PROMINENT EVENTS

Every January, an age-old slave tradition is re-enacted on Cape Town shores. When walking along the Mother City's streets on the 2nd of January, do not be surprised if you encounter an army of jovial Capetonians - decked out in brightly-coloured silk suits, hats and white face paint - wielding colourful parasols while singing, plucking on banjos and playing an array of other instruments.

The Kaapse Klopse', Cape Coon Carnival' or Cape Minstrel Festival' has its roots in 19th century slave culture (when slaves were traditionally given a day off to celebrate the New Year). The festival starts on Tweede Nuwejaarsdag' (Second New Year's Day) on the 2nd of January with a street parade, and continues into the month of January with flamboyant parades; costume- and choir competitions; singing; dancing and general merrymaking.

The buoyant minstrels are divided up into different teams (or klopse') and these different teams will battle it out against each other at the Cape Minstrel Festival finals, taking place from the 20th of January 2007.

Teams with names such as Lentegeur Crooners', Young Tycoons', Beverley Hills' and Heideveld Entertainers', from all the different suburbs and townships of Cape Town will partake in the finals - that will wind through the streets of Cape Town before finishing at Green Point Stadium.

To get to know the rhythm of a culture, one needs to get to know the rhythms of its music, and in Cape Town, that means Cape Jazz. Cape Jazz is a delicately blend of western and African influences, with a series of notes borrowed from all the kindred ports of the world, and infused with the spirit of the Cape people. Originated in the townships in the times of struggle, this appealing art-form has given expression to South Africa’s struggles and joys throughout the years.

Cape Town’s Jazz allows visitors to share in the foundation of the city’s musical spirit, and at the same time contributing to the local music scene. The musical and training workshops accessible at the festival are endorsement of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival’s commitment to developing the industry and the community.

Supported by local musicians and industry professionals, the participants partaking in a variety of workshops gain directly from experts in their prospective fields.

These forums provide practical skills that can be implemented immediately thus raising the bar even higher. Guided by dedicated professionals, the various workshops provide valuable, accessible and free information directly related to the industry.

Partnership between the Festival, musicians and the media has ensured that participants at all the workshops benefit generously from the assistance of these talented professionals.

The Old Mutual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon is one of South Africa's foremost events happening annually in Cape Town with spectacular scenery, with the challenging climb up Chapman's Peak which has been excluded from the event previously due to rock falls, but thanks to extensive working on the area, reopened in 2004. The route traverses the Table Mountain National Park - a Natural World Heritage Site and international tourism icon.

Both the Ultra marathon and half Marathon will be starting in Main Road Newlands outside SA Breweries, the runners head for the climb at Chapman's Peak peak starting just after the 26 km mark, then a relatively flatter Hout Bay and through the toughest part of the experience, "Suikerbossie Pass". The runners will be passing Constantia Nek. The finish is at the UCT Sports field, upper campus. During the race there is no seconding allowed to ensure the runner's safety.

With two big events happening, including South Africa's biggest half Marathon in Cape Town, there will be 2 separate starting pens allowing runners to line up at their leisure without waiting for the previous race to be cleared. The 21km route will also be turning off sooner into Aliwal road (3.1km) to ensure a clear road for the 56km Ultra Marathon runners.

The marathon coincides with the Easter holidays and adds an air of festivity to Cape Town as the whole city grinds to a halt on the day to line the streets and cheer the runners on.

An annual event when Cape Town’s Gay community takes to the streets to celebrate their lives publicly and colorfully in inimitable style.

The Cape Town's pink community hosts the Cape Town Pride Festival. This is the opportune time for revelers from across the country to descend on the city for 11 days of entertainment and education.

The start of the festival begins with Mr and Miss Gay Pride crowned at a pageant at a fashion venue, in the Mother City. The festival includes parties, parades, picnics, seminars, drag shows and other sporting cultural events.

The event has grown rapidly since its inception in 2001 and is expected to grow. The objective of the organizers is to grow Cape Town Pride until it reaches the same magnitude of the Sydney Lesbian and Gay Mardi Gras and to raise funds for their beneficiary, the Pride Shelter Trust, but also to communicate peace, respect, love and understanding.

The Pride Shelter Trust is a non-profit organization established by Cape Town Pride with the aim of managing a shelter offering short-term safe accommodation to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Cape Town during times of crisis.

Discussions will take place at seminars focusing on the issues such as gay marriages, relationship issues, gay families and positive imagery with speakers from the Treatment Action Campaign.

