Have you ever wanted to see South Africa through the lens of festivals, where weekends become your passport and roads your storytellers? Here’s your passport to a different kind of adventure. Imagine dedicating a weekend each month not to the routine, but to a vibrant tapestry of events that span from the grand and well-known to the intimately local.
Well, imagine no further. We have assembled a collection of the most popular South African festivals. All you have to do is select from the list below. We recommend just one festival a month, especially if you are travelling long distances.
Our List Of Festivals
We are all different and have different interests. We have tried to incorporate a variety of events from across the country so that some can simply have a weekend out without breaking the bank. For others, it may mean making a road trip of it, and taking the opportunity of seeing other parts of South Africa at the same time.
January
20 – 21 January: Classic Car & Bike Show. Plumstead, Western Cape
If Vintage Classic cars and bikes or modern and future classics are your thing, then this event is for you. An annual even since January 2000, this event has grown in size and impact since then.
With modern and future classics on display on the Saturday, the vintage classics have a Sunday viewing all to themselves. Various clubs and individuals display their vehicles, including the Crankhandle Club, Triumph Motorcycles Club and the Military Heritage Group. A full list of exhibitors can be found on the event’s website.
A variety of vendors will be present, selling food and drinks.
- Venue: Timour Hall Villa, Plumstead, Cape Town
- Times: 10:00 – 16:00
- Cost: R50 for adults; under 12s are free
If you are planning on spending longer than a weekend in Cape Town, why not take in a few more sights in and around the city.
February
25 February: Cheese, Wine And Olive Trail. Muldersdrift, Gauteng
Not really a festival, but for those interested in a trail run/walk with a difference. The Cheese, wine and olive trail takes place in the spectacular Vergenoeg Nature Reserve, near the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.
The three distances of 12km, 8km and 5km can be run or walked, and there is some serious rock scrambling involved. However, the rewards are definitely worth the effort, and all finishers receiver a branded wine glass at the finish, and then access to a cheese, wine and olive experience thereafter.
- Venue: Vergenoeg Nature Reserve, Muldersdrift
- Times: Batches start at 06:30.
- Cost: 12km – R320 pp; 8km – R300 pp; 5km – R280 pp
Enter soon, as spaces are limited.
27 February – 3 March: Joburg Film Festival. Johannesburg, Gauteng
For the film fans, the Joburg Film Festival is fast becoming one of the most popular festivals in South Africa. Now in its sixth year, the festival hopes to showcase African and international films, and inspire young film makers in the process. With South Africa celebrating 30 years of democracy, the theme for this year’s festival of films is Inspiring Storytellers whilst Celebrating the Legends.
There are three different programmes: The Film Programme, comprising 60 films from the continent and rest of the world; the Filmmakers Programme and the Youth and Development Programme.
- Venue: Sandton Convention Centre
- Tickets are available on Quicket.
March & April
22 – 24 March: Books on the Bay. Simon’s Town, Western Cape
A new event on South Africa’s calendar in 2023, Books on the Bay was a great success. So, this year’s offering is something to really look forward to. Designed to be more open-ended than prescriptive when it comes to the choosing of topics, the literary festival includes authors such as J.M. Coetzee, Antjie Krog, Angola writer Jose Eduardo Agualusa and many more.
While the programme for this year’s event is still to be announced, the wide range of authors participating should provide a fascinating and stimulating festival in this seaside town. And with this being the start of autumn in South Africa, you can look forward to warm days and cool evenings outside, enjoying the Cape scenery.
- Venue: A variety of venues throughout the town are used.
- Book your tickets on Webtickets. (Not available at the time of publishing. I’ll update as soon as they’re online.)
28 March – 1 April: Splashy Fen. Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
South Africa’s oldest music festival, Splashy Fen takes place every Easter weekend on a farm in Underberg, in the southern part of the mighty Drakensberg Mountains. The backdrop is spectacular and the musical performances are top class. In fact it’s just the weather that is often a bit miserable and wet, but Splashy Fenners have learnt to embrace the conditions and adapt accordingly.
