Cape Town Minstrel Carnival & 2nd New Year in Cape Town

Every year, Cape Town kicks off the New Year in a bright, colourful, rhythmic and musical way: The Cape Minstrel Carnival, known as the Tweede Nuwejaar. A 100% Capetonian event not to be missed!


Every year, Cape Town kicks off the New Year in a bright, colourful, rhythmic and musical way: The Cape Minstrel Carnival, known as the Tweede Nuwejaar, and formerly known as Cape Coon festival.

The minstrel parade on January 2nd in Cape Town is a must-see for everyone in Cape Town, local or visitor, as it reflects the heart and soul of vibrant Cape Town and beyond.

==Read about the Cape Minstrel Carnival 2007 or the 2008 Cape Minstrel Carnival ==

It is Cape Town's biggest
carnival with numerous minstrels festivals, minstrel competitions and extravagant parades. The Cape Minstrel Carnival or Coon Carnival has roots in the 18th century, when slaves in the Cape were allowed their one and only day off on January 2nd.

They picked up the 'art' of entertaining from the minstrel entertainers who stopped by Cape Town on American ocean liners in that time frame.

The Minstrel street parade on the first weekend starts in District Six and there are plenty of South African wares and mouth-watering local delicacies on sale along the route, attracting crowds of over 80,000.

Former President Nelson Mandela endorsed the minstrel event in 1996 and is now a patron of the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival Association.

Keep an eye out for the events calendar and our news section as we will on a regular basis pay attention to this wonderful event. Subscribe to our free newsletter for all updates on the Cape Town new year celebrations!

  
 

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Cape Town Events Calendar
January 2006
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Dragon RoomSure Thing Fridays at The Dragon Room

Progressive house, electro and swing beatsat The Dragon Room

Psyde Show at Side ShowSaturday Psyde Show ft. Bizzare Contact

A “Bizzare” encounter at Cape Town’s latest trance club

Vanfokking tasties at AssemblyVanFokKingTasties at The Assembly

Catch the Bellville-Bende at The Assembly

Cape Gate Bridal Fair cakeCape Gate Bridal Fair in Brackenfell

He liked it so he put a ring on it, now for the fun part

Pole Dancing ShowAnnual Pole Dancing Showcase

Ladies take pole position

Mezepoli Greek restaurant Winter Specials at Mezepoli Meze and ...

Four weekly specials to warm the belly for winter

Kats and Kings, a musical at the Fugard TheatreKat and the Kings play at the Fugard ...

Award-winning musical set to take the stage in May

TOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival at the Gugulethu Square MallTOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival

Go glam in Gugs with the TOPS Gugulethu Wine Festival

Events at table bay hotelHigh tea at the Table Bay Hotel

Pastries paired with specialist teas in an elegant setting

HQ Restaurant Cape TownLive entertainment and the best steak ...

Live entertainment every Saturday evening at HQ Restaurant

Ernie Els Chipping 1Ernie Els chipping competition

Tee off for a chance to win their signature blends

Haute Cabriere 12Wine tasting at Haute Cabrière

Spend Saturday at one of Franschhoek’s stunning wine estates

Tommy's Weekends at Tommy’s Sports Bar

Get your sport on at Tommy’s

Cape Bike ToursChauffeured motorbike rides around Cape ...

See the Mother City from the back of a bike

Rcaffe Saturday mornings on Long Street at ...

Freshly baked pastries, great coffee and delicious meals

Half Price South African punkUnited Underground

A punk and metal collaboration in the heart of Maties Land

Cape Good Food and Wine ShowThe Cape Town Good Food and Wine Show

Cape Town’s beloved food and wine exhibition brings in the big guns of the ...

Psyde Show at Side ShowSaturday Psyde Show ft. Bizzare Contact

A “Bizzare” encounter at Cape Town’s latest trance club

Nederburg concert seriesNederburg Concert Series 2012

Classical music amidst classic Cape Dutch architecture

Cape Gate Bridal Fair cakeCape Gate Bridal Fair in Brackenfell

He liked it so he put a ring on it, now for the fun part

Table Mountain at duskTEDx Table Mountain 2012

Let’s talk about Table Mountain

Mezepoli Greek restaurant Winter Specials at Mezepoli Meze and ...

Four weekly specials to warm the belly for winter

Kats and Kings, a musical at the Fugard TheatreKat and the Kings play at the Fugard ...

Award-winning musical set to take the stage in May

Table Bay HotelSunday jazz lunch at Table Bay Hotel

Jazz musicians entertain at The Conservatory

Sotano 3Live music at Sotano by Caveau

Chill out with the Rivertones on Sunday afternoons

Winchester MansionsHarvey’s Sunday brunch at Winchester ...

Enjoy jazz in the morning or early afternoon in Sea Point

Five FliesSunday night dinner in the city centre

Five Flies offers supper on a Sunday

Asoka bar Cape Town | Monday events cape townChilled out Mondays at Asoka with ...

The smooth acoustic sounds of Sylvestre Kabassidi live at trendy Asoka bar

Cape Good Food and Wine ShowThe Cape Town Good Food and Wine Show

Cape Town’s beloved food and wine exhibition brings in the big guns of the ...

Baxter MarketThe Baxter Food & Goods Market

Food, fresh produce and live music

Dragon RoomSure Thing Fridays at The Dragon Room

Progressive house, electro and swing beatsat The Dragon Room

Labyrinth Seven Deadly Sins Labyrinth presents Seven Deadly Sins

Pystrance at Trinity

Rocking the DaisiesRocking the Daisies

Rock the weekend away in Darling

jazzfestival2Line-Up for Cape Town International ...

Dates announced for 2013 Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Psyde Show at Side ShowSaturday Psyde Show ft. Bizzare Contact

A “Bizzare” encounter at Cape Town’s latest trance club

Holden Manz Franschhoek KitchenHolden Manz reveals an exotic winter ...

The Franschhoek Kitchen introduces Pacific Rim flavours to SA’s french ...

soup, sip and bread festivalSoup Sip and Bread Festival in the ...

Beat those winter blues with bowls of broth from the Durbanville Wine Valley

Feast of Shiraz and CharcuterieFeast of Shiraz and Charcuterie at ...

Treat yourself to an afternoon of indulgence at Hartenburg Estate

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