The Breedekloof Outdoor Festival is a multifaceted event that needs to future on your calendar. Set in Rawsonville and surrounds, the festival events are hosted by 23 wineries in the area. The highlight, a major music festival features some of the best bands in SA.

For 4-wheel drive enthusiasts and art lovers there is a 4x4 expo and several art exhibitions. For the young at heart there’s quad-biking, horse riding, clay-pigeon shooting, archery, mountain biking and golf.

One of the highlights of the Breedekloof Outdoor Festival has always been the sporting activities and this year will be no exception, with events such as the gruelling Breedekloof Outdoor Challenge; the Deetlefs Night Run, a 5km and 10km run through the vineyards at Deetlefs Estate and a Mountain Bike Fun Ride hosted by Slanghoek Cellar. Sample the locally brewed fire starter Witblits or partake in a raisin-spitting competition!

The Breedekloof is a family destination and the festival promises plenty of healthy outdoor entertainment for younger visitors, including pony rides, farm animal petting, and face painting.
If you’re an aficionado, or just looking for a fun-filled weekend with your family and friends, diarize this fun filled event.

The Ysterplaat show has built a standing amongst both local and foreign aviation enthusiasts for the mixture of current and classic aircraft that attend, with the aerobatic displays adding to the enjoyment.

Various SAAF displays inside the hangers provided a foretaste of the vast maintenance and support structures that keep the aircraft in the air. These included maintenance, engineering, life support, armaments, instruments, clothing and more. Civilian flying schools, helicopter and charter operators, vehicle and boat companies.

History
From as early as 1929, the site of Ysterplaat AFB was being used as a civilian airfield, known as Maitland Aerodrome. African Air Transport opened at Maitland in 1938, and was involved in training pilots for the Union Air Training Group's pupil pilot training scheme. AAT moved to Tempe at the start of World War II and Maitland was taken over by the SAAF. On October 24, 1941, Air Force Station Brooklyn, as it was then known, opened as a SAAF unit. 3 and 9 Air Depot's were transferred to Brooklyn for the repair and assembly of aircraft.

Air Force Station Brooklyn and 9 Air Depot were disbanded on 31 March 1944. All the activities on the station then fell under 3 Air Depot. Activities on Brooklyn scaled down so much that the airfield was nearly presented to the private sector. In 1946, the first jet aircraft to reach South Africa, a Gloster Meteor III, was assembled and flown at Brooklyn. On the 1st April 1949 Air Force Station Brooklyn was renamed Air Force Station Ysterplaat.

“South Africa's Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour, the world's largest individually timed cycle race - and the first event outside Europe to be included in the International Cycling Union's Golden Bike Series - sees over 35 000 cyclists tackling a 109km route around Cape Town that is as spectacular as it is grueling”.

Traditionally staged on the second Sunday of March, the country's biggest one-day sporting event is fast becoming a big international draw card - foreign entries topped 2 000 in 2006 - and increasingly a boon for business and tourism in the Western Cape.

This annual challenging event began back in 1978 with a mere 525 entrants, 446 of whom finished the 104 km course. Today the event is a world-class event which attracts 35 000 entrants each year across the globe.

The most distinguished aspect of the race is the exceptional natural beauty through which the path winds, turns and climbs – the pulse is intense and the going is tough but the breathtaking scenery takes your mind off the agony of muscle cramps and tendon strains.

Chapman’s Peak is the most breathtaking part of the route, the scenery is awe inspiring. Nowhere else on the globe will you find views to equal what you will experience along the mountain route overlooking blue seas stretching as far as the eye can see.

The Cape Argus is a non-profit event; all proceeds go to two charitable organizations, Pedal Power Association who sponsors development cyclists and hosts fun rides in the Western Cape area. The Rotary Club of Claremont invests their share into a variety of fundraising projects.

The Kfm 94.5 Symphony Of Fire transforms the Cape Town night sky into a kaleidoscope of colour!
Experience the overwhelming beauty of world-class fireworks set to a dramatic musical score. Enchant your senses with the breath-taking display of light and sound that is the magical Kfm 94.5 Symphony Of Fire.

This is the largest event of its kind on the African continent. Internationally renowned fireworks display companies are invited to represent their countries in this prestigious event that needs many months of planning & preparation.

It takes place at the V & A Waterfront in Cape Town, an ideal venue for such an event. The fireworks will be fired from the 'breakwater' on the outer edge of the Waterfront and the public viewing area will be next to the Portnet building where grandstands will be erected especially for the shows.

People travel from far and wide to see these magnificent fireworks displays and they have been sorely missed since it was last hosted in 2000. (pics Robin Lane)