EVENTS 

January

Cape Minstrels Carnival, Cape Town. Cape Malay groups dressed in colorful outfits parade through the streets, singing and jiving to banjo beats. January 1, 2, 6, and 13.

Spier Arts Festival, Spier Estate, Stellenbosch, Winelands. The Western Cape's premier arts festival features local and international opera, classical music, comedy, and drama at the Spier Amphitheatre. From January to March.

Shakespeare Open Air Festival, Maynardville, Wynberg, Cape Town. Pack a picnic to enjoy this annual Shakespeare play performed in the Maynardville Gardens. January 12 to 31.

Appletiser Summer Sunset Concerts (Kirstenbosch Gardens, Cape Town). Catch a new act every Sunday at 5:30pm in one of the world's most beautiful gardens on the slopes of Table Mountain.

Duzi Canoe Race, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. The country's most prestigious canoeing event covers the 115 kilometers (71 miles) between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. January 21 to 23.

J&B Metropolitan Horse Race, Kenilworth Race Course, Cape Town. The Western Cape's premier horse-racing event is Cape Town's excuse to party, and attracts many of the city's socialites. Either last Saturday in January or first in February.

South Africa Open Championship, new venue every year. South Africa's golfing greats battle it out on one of the country's premier courses. End of January.

March

FNB Vita Dance Umbrella, Wits Theatre, Johannesburg. This is the oldest of the Vita Dance festivals, which provide a platform for contemporary choreography and dance.

Cape Argus Cycle Tour, Cape Town. The largest of its kind in the world, this race attracts some 30,000 cyclists and covers 105 kilometers (65 miles) of Cape Town's most scenic routes. Second Sunday of every March.

North Sea Jazz Festival, Good Hope Centre, Cape Town. The best local jazz talent and international greats perform over 2 days. March 30 to 31.

Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Oudtshoorn, Western Cape. This is the best selection of Afrikaans drama, as well as excellent dance and music acts. End of March.

April

Two Oceans Marathon, Cape Town. This 56-kilometer (35-mile) scenic route attracts some 12,000 athletes. Easter Saturday.

May

MasterCard Cape Gourmet Festival, Cape Town. The Cape's top restaurants participate in the gourmet capital's most exciting sampling exercise; for 2001 it was R49 ($6) for a two-course meal including a glass of wine.

June

Comrades Marathon, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. More than 13,000 runners participate in this 89-kilometer (55-mile) race, which started in 1921. June 16.

Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. The largest arts festival in the southern hemisphere features performances from cutting-edge to classical. June 26 to July 11.

July

Knysna Oyster Festival, Knysna, Garden Route, Western Cape. The festival encompasses the Forest Marathon, a mountain-bike cycling tour, a regatta, a golf championship, and flea markets. First Friday to second Saturday of every July.

Rothmans July Handicap, Greyville Racecourse, Durban. This horseracing event has a stakes of 1 million rand. First Saturday of every July.

Ocean Action, Durban beachfront. This world-class water sports and beach-related tournament includes what is still referred to as the Gunston 500 (the new sponsor is Mr Price electronics stores), one of the world's premier surfing events. July 13-18.

August

Namaqualand Wild Flower Season, Western and Northern Cape. From mid-August (depending on rain), the semi-arid West Coast is transformed into a floral paradise with more than 2,600 species in bloom. August to October.

Jomba Dance Festival, Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Durban. A 10-day dance and choreography festival featuring the best of KwaZulu-Natal's considerable talent. August 22 to September 2.

September

Haenertsburg and Magoebaskloof Spring Festival, Northern Province. Flowering azaleas, cherry blossoms, and crabapples are celebrated with a crafts market, carnival, exhibitions, and evening events. Call for dates.

Arts Alive International Festival, Johannesburg. This urban arts festival features local talent and international stars. Includes the Jazz on the Lake Concert held at Zoo Lake. Call for dates

Whale Festival, Hermanus, Western Cape. The Whale Festival includes drama performances, an arts ramble, a crafts market, and whale-route lectures and tours. September 23 to October 4.

Darling Wildflower and Orchid Show and Hello Darling Arts Festival, Arcadia Street, Darling, West Coast. Combine a trip to see the flowers with a show at Evita se Perron hosted by Pieter Dirk Uys, South Africa's most famous female impersonator. End of September; call for exact dates.

International Eisteddfod of South Africa, Roodepoort, Gauteng. This competitive international music and dance festival features entrants from some 30 countries. September 24 to October 2.

Xhosa Cultural Dress Competition, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. A few Xhosa still dress in traditional gear daily, but most only do so for special events--this is one of them. September 24.

October

Johannesburg Biennial, Newtown Cultural Precinct, Johannesburg. This exhibition of contemporary South African and foreign art, much of it performance-based, is internationally curated. The event takes place every odd-numbered year. Call for exact dates.

December

Mother City Queer Project, Cape Town. This masked costume ball features dance zones and costumed teams celebrating Cape Town's vibrant and creative queer culture. Early December; call for exact dates.

Million Dollar Golf Challenge, Sun City, North-West Province. This high-stakes tournament attracts the world's best golfers. December 4 to 6.