International Jazz Extravaganza

The Bierfest is the closest representation of the German beer culture. Break out the lederhosen and dirndls and get ready for a “top Klaus bier festival” when the Newlands Brewery Village Green transforms into a Bavarian-style beer hall. Dates: Durban: 31 August – 1 September Pretoria: 2– 3 November Cape Town: 28– 29 November

The Vodacom Durban July, the greatest racing, fashion and entertainment extravaganza on the African continent, takes place at Greyville Racecourse. Television has brought great sporting events right into the living rooms of homes around the world but there is still no substitute for being right there, in the middle of things to experience the sights, the sounds and, above all, the adrenaline rush that comes with live action. The Vodacom Durban July is probably one of the oldest horseracing events in the country. The first race was run in 1897 and was contested over 1.6km, and ever since then it has become an event not to be missed in South Africa. This event calls for celebrities, socialites and the elite to show off their outfits, their bets and their social skills. The excitement of Vodacom Durban July surpasses that of any other event on the African continent, with huge crowds expected on course and millions of others around the country taking serious bets or having their annual flutter.

The Sun Grandwest Motorshow is one of the biggest motorshows held in Cape Town. The showcase is a made up of the latest bikes, concept cars, trucks as well as food and family entertainment. This incredible event will get your engine revving with an impressive array of cars, bikes and trucks – from the vintage classics to modern exotics and big-rigs. Let your inner-child loose and run amok through the rows of slender speed machines and screaming engines. This year, you can expect a classic car section, an outdoor 4x4 area, a drifting zone, a bike zone and plenty of amazing engines to ogle. The organisers have arranged for drivers from SA and all over the world to come and show off their awesome tricks and quirks, making this a very unique opportunity for motor enthusiasts. This is a world-class, family-friendly event with live music and food stalls to keep the atmosphere vibrant and your stomach satisfied. 

The Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo is a popular social event in South Africa. Spectators get to watch the game of kings while sipping on some of the finest bottles of champagnes. Socialites and the crème de la crème of African influencers will descend on South Africa’s most prestigious polo estate, Val de Vie Estate to witness international polo players compete for the coveted Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo Cup. Guests can expect to taste food inspired by glamour and luxury, all enjoyed with Veuve Clicquot champagne, of course. Val de Vie Estate will also be transformed in line with the theme, to ensure guests experience a journey of the senses around the world with Veuve Clicquot, without leaving the picturesque Paarl/Franschhoek valley.

The world for the young hearted! Oppikoppi has become the perfect pre-festive “groove”. Do you love live music? Do you love awesome people? Do you love camping? If you do, head over to South Africa’s largest music festival in the Limpopo province and you’ll get a healthy dose of all three! For over 20 years, this gathering of South Africa’s music elite has become an essential pilgrimage for music lovers across the country, now rocking the socks off over 20 000 festival goers. With over 100 live acts, multiple stages and some big international headliners, the festival continues to grow year on year. Oppikoppi started in 1994, making it one of the oldest weekend events in SA.

The Ultra South Africa music festival is a franchise event of Ultra Worldwide. This is a two-day music event where legends of house music such as Black Coffee, Felix Jeahn, David Guetta, DJ Snake and many others get to entertain a packed audience with their sets. Ultra is one of the most celebrated festival brands in the world, and though 2014 was the first time the thumping bash descended on the African continent, the event has been staged all over the globe, with audiences in Brazil, Korea and the party capital of the world, Ibiza. It all began in Miami, Florida, back in 1999, and the music festival has since become internationally renowned for bringing together the hottest names in the dance scene. To date, the massive outdoor party has managed to conquer nine countries on five continents with the same epic flair that was made famous by the original event. Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town 9 - 10 February 2018 Exo Centre, Nasrec, Johannesburg 9 - 10 February 2017

The Knysna Oyster Festival is the perfect combination of sport, food and family time. It consists of fun sports challenges, live entertainment, food and wine stalls. The festival offers a diverse programme of sport, gourmet offerings and family activities, and attracts more than 50 000 visitors to Knysna every year. The varied programme caters for all ages and interests. The BIG5 Sport Challenge is most certainly one of South Africa’s most scenic multi-disciplinary competitions, and it includes cycling, running, trail running, swimming and paddling. The Momentum Weekend Argus Knysna Cycle Tour, as well as the Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and Half Marathon are two of the most popular events on the cycle and running calendars. Combine these with the iconic Featherbed Trail Run, the Momentum Health Oatwell, as well as a multiple events featuring oysters, wine and great food, and this is definitely one of the best options for your midyear break.