Five stages will be erected at the 2024 festival, with over 300 artists performing, the Parlotones, Tanner Wareham and The Dreggs to name but a few. The organisers always do their best to reduce the festival’s carbon footprint, and this year they are giving each ticket holder a reusable Splashy cup that can be used for the entire weekend, and recycling bins will be available across the site.
- Venue: Splashy Fen Farm, Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
- Cost: R1 505 for the whole weekend. You can buy your tickets here.
29 March – 1 April: Reforest Fest. Stanford, Western Cape
A festival that involves planting thousands of new trees can only be a good thing! Combine that with art and theatre, environmental workshops, and music under the stars, it’s no surprise this family event has become increasingly popular since its debut in 2011.
This year you can enjoy the music of Jeremy Loops and Nomadic Orchestra, and as it’s the second time the fest has been held over the Easter weekend, there is also a choco hunt. All sorts of workshops are on offer, from botanical embroidery to food forest and crown making. Meals are also an adventure and include a veld and sea foraged tapas feast, Sunday harvest lunch and conservation wine tasting.
Tree planting forms an important part of the programme, with the planting of 5 000 10 000 trees expected to take place. This forms a vital part of Greenpop‘s plan to restore degraded forest patches in the region.
- Venue: Bhodi Khaya Nature Retreat, 2,5 hours drive from Cape Town. What a stunning venue!
- Cost: R495 – early bird price for the whole weekend. The price includes a site to pitch your tent, all workshops and classes, concerts, forest walks, yoga and much more. You can book here.
23 – 27 April: KAP Sani2C. KwaSani, KwaZulu-Natal
Start the month in the southern Drakensberg with music and end it at this cycle fest! The cycle race starts at the foot of the incredible Sani Pass, and ends 265km later in Scottburgh, a town on the Indian Ocean. In this year’s 20th anniversary event, there are events for teams, ebikes, ordinary bikes. The events on these dates are cycled in stages, whereas the one on 22 June is a non-stop race.
Riding through farmland and mountainous countryside, if you wish to participate, you do need to put in some serious training. This gruelling event is not for the faint-hearted, but is an incredible feat for those who do manage to participate.
- Venue: Glencairn Farm, KwaSani
- Cost: Different prices for different events, so look here for more details.
May
1 – 5 May: Journey to Jazz. Prince Albert, Western Cape
After an extremely successful debut last year, Journey to Jazz is back in 2024. With the Swartberg Mountains as a backdrop, the programme includes local and international artists performing in local restaurants, churches and on nearby farms.
The line up of artists will thrill young and old, and the complete Journey to Jazz experience is something quite different from your ordinary Jazz festival. It is truly a Karoo fees. Get your tickets here.
- Venue: Prince Albert, Karoo, Western Cape
- Cost: Ticket prices start at R550
17 – 18 May and 23 – 25 May: Stoep Tasting. Graaff Reinet and Niue Bethesda, Eastern Cape
Celebrating ten years of Stoep Tasting, these two weekends showcase some of the best independent wine and spirit producers from South Africa and across the globe. Participants in the festival wander from stoep (veranda) to stoep, sampling the different wines on offer – what a wonderful way to spend a weekend in this part of the Karoo.
There are two weekends to choose from: the first offers two afternoons of wine tasting, while the second has a third afternoon to choose from. Different wine producers will be present at the different weekends. Both are beautiful little towns with opportunities for sight seeing and exploring – we enjoyed a spectacular time at The Valley of Desolation in the Camdeboo National Park, overlooking Graaff Reinet.
- Venue: The streets and stoeps of Graaff Reinet and Nieu Bethesda
- Cost: Weekend 1: R450; weekend 2: R550
June
15 – 17 June: Calitzdorp Expressed. Calitzdorp, Western Cape
It seems fitting to hold such an amazing even at the Port capital of South Africa! Centred around Calitzdorp’s historic railway station, this year’s Calitzdorp Expressed festival will feature port and wine tastings, celebrity culinary events, a mountain bike race, live music and a good old barn dance.
