Carter, the history of the young pharaoh, and the culture of ancient Egypt.
Venue: Silverstar Muldersdrift, Mogale City, Pretoria
Time: Sun – Thurs: 09:00 – 19:00; Fri & Sat and public holidays 09:00 – 21:00 (Last admission 90 minutes prior to closing).
Tickets: Adults R160; Seniors R60; Children R100; Studens R120; Children under 5 enter free, webtickets
For more info, go to: tut-exhibition.co.za
3 – 14 Dec: Wavescape Surf Film Festival – CPT
Now in it’s eleventh year, the Wavescape Festival is a combination of film, music, and art all aimed at building a community around surfing and ocean culture, and promoting conservation. The festival kicks off with Slide Night on the 3rd, an evening of 10 minute talks by thought leaders including artists, craftsmen, athletes, activists, scientists and personalities who will share their inspiring ideas and adventures at Centre for the Book.
The film festival itself kicks off with an open air screening at 4th Beach, Clifton on 6 December. Head there from 4pm for a pre-event by Save Our Seas to change negative perceptions about sharks and oceans. From 7-10 December screenings will take place at Brass Bell and from 11-14 December at Labia. You can view the full schedule here.
Venue: Centre of the Book, Brass Bell and Labia Theatre
Time: Slide Night – 19:00; Movie screenings 21:00
Tickets: Slide Night R120; Open air film screening are free. General screenings are R35 each, quicket.co.za
For more info, go to wavescapefestival.com andsaveourseas.com
5 Dec – 4 Jan: War Horse – CPT
This is a must see. The National Theatre’s epic production heads to Cape Town after sold out shows in Johannesburg. Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse travels from the verdant English countryside to the fields of France and Germany at the outbreak of World War following a boy’s beloved horse that has been sold to the cavalry. South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company brings breathing, galloping, full-scale horses to life on the stage – their flanks, hides and sinews built of steel, leather and aircraft cables. War Horse premiered at the National Theatre in November 2007. After two sold-out runs, it moved to London’s West End in March 2009 where it continues to play to capacity houses at the New London Theatre. Many Cape Town shows have already sold out so don’t sleep on it.
Venue: Artscape Opera House
Time: Tue – Fri 19:30; Sat 20:00; Sun 13:30& 18:30.
6 Dec: The Lumineers – JHB
While Capetonians are scrambling to bribe and steal tickets to the Lumineers this weekend, the Jozi show still has a few spots left – if you hurry. This is the first time this Grammy Award nominees will visit our shores. Opening for them are the indie-folk act from Durban, Majozi, Dear Reader and Alice Phoebe Lou. It’s going to be a goodie.
Venue: Emmarentia Dam
Time: 12:00 – 18:00
Tickets: R465, webtickets.co.za
For more info, go to thelumineers.com
6 Dec: Banting Bazaar – CPT
FitChef Eating Concepts is one of the many Banting-friendly traders that will be at the Banting Bazaar
Lose It!, the leading magazine on the Banting (high fat, low carb) lifestyle, will present its first Banting Bazaar in Cape Town Saturday 6 December. Banting-friendly food and products will be on sale, both to enjoy there and to take home, and you can watch live food demonstrations by Lose It! Food Editor, Justine Kiggen. The list of vendors at the Banting Bazaar includes natural farm yogurt from Curds & Whey, Oryx Desert Salt from the Kalahari, Stokkiesdraai biltong, Wilde at Heart, nuts from Montagu, cured meats from Richard Bosman, Tree Nut spreads from ButtaNut, a variety of cheeses from Lancewood, fuel for body and mind from Battle Brews, organic virgin coconut oil from Kapruka, the best coffee from Truth Coffee, the finest South African olive products and olives from Chaloner, and the most delicious Banting meals from FitChef, The Banting Baker, The Banting Boys, and more. Whether you’re a banter or just a foodie, this sounds like good fun.
