Gems of Discoveries

GEMS OF DISCOVERIES - Festivals & Events 2014

EVENTS IN WESTERN CAPE

KIRSTENBOSCH SUMMER SUNSET CONCERTS, KIRSTENBOSCH BOTANICAL GARDENS

(1 JAN – 6 APR 2014)

The Old Mutual Summer Sunset Concerts at Kirstenbosch is part of a series of outdoor live music

concerts, featuring some of the hottest South African acts in the industry. From jazz, R&B, hip hop,

folk, rock to big band swing the concerts appeal to all ages and tastes. An incredible group of

artists will be performing on stage from the 24 November 2013 through to April 2014. For more

information on the line up please contact our office.

CAPE TOWN PRIDE FESTIVAL, CAPE TOWN CITY BOWL (21 FEB – 1 MARCH 2014)

Happening in the sunny streets of Cape Town since 2001 (the event took a brief hiatus in 2003),

the pink calendar highlight includes a fantastic collection of parties, parades and protests

scattered across a two-week period. While the line-up may be both vast and varied – it includes

everything from drag shows in Green Point to seminars in Langa – one thing remains consistent:

each event encourages not only LGBTIQ folks, but also straight allies, to partake in the fun.

CAPE ARGUS PICK N PAY CYCLE TOUR, CAPE TOWN (9 MARCH 2014)

The Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour (referred to in short as the Argus) is an annual cycle race

hosted in Cape Town, usually 109 km long. It is the first event outside Europe to be included in

the International Cycling Union's Golden Bike Series. South Africa hosts some of the largest, by

number of entrants, sporting events in the world with three being the largest of their type. The

Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, with as many as 35 000 cyclists taking part, is the world's

largest individually timed cycle race. The Argus forms the last leg of the Giro del Capo, a multi-

stage race for professional and leading registered riders. It is traditionally staged on the second

Sunday of March and has enjoyed well known competitors such as Miguel Indurain, Jan

Ulrich and Lance Armstrong.

Gems of Discoveries

HOLI ONE COLOUR FESTIVAL, CAPE TOWN (21 MARCH 2014)

Thousands of people, dressed in white, come together to share in music, dance, performance

art and visual stimulation. The HOLI ONE Colour Festival is inspired by the original Indian Holi fest,

but is not associated with or related to that festival. It is important to note that

the HOLI ONE Colour Festival is not a religious festival or event. It does not aim to promote any

religious aspects or groups. Instead the festival is about promoting the ideas of togetherness and

the colour of everyday life during a day of fun and exhilaration. Be part of the next HOLI ONE

Color Festival in Cape Town!

CAPE TOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL, CAPE TOWN (28 – 29 MARCH 2013)

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival has grown into a hugely successful international event

since its inception in the year 2000. Melodytrip has ranked this proudly South African event as

No.4 in the world, outshining events such as Switzerland's Montreaux Festival and the North Sea

Jazz Festival in Holland. The festival’s winning formula of bringing more than 40 International and

Local artists to perform over two days on five stages has earned it the status of being the most

prestigious event on the African continent.

TWO OCEANS MARATHON, CAPE TOWN (19 APRIL 2014)

The Two Oceans Marathon is a 56 km / 35 mile ultra-marathon and 21km half-marathon held

annually in Cape Town, on the Saturday of the Easter weekend. Self-proclaimed as "the world's

most beautiful marathon", the race is run against a backdrop of spectacular scenery through

the Cape Peninsula. The race starts in Newlands, and follows a more or less circular route

through Muizenberg, Fish Hoek, over Chapman's Peak and Constantia Nek, and eventually

finishes at the University of Cape Town campus. The half marathon (21 km) (13.1 mi) is also held

on the same day as the ultra-marathon. In 2007 the half marathon attracted nearly 11,000

entries, making it the biggest half marathon in South Africa.

Gems of Discoveries

EVENTS IN HERMANUS AND THE GARDEN ROUTE

HERMANUS WHALE FESTIVAL, HERMANUS (3-6 OCTOBER 2014)

The Hermanus Whale Festival, the only Enviro-Arts festival in South Africa, is held annually to

celebrate the return of the Southern Right whales to the waters of Walker Bay, our magnificent

environment and the arrival of Spring. Hermanus, known as the best land based whale

watching destination in the world, plays host to thousands of visitors who flock to the seaside

resort to exhilarate in the unique natural environment, watch whales, join in the world’s only

Welcome Whales Wave and revel in music, comedy, cabaret and African rhythms every night

during the Festival.

PINK LOERIE MARDI GRAS, KNYSNA, 30 APRIL – 4 MAY 2014

This very popular and highly colourful celebration is certainly a highlight on the international Gay

Calendar. The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras offers four days of non-stop entertainment for Gay people

as well as for everybody that have a need for superb entertainment, major partying or just

having loads of light-hearted fun and laughter. With thousands of like-minded people absorbing

the carnival atmosphere, energy levels will have to remain at a peak! The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras

is getting bigger, better and a bit more outrageous by the year.

KNYSNA OYSTER FESTIVAL, KNYSNA, 4-13 JULY 2014

The Knysna Oyster Festival is probably one of the most popular annual events in the Western

Cape. It is also something of a celebration of the good life and sport and has taken place every

year since 1983, where it began as the Knysna Winter Festival - a combination of sport that drew

people to Knysna during the quiet winter season. Marketed as the 'Best 10 Days of Your Winter',

the Knysna Oyster festival is spread across two weekends that promise constant fun and

activities for the whole family. The sport aspect of the Oyster Festival has evolved into two major

sporting events - the Pick n Pay Cape Times Forest Marathon (half marathon), and the Pick n Pay

Weekend Argus Rotary Cycle Tour.

Gems of Discoveries

EVENTS IN GAUTENG AND THE NORTH WEST

MOMENTUM 94.7 CYCLE CHALLENGE, JOHANNESBURG (16 NOVEMBER 2014)

The Momentum 94.7 cycle challenge is the world's second-largest timed cycle race, after

the Cape Argus Cycle Race. It is held annually on cycle challenge Sunday, the third Sunday of

November in the city of Johannesburg. Between 20,000 and 30,000 participants complete the

challenging 94.7-km course every year. The event's main sponsors are 94.7 Highveld Stereo and

Momentum.

MERCEDES BENZ FASHION WEEK AFRICA, JOHANNESBURG (OCTOBER 2014)

African Fashion International (AFI) is the leading fashion authority on the African continent and is

committed to the promotion and development of the best South African and African design

talent. African Fashion International achieves this through creating leading, world-class platforms

aimed at driving the growth of the industry and the support of talented designers. One of these

platforms is the Mercedes-Benz Fashion week Africa. MBFW Africa is a trans-seasonal showcase,

which takes place annually in October and provides a platform for premier African and heritage

designers to present their fashion businesses to global markets.

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE, SUN CITY (DECEMBER 2014)

The Nedbank Golf Challenge is an annual golf tournament played over the Gary Player Country

Club Course in Sun City, South Africa. It was inaugurated in 1981 and has had several previous

names. Like most high profile unofficial tournaments in professional golf it takes place between

the conclusion of the PGA Tour and European Tour official schedules in early November, and

Christmas. It did not count for world ranking points, until the 2006 event, but nonetheless it

attracted many of the world's highest ranked players prior to this.