Christmas Markets
There is nothing like a local market. From organic produce to home-made arts and crafts, browsing at your leisure through all the stalls is always a treat and then there is also the fact that you are supporting local traders when your purchase here. There are, of course, a number of themed Christmas markets over the festive season. Here are just some of the markets you can explore throughout the Western Cape this year.
Cape Town
Pinelands Craft and Gift Fair, 4-22 December
Taking place every December, this gives locals and visitors a perfectly relaxed environment to do some last-minute Christmas shopping.
Simply South Gift and Craft Fair, 4-22 December
An annual gift and craft fair, offering a wide range of unique hand-crafted gifts for friends and family. With over 200 crafters, there is loads to choose from and you can spend hours browsing the stalls.
Santa’s Fair, 5-22 December
Grab something to eat and drink, relax and browse this market that boasts a selection of quality exhibitors in craft, gourmet condiments, décor and old favourites like traditional home-baked products.
Cape Overberg
The Gift Market at Curro, 9-23 December
After a successful inaugural event, the Gift Market at Curro will return this year with a focus on gifts for all tastes and interests, as well as a big variety of tasty deli products. Clothing. Handbags, jewellery, scarves and other accessories
Garden Route & Klein Karoo
Ekliefkrismis Market
This annual market offers a great variety of quality products from exhibitors countrywide, including those from well-known markets like Kamers vol Geskenke, CY and Tierlantyntjies.
Boervintage Christmas Market
An annual Christmas Market held in George, the Boervintage Christmas market has over 150 stalls, a deli with local preserves and freshly baked products, a huge selection of delicious food prepared daily and live entertainment.
Weskus
Weskus Kermark
The perfect spot to shop for all your Christmas gifts – of pick up a little something for yourself – the annual Weskus Kermak is based at the Vredenburg High School from 15 to 23 December.
Weekly Markets
Root 44, Stellenbosch
Held every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, the Root 44 Market in Stellenbosch, in the Cape Winelands, is hugely popular and has a wide range of product, from great food and drinks to local arts and crafts.
Blauuwklippen Family Market, Stellenbosch
This family market is held every Sunday from 10am to 3pm and is the perfect place to relax with family and friends. Held on the Blauuwklippen Wine Estate, just outside Stellenbosch, you can find everything from freshly baked bread to local arts and crafts and jewellery.
Hermanuspietersfontein Market, Hermanus
The longest-standing market of its kinds in the Cape Overberg, this food and wine market is the place where local and international food lovers meet! Freshly-shucked oysters, fish and chips, baked good and more make this the perfect place to relax on a Saturday.
Camphill Country Market, Weskus
This monthly market trade in organic produce and local arts and crafts. Not to be missed. Held on the first Sunday of every month – with the exception of January – it runs from 10am to 2pm.
Steenbokfontein Farmers Market, Lambert’s Bay
A local market with local produce and fantastic entertainment. Held on the last Saturday of every month from 9am to 3pm.
Outeniqua Farmers Market, George
A weekly food and goods market, held every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, it boasts more than 150 stalls, live entertainment and more.
Harkerville Saturday Market, Between Knsyna and Plettenberg Bay
A weekly market between the Garden Route hubs of Knysna and Plett, the Harkerville Market has been growing for 16 years and is the perfect place to browse for old books and purchase some fantastic locally produced goods.
Wild Oats Market
This small, but very popular, farmers market can be found on the outskirts of Sedgefield along the Garden Route. Held every Saturday throughout the year, you can find a selection of locally produced foods, fresh breakfasts and much more.
Events over the Festive Season
The Festive Season calendar in the Western Cape is jam-packed with amazing events, from kids holiday fun to massive New Year’s Eve parties. Below are just some of the events you and your loved ones can look at attending while visiting the Western Cape.
Anton Goosen at Delarey Farmstay
This open air show is perfect for Boxing Day. Bring a picnic basket, blanket and recover from the madness of the past week to the tunes of Anton Goosen.
