The V&A Waterfront is ready to surprise and delight visitors this festive season with a host of fun events and interactive activities spread across the neighbourhood from early December to mid-January 2023.
The action takes place across the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, the Watershed, Makers Landing and the Silo District.
The annual Joy from Africa to the World festive décor also returns for the fourth year, so visitors also will notice bright pops of colour, bold patterns, innovative activations and intricately detailed creations with not a snowman or piece of tinsel in sight. As always, the joyful festive celebration promises an abundance of African flair and creativity.
Waterfront Wonderland
Date Thursday, 8 December to Thursday, 29 December 2022
Venue Centre Court, Vic Wharf
Time 09h00 to 22h00
Kids will be especially enchanted with the ‘Waterfront Wonderland’, a fun-filled experience at Centre Court in the Victoria Wharf from 7 December. They will be taken on a fantasy journey through a rocket ship, a sleigh pulled by beaded reindeers, a pirate ship and Father Christmas’ very own festive taxi awaits. Families can also step in and out of three two-metre-tall books, each reflecting the magic of storytelling that is pivotal to the Joy from Africa pillars of heritage, hope and inspiration.
Makers Market – Festive edition
Date Saturday, 26 November to Saturday, 31 December 2022`
Venue Makers Landing
Time 10h00 to 17h00
While Makers Landing will trade its usual showcase of food entrepreneurs Thursday to Sundays, the Makers Market at Makers Landing is back. It will be held every Saturday and Sunday until 31 December 2022 for all to enjoy. The market will feature a wide range of artisanal food and beverage stalls as well as handcrafted items. Musical entertainment will feature every weekend.
Festive Baking Classes
Date Saturday, 26 November to Friday, 23 December 2022
Venue Makers Landing Demo Kitchen
Time Times may vary
Whether you are looking for a new hobby or to improve your skills, the Makers Landing Demo Kitchen is the perfect place for you. The Charming Chef has a range of baking classes available this festive season until Friday, 23 December, for the young ones and the adults to enjoy. To purchase tickets: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/?search=makers%20landing
HintHunt – Joy from Africa edition
Date December and January 2023
Venue HintHunt in The Watershed
Time 10h00
HintHunt, the V&A’s own Escape Games and Amazing Race curator has joined in on the festive fun and will be offering a Joy from Africa-themed amazing race that will explore all the installations across the neighbourhood. Players will weave their way around the Winter Wonderland, duck under hanging installations and take a spin around the giant Christmas tree as they complete tasks and challenges. For more info, please visit https://hinthunt.co.za/
Gin Day
Date Saturday, 3 December 2022
Venue Pienaar & Son, Makers Landing
Time 11h00 to 20h00
On Saturday, 3 December from 11am, visitors can join Pienaar & Son for a Gin Day that will showcase only the best local brands of gin. Tickets start at R100 at guests can look forward to tasty gin cocktails, tastings, music, demo workshops as well as gin-inspired foods. To purchase tickets: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/198118-gin-day/?ref=events-list#/
Take the Stage
Date 4, 11, 18 and 26 December 2022
Venue Amphitheatre
Time 18h00
The V&A Waterfront Take the Stage Series presented by MTN, is a platform for emerging South African musicians and musical ensembles and is back this Summer. What better way to enjoy the summer outdoors than with free, live music concerts this December from 6pm at the Amphitheatre. The artist line-up includes Louis Mhlanga, Tayla Hunter, Jodi Fredericks and Gerald Clark. The full line-up of performers is available on https://www.waterfront.co.za/leisure/events/
Santa comes to the Waterfront
Date Thursday, 15 December to Saturday, 24 December 2022
Venue Centre Court
Time 15h00
Kids won’t want to miss a chance to see and meet Santa at the Centre Court in the Waterfront from Thursday, 15 December. The jovial big fellow will arrive at 3pm to meet the little ones. It will be memorable.
Colour for Africa
Date Friday, 16 December to Saturday, 24 December 2022
Venue Zeitz MOCAA
Time 10h00
Calling all kids to join in the Summer Holiday fun at the Zeitz MOCAA Centre where they can sign up to a variety ofchildren’s workshops from Friday, 16 December to Saturday, 24 December.
Kids will be exploring colour as reflected in Zeitz MOCAA’s latest exhibitions from painting to weaving and will be guided by the fabulous museum educators. Kids will be working in a variety of 2D and 3D mediums to imagine and create their own colourful visions in an environment that encourages playful investigation of materials and techniques. To purchase tickets:https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1521878678
Dockside Beer Experience
Date Saturday, 17 and Sunday, 18 December 2022
Venue Makers Landing
Time 12h00 to 21h00
After a successful debut in July, the Dockside Beer Experience returns to Makers Landing, V&A Waterfront on Saturday, 17 December and Sunday, 18 December 2022. Curated by Ukhamba Beerworx in partnership with Makers Landing, the Dockside Beer Experience is a mini beer fest with six different breweries. The experience is a celebration of the quality, innovation and variety of local craft beer with tastings from Cape Town’s local microbreweries, great food, live music and games.
V&A Kids Market
Date 17 December, 28 January, 25 February to April 2023
Venue Outside of the mall close to the Amphitheatre
Time 10h00 to 15h00
The V&A Kids Market is back from Saturday, 17 December to April 2023. The market takes place outside of the mall close to the Amphitheatre from 10am. It is a platform for children showcase their creative businesses to the greater V&A Waterfront community. The previous markets had kids selling their handmade products, while learning what it takes to run a profitable venture from a young age and the kids had loads of fun doing it!
Summer Magic
Date Tuesday, 20 December to Saturday, 24 December 2022
Monday, 2 January to Friday, 6 January 2023
Venue V&A Amphitheatre
Time 17h30 during December and 17h00 during January
College of Magic, South Africa’s only magical arts training organisation, will showcase Summer Magic at the V&A Waterfront this Summer from Tuesday, 20 December to Saturday, 24 December 2022, returning again from Monday, 2 January to Friday, 6 January 2023. Visitors can look forward to seeing a family-friendly illusion show filled with comedy, juggling and jaw-dropping magic that will leave all ages in awe. Enjoy the magic at the Amphitheatre from 5:30pm.
Jazzathon 2023
Date Thursday, 12 January to Sunday, 15 January 2023
Venue V&A Amphitheatre
Time 12h00 to 20h00
Known as the People’s Festival, the Cape Town Jazzathon is back on the V&A Amphitheatre stage from Thursday, 12 January to Sunday, 15 January 2023. From 12pm, music lovers and visitors can enjoy a wide variety of artists and bands showcases their best talents, guaranteed to keep moving and toes tapping.
When We See Us Exhibition
Date Runs until September 2023
Venue Zeitz MOCAA
Time 10h00 to 18h00
Do not miss the latest art exhibition titled When We See Us – A Century of Black Figuration in Painting 
taking place until September 2023 at Zeitz MOCAA. The exhibition focuses on Black self-representation and celebrates global Black subjectivities and consciousness from pan-African and pan-diasporic perspectives. Featuring artworks from 154 artists, the exhibition brings together paintings from the last 100 years globally. To purchase tickets:https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Event.aspx?itemid=1467836816
Countdown to 2023
The Waterfront will bid farewell to 2022 with a festive New Year’s Eve celebration across the property on 31 December. Visitors can look forward to non-stop entertainment from local performers at the Amphitheatre as well as a visit from the Cape Town Carnival from 7pm until countdown to a midnight moment finale.
For a full line-up of events over December and January 2023, please see https://www.waterfront.co.za/leisure/events/
