With the Festive season upon us and the summer holiday makers descending upon the Mother City in preparation of New Year’s Eve, locals and visitors alike can anticipate great Christmas-orientated markets, as well as some exciting New Years Eve festivities. And there really is something for everyone, whether it’s last-minute Christmas shopping you are after or planning where to bid farewell to 2016 and party your way into the New Year:

Photo credit: lifeissavage.com

Christmas markets all around

Here are some of the Festive markets, sprinkled around the city, where you can enjoy experiencing a little added cheer and of course, fun gift-shopping:

1 - Pinelands Craft & Gift Fair (5–22 December 2016)

This market will allow you to shop for gifts in a relaxed, neighbourly environment at Pinelands High School, Forest Drive. There will be some 160 crafters and stall owners featured at this market (which will have one central pay point), giving you a wide variety of gift options to browse through and hopefully, even take home too.  Photo credit: www.capemarkets.co.za

2 - Made in the Cape Festive Fair (6–18 December 2016)

Held at Cavendish Square, Claremont, this special edition ‘Festive Fair’ will be bigger and longer than the usual monthly events hosted here. 2016 is set to be their biggest and best Christmas market to date, with new exhibitors appearing every few days to offer a wider variety of goods for eager shoppers to choose from.

3 - Edgemead Christmas Market (8–22 December 2016)

One of Cape Town’s most popular annual Christmas markets is back once again to help you tick off your shopping list and prepare for the holidays. Every year, some 230-odd Western Cape traders travel from afar to take part in this community market, which is fast becoming one of the largest craft and gift markets. It will be open daily, including on Sundays, from 10am – 8pm, and will be held at the Edgemead Community Hall, Edgemead Drive.  Photo credit: www.holidaybug.co.za

4 - Fab Ideas Christmas Gift Fair (15–18 December 2016)

Held in Kommetjie for the sixth time, Fab Ideas will be hosting their popular, 4-day Christmas Gift Fair and as ever, there will be unique, fresh and fun products on sale in a relaxed environment and fun daily activities for families to enjoy. This fab indoor market, held at Kommetjie Primary School, Kirsten Ave. Don’t miss out, as it’s one of the shorter Christmas markets on offer in the Mother City.

5 - Cape Town Gift & Food Fair (20–23 December 2016)

Held at the historic Castle of Good Hope over a 4-day period, this market is sure to delight everyone. Not only can you expect to find a host of food trucks and craft stalls, but you can also enjoy some live entertainment and better still, free Castle tours. The market is free for all so don’t miss out!  

New Year’s Eve around the Mother City

If you want to dance into the dawn of 2017 or raise a glass in farewell to 2016, then Cape Town and surrounds have you covered with the 2016 New Year’s Eve events. (Note: Please book early to NYE events to avoid disappointment, as tickets are already being snapped up fast.)

1 - NYE at the V&A Waterfront

Each year, this is one of the most popular places to watch a truly stunning fireworks display. Here, you can see off 2016 and greet 2017 with a great big bang at the V&A’s annual NYE bash. Look forward to live music, street performers, jugglers, buskers, Zip Zap Circus performers and fun floats, which will leave you wowed, or enjoy tucking into some of tasty offerings from the available food trucks and caterers. Entry to this event is free but get there early because it’s sure to be jam packed!  Photo credit: www.kfm.co.za

2 - Rezonance New Year’s Eve Trance Party (Robertson)

Held outside of the Route 62 town, Robertson (some +/- two hours outside of Cape Town), this 4-day camping experience and trance festival returns once more, on 30 December 2016 – 2 January 2017, to help you dance your way into 2017. There will be two arenas, with some 150 performers (including several international acts) for you to enjoy listening to at the Pat Busch Mountain Reserve. Festival tickets cost R590 when purchased from selected outlets (Online Quicket tickets cost R620) or R680 at the gate. Please note: This festival is for over 18s only.  Photo credit: Rezonance Festival

3 - New Year’s Eve at Nederburg with the CTPO

Once again, the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra will help you welcome 2017 in sophisticated style at the calm and historic Nederburg Wine Estate in Paarl. Enjoy a fine symphony of music, conducted by Brandon Philips, with performances from the likes of: Brandon October, Melanie Scholtz and the internationally known, all-women band Sterling EQ. Tickets are R175 for children ages 12–17 and R300 for adults, and can be purchased online at Computicket. Gates will open at 5pm, with the concert kicking off at 9:30pm, and guests are invited to bring picnics along and to enjoy sampling some of Nederburg’s fine wines.  Photo credit: Michael Olivier Conclusion:  So whether it’s gift shopping and a fun Christmas market experience you’re after this December, or simply a way to welcome in 2017, then you should find something from these select and handy Cape Town picks to suit your Festive tastes and holiday budget.