Website: http://keentogo.com/events/anton-goosen/
Kids Holiday Fun at !Khwa ttu, 9 December – 12 January
This is a great, unique experience for the kids. Make your own traditional bow and arrow – and shoot it – follow animal tracks, play nature games and much more. Kids between 6 and 12 are welcome.
Website: https://www.westcoastway.co.za/khwa-ttu-san-culture-educational-centre/
Mother City Queer Project, 16 December
The annual MCQP returns with a theme of Dungeons & Dragons, which will no doubt mean plenty of outrageous and fun costumes. Fittingly, considering the theme, the event will return to the Castle of Good Hope for the first time in 17 year and promises to be as wild as always. Tickets going for R260.
Website: www.mcqp.co.za or www.facebook.com/ILikeMCQP
Mykonos Festival, 18 – 19 December
Kicking off at 2pm on 18 December, the Mykonos Festival is a great one of the entire family with great competitions, events and live entertainment throughout the two days.
For more information: info@clubmykonos.co.za
V&A Waterfront Summer Sessions
Held throughout December, these free music sessions at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town boasts some of the best live acts in the country. Not to be missed.
Kirstenbosch Carols by Candlelight - 14, 15, 16 and 17 December
The annual Carols by Candelight returns. This fantastic is perfect for the family and is not to be missed. With the backdrop of the beautiful Table Mountain, the lush rolling lawns of Kirstensbosch and a beautiful summer evening in Cape Town – what more do you need?
Carols by Candlelight, Hermanus, 22 December
Enjoy an evening of carols in the Old Harbour arena in Hermanus. Bring your picnic basket and chairs and enjoy the sing-a-long. Entrance is by way of a donation in aid of charity for your “candle in a bottle” and hymn sheet.
Website: https://ilovehermanus.co.za/event/carols-by-candlelight/
Wildfarm: NYE Festival in the Wilderness
Not everything has been revealed about this 3-day party in the Wilderness – in the heart of the Garden Route – but it sounds like one for the ages. Three days of partying in the Wilderness National Park? Count us is!
Website: https://www.vibescout.com/event/FB293098987836090/the-wildfarm/wildfarm-new-years-festival
NYE Dinner in Wellington
Celebrate NYE on the banks of the Kromme River at Val du Charron Wine and Olive Estate Guesthouse. Plenty of food, drinks and, of course, dancing with the most beautiful scenery to see in the New Year.
NYE in Hermanus
Celebrate the ringing in of the New Year at Benguela Cove in in Hermanus. Wine and dine at one of the Cape Overberg’s best spots, with a live band to provide the tunes.
Website: https://www.vibescout.com/event/FB1500960236659199/benguela-cove/new-years-eve
Mother City Camp-Out
Inner-city glamping is a new craze sweeping the Mother City and this event is certainly unique! If you’re coming to Cape Town with nothing but a backpack, this one is for you. The inner city tent camp is close to all the major attractions, boasts performances by top local acts, has an open air cinema and offers daily excursions such as hiking.
Website: https://www.vibescout.com/event/FB142921146459570/once-in-cape-town/mother-city-camp-out
NYE at the V&A Waterfront
A time-honoured event in the Mother City is a visit to the iconic V&A for their annual fireworks display. This year promises more in the way of performers and live artists, so settle in for the night at the Waterfront for an epic countdown into 2018.
Cape Minstrels, 2 January
Dating back to the 19th Century, this historical event is still a top draw and a guaranteed crowd pleaser. The Minstrels parade through the city centre streets with huge brass bands backing their festive moves. Starting in Rose Street, the parade winds its way through the CBD as locals line the streets in support.
Sunset Concert – Louise Carver and Ard Matthews, 3 January
Featuring local legends, Louise Carver and Ard Matthews, this magical summer concert at the beautiful Stanford Hills Estate promises to be an amazing show. Tickets limited, so make sure you book soon.
For more information: info@stanfordhills.co.za