Calitzdorp is a beautiful little town situated in the Little Karoo, along the famous Route 62, and is well worth the trip to be able to enjoy this festival and explore the surrounding countryside.
- Venue: Old station, Calitzdorp
- Cost: Early bird R250, regular price R300.
20 -30 June: National Arts Festival. Makhanda, Eastern Cape
Described as the biggest annual celebration of the arts on the African continent, the National Arts Festival is an iconic festival, known throughout the world for its celebration of every facet of the arts. Thousands descend upon the town of Makhanda every year to experience the festival, many returning year after year, with no two festivals being the same.
This year is the festival’s 50th anniversary, so it is sure to be a bumper event. Watch ground-breaking new artists in drama, dance, physical theatre, comedy, music, jazz, exhibitions and more as part of the main and fringe progammes.
- Venue: Makhanda, Eastern Cape
- Costs: Tickets go on sale in May 2024.
July
4 – 9 July: South African International Quilt Festival. Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
The quilting world is alive and well in South Africa. “Voices in Cloth” is the theme of the 22nd South African International Quilt Festival, and the quilts on display will blow your mind! Having attended the last festival, we can testify to the beautifully made quilts of every colour and design under the sun.
Visitors can attend workshops and lectures as well as view the quilts that will be submitted from throughout South Africa and abroad. If you’ve never experienced a quilting event, now is the time to start.
- Venue: Epworth School, Pietermaritzburg
- Cost: Workshops and lectures range from R50 to R300, depending on the length and content.
August & September
30 August – 1 September: Festival of Motoring. Kyalami, Gauteng
Another world class festival for motoring enthusiasts, the Festival of Motoring at Kyalami race track is considered the largest auto show on the African continent. More than just an opportunity for visitors to view motor vehicles, this festival gives real motoring experiences as well. You can actually drive around the track or be driven by an expert. What a fantastic way to celebrate motor sport and a wide range of vehicles from saloons to mustangs and BMWs.
- Venue: Kyalami race track
- Costs: To be released closer to the event.
28 – 30 September: Hermanus Whale Festival. Hermanus, Western Cape
A celebration of the return of the southern right whales to Hermanus, this iconic festival is a must for all those concerned about the plight of our whales and marine wildlife in general. It is the only eco-marine festival in the world!
The Hermanus Whale Festival is now in its 33rd year and attracts about 130 000 people to the small coastal town every September. Street parades and markets, together with great entertainment provide a perfect environment for whale watching. So, head south in September, and get a glimpse of these magnificent beasts as they spend time in South African waters calving and rearing their young.
- Venue: Hermanus
- Cost: There is no single cost – individual activities have their own charges.
October
3 – 6 October: Rocking the Daisies. Darling, Western Cape
One of South Africa’s biggest music and lifestyle events, Rocking the Daisies features the best South African talent as well as international artists. Artists such as Shekinah and Black Coffee have performed at the festival in years gone by, and the line-up this year is guaranteed to be impressive.
Art, fashion and sports are all now part of this four-day event too. Stay for an extra few days and tour Cape Town and the surrounding winelands.
Camping is a fun and economical choice for accommodation.
- Venue: Cloof Wine Estate
- Cost: From R995.
November
15 – 17 November: Cherry Festival. Ficksburg, Free State
The oldest crop festival in South Africa, the Cherry Festival in Ficksburg includes a variety of activities. From cherry tours to cherry product competitions, to a half marathon and equestrian events, there is something for everyone at the festival. The cherries from this area, are the best in the country, and travelling to this beautiful town close to the Lesotho border is definitely worth it.
Nearby Clarens is also well worth a visit, so a weekend visiting the two towns comes highly recommended.
- Venue: Ficksburg Cherry Festival Grounds
- Cost: TBC
Make your pick and book your accommodation. Set off on new adventures, making memories as you travel the country and experience all it has to offer.
