Cape Town Events Calendar January 2009 - What’s Happening?

Cape Town Minstrel Carnival - 1 January 2009

The streets of Cape Town come alive each New Year’s day when tens of thousands of minstrels in brightly coloured costumes and painted faces celebrate the beginning of a new year.

The carnival dates back to the days when the slaves of District Six were allowed one day off, the 1st of January and since then their descendants remember them in music, song and dance. Teams make their way to the Green Point Stadium where they compete before crowds of locals.

Venue - The streets of Cape Town

Tickets - Free 

Time - 10am onwards

Contact - 021 761-5239 or 082 256 2427

Cape to Bahia Yacht Race - 3 - 7 January 2009

Over 70 yachts, from all over the world, are expected to take part in this year’s Cape to Bahia Yacht Race.

The race, said to be one of the most challenging of the international calendar, kicks off at the Royal Cape Yacht Club in Cape Town Harbour and ends at the port of Salvador in Bahia, Brazil, a distance of over 3500 nautical miles! The fastest yachts are expected to cross the South Atlantic in about 12 days and the cut-off date for the race is the 2nd of February.

Various classes of yachts will take part in the race, from amateurs to professionals and this will necessitate three different race starts in Cape Town.  Parties and other festivities will take place at the yacht club for most of the week, so if you’re a race fan, or simply love the sleek lines of some of the most gracious and powerful yachts in the world, head for the harbour. 

Venue - The Royal Cape Yacht Club, Cape Town Harbour

Contacts - Eric Wells +27 82 445 6810 ewells@wol.co.za, John Martin +27 83 310 1440 jvjw@mweb.co.za or Jeanne Van Rooyen +27 82 452 9698 jvjw@mweb.co.za

J&B Met - 31 January 2009

One of Cape Town's premier horse racing events, the J&B Met is held at the Kenilworth Racecourse each year.

It is not only one of the richest races in the Cape, valued at over R2 million, but it is also traditionally a day when the spectators dress in the latest fashions. More than 50 000 racing fans are expected at this year’s event and apart from the corporate marquees, guests normally bring in their own picnic baskets to enjoy while they watch the horses gallop by.

Venue - Kenilworth Racecourse

Tickets - TBA

Contact - 021 700 1600