You might be inclined to grab the nearest blanket and hibernate through this cold winter season, but you would definitely be missing out. From cool festivals to indoor adventures, Cape Town offers its residents some welcome winter escapades – here are a few ideas to keep you warm this winter.
1. Celebrate Christmas
“But we live in the southern hemisphere” is a pretty poor excuse for never having experienced a winter Christmas before. This year you can do more than just cook a turkey on 25 July though, thanks to the variety of Christmas events happening around the Cape.
Zula Bar in Long Street is hosting the Tim Burton’s Christmas in July party on 27 July. Tickets cost R50 and doors open at 8pm.
Do some early Christmas shopping at the Laborie Wine Farm’s Christmas in Winter Market. Food, goods, carols and more will be showcased at the farm in Paarl on 28 July, from 9am to 2pm.
And for those who want to go all out, Tulbagh is hosting the Christmas in Winter Festival from 30 June to 1 July, during which the entire town will be dressed up in true ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ style.
2. Tickle your funny bone
Distract yourself from the frost with laughter – the Vodacom Funny Festival returns to the stage this year with some great stand-up acts like Joey Rasdien, Trevor Noah and The Boy with Tape on his Face. The festival runs from 11 June to 7 July at the Baxter Theatre in Rondebosch.
On Monday nights you can head over to Zula Bar for their weekly Comedy on Long evenings. Acts run for three hours from 8pm, and tickets cost R50 and include a free glass of wine.
From 7 June, Thursday nights have seen the return of the famous Jou Ma se Comedy Club at the River Club in Observatory, where a variety of comedians perform at the Players Café.
3. Tuck into some winter restaurant specials
Dining out is made easier this season, with a multitude of restaurants having some great winter specials to pull you away from the television. See some comprehensive price lists on Whale Cottage, Food24 and Cape Town Magazine. Just for fun, you can check out this awesome list of Cape Town restaurants with a fireplace.
4. Drink away your winter blues
“I’m playing a new game: every time I’m depressed, I take a drink.”
“That game exists. It’s called alcoholism.”
Listen to the folks of Modern Family, kids – this is not condoning drinking, but simply suggesting ways to warm up by ingesting cocktails. Put on a jacket and visit the homes of some of Cape Town’s best cocktails – Beluga, Obs Café and Polana spring to mind, but I’m sure you all have your favourites already.
Stop by The Wine Affair at the V&A Waterfront from 3-6 July, where you can enjoy wine from some leading Cape Town wineries and V&A stores.
The Stellenbosch Wine Festival is scheduled for the end of July.
Sponge off Tjing Tjing on Wednesday evenings, they have wine tastings with a different range every week in Longmarket Street from 5pm – 7pm. Or you could go to Galbi Centre in Long Street’s free wine Wednesday, where you can have a free glass of wine with a meal worth R50 or more, anytime between 12pm and 10pm.
Long Street Café has a special on beer on a Mondays from 12.30pm onwards and every weekday between 4pm and 7pm, you get R15 off all cocktails.
And for the kids, be sure to grab a cup of ‘Cape Town’s best hot chocolate’ at the Kirstenbosch Tea Room in Newlands.
5. Test your knowledge
Your weeknights could be much better spent in cosy pubs with your mates, answering some fun general knowledge questions. Pub quizzes can be found all around Cape Town on every weekday – all with low entry fees and really great prizes. Here is a comprehensive guide to check out.
Monday nights can be spent at either Oblivion in Claremont – starts 8pm and costs R15 – or at Mr Pickwicks in Long Street – starts 8pm and costs R10.
Tuesday nights you can take a drive to Noordhoek and compete at The Toad – the quiz starts at 7.30pm and there’s a R20 entry fee.
From 27 June, Trenchtown in Observatory will be hosting Wednesday Quiz Nights, which start at 8pm and costs R10.
Thursday nights you can head over to Fireman’s Arms on Mechau Street, where the quiz starts at 8pm and costs R20.
6. Find your inner kid
Do something silly to get your blood pumping with some great indoor adventures. Go indoor climbing at CityRock in Observatory for R285, or R205 if you’re a student. CityRock is open until 9pm on weekdays and 6pm on weekends.
Kenilworth has a fun go-karting track where you can race 10 laps for R80.
LaserQuest in Claremont is an entertaining albeit sweaty affair – chasing each other around in a dingy area carrying heavy ‘armour’ and ‘guns’ – that costs around R100 for a 40-minute session. Tip: LaserQuest is best played when accompanied by activity number 4.
7. Be a fanatic
Nothing takes your mind away from the cold as much as shouting for your favourite sports team, so be sure to catch some great sporting events during the season.
The Currie Cup starts on 16 July in Newlands for the rugby supporters.
Netball fans can check out the World University Netball Championships which will be taking place at the Good Hope Centre from 2-7 July.
And soccer enthusiasts can be expecting a very special guest this season – Manchester United will be playing a friendly match against Ajax Cape Town at Cape Town Stadium on 21 July. Tickets for the match go on sale 25 June on Computicket.
8. Dabble in the arts
Film fanatics can look forward to the the Schnit International Short Film Festival coming to the Labia Theatre from 5-9 October, where a day pass costs only R75.
If you’re still looking for something cinematic in the meantime, Steenberg Vineyards are starting their Winter Movie Nights from 26 June, where they will be showcasing wine-themed films and wine tastings at R100 per head.
For those who’d rather be watching some choreographed moves, Danscape will be showing at Artscape from 7-10 July, and from 4-8 July the Imperial Russian Ballet returns to the Baxter after their immensely popular Nutcracker run last year.
If fashion is your thing, be sure to pay a visit to Cape Town Fashion Week, which runs from 25-28 July at the CTICC.
A brilliant art exhibition will be hosted at the Freeworld Design Centre in Waterkant Street from 26 June to 10 August. Called the South African Street Style Exhibition, the artworks will be open to the public every weekday from 9am to 5pm.
9. Get wet
Fact: you can’t stay indoors forever. So if you’re going to go outside, you might as well make the trip worthwhile and do something really adventurous – why not show the rain who’s boss and take the plunge yourself?
This winter, Blue Rock is offering you the chance to go night skiing every Friday night in Somerset West for about R300.
Those looking for something more extreme can sign up for the annual Berg River Canoe Marathon – a four-day, 250km marathon between Paarl and Velddrift, taking place from 11-14 July.
For something a bit more low-key, embrace the season and go find some snow by taking a drive out to Ceres or Matroosberg. Find accommodation here.
10. Wine and food weekends
Lastly, a weekend away from home is highly recommended with all the winter entertainment happening in nearby towns.
Franschhoek is hosting their annual Bastille Festival from 14-15 July, and tickets range between R150-395.
The Food and Wine Fair at Hermanus is also worth a visit, so be sure to check it out from 9-11 August.
Alternatively, you can head out to Robertson Wine Valley instead for the Robertson Slow Festival from 10-12 August, which revolves around food and wine.
Of course, the famous Knysna Oyster Festival returns this year and will run from 5-16 July.
Image courtesy of Joanne.
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