Cape Town Carnival 2010

Bringing a touch of Rio to the streets of Cape Town with Rhythm, Roots and Boots

Cape Town Carnival is coming and it’s going to be an exciting platform to showcase the heart of Cape Town. The carnival is calling YOU, the people of Cape Town, to make this a spectacular show that will wow the world.

Cape Town Carnival will transform the streets of Cape Town into a sight to be seen with bright colours, costumes and larger-than-life floats on the weekend of 18–20 March 2010.

After this year’s inaugural event, themed “Rhythm, Roots and Boots,” the carnival will take place every year on the third weekend of March.

It will kick off with a star-studded fashion show led by South Africa’s top designers and celebrity models. The next evening, the fun will continue with street, beach and club parties. On Saturday, the highlight of the weekend will be a parade of five competing groups of performers, comprising a total of 10,000 artists and entertainers. It will be massive!

The festivities kick off in Greenmarket Square at 18:00 with a pulsating concert, starring popular performers such as Loyiso, Emo Adams and new age hip hop-electro group, Locnville. This will be followed by the two hour carnival parade from 20:00 to 22:00.

More than 2 000 costumed singers and dancers will fill Long Street, performing six new Cape Town songs in unison, with sound relays and large screen viewings.

What you will see:

Minstrels, ballet dancers, Xhosa artistes, oriental performers, choirs, drum majorettes, belly dancers, soccer players, marching bands, marimba bands, drag queens, pantsula dancers and more.

Massive costumes, some measuring four by two meters, stilt walkers, interesting characters and wonderful props.

The giant float- 12 metres long, 4 metres high and 3,5 metres wide. The acclaimed urban artist, Mak1One and a team of illustrators and designers collaborated on the float project.

Once the parade is over, the party will continue at Greenmarket Square until midnight, with the DJ duo Circuswing, performing in full carnival costumes, with jugglers and dancers.

Come dressed up in your most fabulous, outrageous and festive costume for the party of a lifetime. Watch Long Street come alive and party till the sun comes up.


The Line-up:

18 March - The Starter: The Carnival Fashion Show

To whet your appetite, carnival organizers are offering a fashion show at The Lookout, V&A Waterfront, from 18:00 - 20:00 on Thursday 18th of March. Read our event feature on the Cape Town Carnival Fashion Show.

20 March - The Main Course: Cape Town Carnival Concert & Parade!

The mouth watering main course, the Cape Town Carnival Parade, will be served on Saturday, 20th of March, and will transform Greenmarket Square and the upper end of Long Street into a carnival playground. See the videos of the performers in our article about the Greenmarket Square Concert.

20 March - The Desert - Greenmarket Square concert:

Once the parade is over, head back to Greenmarket Square for a sumptuous desert of festivities that will continue until the wee hours of the morning. Expect to be entertained by the DJ duo Circuswing, complete with full carnival costumes, jugglers and dancers.

Make sure that you know the Cape Town Carnival Inside Out.

When it comes to the Cape Town Carnival, CapeTownMagazine.com has it covered, with everything from the first announcement of the All-in-one Carnival, to Cape Town getting ready and then of course the 10 reasons not to miss the Cape Town Carnival.

We’ve got everything you need to know about Cape Town’s first ever Carnival. Make sure you stay in the loop! And Remember - Entrance is FREE!

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