Venue: 14 Hope Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Time: 09:00 – 14:00
Entrance: Free
For more info, go to dailyfix.co.za
6 Dec: Rock for Unity Summer Music Festival – CPT
Jeremy Loops
Visit this family orientated music festival at Eden on the Bay, Bloubergstrand. Jeremy Loops will headline the event, and will be supported by JP Son, Riders Connection and, one of my favourites at the moment, Sons of Settlers. The concept behind the event is to unite the Table View Community with a fun filled, family event and ultimately raise funds for the dynamic Table View Neighbourhood Watch -a handful of residents that decided to take safety into their own hands.
Venue: Beach Club, Big Bay
Time: 13:00
Tickets: R95 pp, computicket.com
For more info, go to facebook.com/rockforunity
12 Dec – 28 Feb: The Art of Brick Exhibition – CPT
Yellow by Nathan Sawaya
A must for adults and kids. Over seventy art sculptures created from more than a million LEGO® bricks will be on display at the V&A Waterfront from 12 December. These one-of-a-kind LEGO brick sculptures are the work of US artist Nathan Sawaya. The Art of the Brick has been proclaimed by CNN as one of the world’s 10 must-see exhibitions. The artworks on display are large-scale sculptures, many of which are human figures, but also includes a T-Rex skeleton constructed from over 80,000 LEGO bricks that measures over six metres in length. In addition, visitors will have a chance to see Sawaya’s recent interpretations of some of the world’s most famous artworks, such as Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. It will be in Cape Town until end of Feb before heading to Jozi in May.
Venue: Jubilee Exhibition Hall, Watershed, V&A Waterfront
Time: From 09:00
Tickets: Adults R140; Children under-18 R95, computicket.com
For more info, go to theartofthebrickexpo.co.za
12- 13 Dec: Gabriëlskloof Favourite Things Market – CPT
Celebrating its fifth year, the Favourite Thing Market lets you browse through a collection of vintage finds, kiddies clothing, décor treasures; trendy accessories, flowers and indigenous fynbos wreathes, ceramics; pamper products; artisanal cheeses, pesto’s and chocolates; craft beers, and Gabriëlskloof wines (which are fantastic). There will also be gourmet burgers, sushi, sumptuous mushrooms on sticks, fresh oysters, a big-pan paella and authentic gazpacho. Sounds pretty good to me.
Venue: Gabriëlskloof, Bot River
Time: Fri 17:00 – 21:00; Sat 11:00 – 21:00
Entrance: Free
For more info, go to gabrielskloof.co.za
14 Dec: Middelvlei Wine Estate’s annual Sunset Carols – CPT
A goodie for the family. Father Christmas will be making his appearance on his tractor to deliver presents, there’s a Boerebraai happening and guests get to sing carols to their heart’s content while the sun sets in the background. A great bonus is that this all serves a good purpose, with funds benefiting the Stellenbosch Youth Outreach.
Venue: Middelvlei Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
Time: 18:00
Tickets: Adults R175; Children R60, info@middelvlei.co.za
For more info, go to middelvlei.co.za
22 Dec – 28 Feb: Dinos Alive Play Park at the V&A Waterfront – CPT
In case you’re wondering what to do with the little ones, or if you have a Jurassic need to feed – this should be fun. The Red Shed at the V&A Waterfront will be turned into a DinosAlive Play Park featuring nine life-size animatronic dinosaur models. Visitors can look forward to a view of the famous T-Rex, the friendly Triceratops and the big Saltasaurus. There will also be an excavation sandpit, facepainting, PlayStation games and a kiddies birthday party area.
Venue: Red Shed, V&A Waterfront
Time: 10:00 – 19:00 (Last entry 18:00) daily, except Christmas Day
Tickets: R50, computicket.com
For more info, go to dinosalive.co.za
Watch out for “What to do for Christmas” and “What to do for New Years” coming soon.
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