Image credit: Cape Town Carnival / Resized from original

Party lovers, you’d better get yourselves ready… in just over a week, the colourful and vibrant Cape Town Carnival  will take place for the 7th time in the trendy area of Green Point! Prepare yourselves for a visual spectacle of colour, music and dance. This exciting celebration of the Mother City’s cultural diversity and striking display of its various cultures is the result of the collaboration of our local inventors, designers, entrepreneurs, students and sponsors keen on showcasing South Africa’s creativity. The theme of the 2016 Cape Town Carnival is ‘StreetLife’, hinting that you will  be treated to a highlight of the people that make up the Mother City, including firefighters, school children, municipal workers, business people, party-goers and sports people, among many others. Expect amazing choreographed dances, stunning floats and memorable designs! On Saturday, the 12th of March, the event kicks off at 15:00, with the Fan Walk along Somerset Road (at the end of Riebeek Street) to Main Road (ending at the corner of Main Road and York Road) in Green Point, transformed with various vendors offering delectable local dishes and refreshments. At 19:00, the parade begins, and with the vantage point courtesy of the Fan Walk, you’ll have fantastic views of this colourful and exciting carnival. At 21:30, the parade will end in a superb open air street party that will continue late into the night!

Everything else you can expect

The celebs

That’s right, the carnival will feature a line-up of well-known faces who will be joining the parade! Comedian Siv Ngesi will be performing for his third year while you can also look out for Liezel van der Westhuizen, Zoe Brown and Danny Ross.

Make sure to dress up!

The organisers of the event are encouraging visitors to join in the festivities since this is a carnival all about the residents of Cape Town. Be a part of the spectacle by dressing yourself up in a blend of colours!

Various stalls will be available along the Fan Walk. Note that while alcohol is available, it is only to be consumed at the bars and stalls on the Fan Walk. Vast Networks will be providing free Wi-Fi, to connect, find and connect to @VAST, head to their webpage (you should be directed to the page after connecting, if not, enter any web address and their landing page will appear) and select “Complimentary Access” or select your preferred provider, supply the requested information and then click the login button further down on the page. Once that’s all done, you will be able to browse the web and send emails, so you can let your friends know what an awesome time you’re having!

The tickets

Last year’s carnival was a hit as always, and the pictures from that event made visitors to Cape Town realise that this is an event not to be missed! As an additional attraction, it costs absolutely nothing to attend this open air event! Although, if you want seating, a setting with a birds-eye view of the parade is available with seating costing R 290 per person (note that you may not bring any food to this venue, as food will be on sale at the various vendors situated nearby). Additionally, there is a VIP area, with seats costing R 1 300 per person. The VIP area includes a raised platform, giving you the best view of the event, as well as finger foods, a bar including wine, beer and soft drinks, security personnel and a private DJ and PA system. You can book your tickets online by visiting this page: capetowncarnival.com/ticketing.

Road closures

Take note of the following road closures to ensure you get to the carnival without any disturbance.

If you need any more information, check out the Cape Town Carnival’s contact information below:

Now that you know what’s waiting for you at the Cape Town Carnival in Green Point, start making your plans now to ensure you get to indulge in this artistic explosion in this beautiful Cape Town suburb.