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
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mavericks modelsA night of ‘Marriage Guidance’ from ...

Every Friday is ‘Marriage Guidance’ night at Mavericks Revue Bar

Bosmans' Release 1Friday afternoons at Bosman Family ...

Wine tasting in Wellington

Glenelly 3Meat and cheese platters at Glenelly

Experience, see, drink and eat

Caveau Tapas at Caveau

Wind down on a Friday

La Vie Green PointMutha FM Fridays at La Vie

Start your weekend in Sea Point

Shakespeare in the ParkShakespeare’s comedy of errors

Shakespeare at Maynardville open air theatre

Five FliesFive Flies Fridays

Happy hour? More like four

Fugard's Statements | Cape Town Theatre ProductionsStatements After an Arrest under the ...

Forty years on it’s as relevant as ever

Sacred Elephant | Cape Town TheaterThe Sacred Elephant

The mighty elephant portrayed

World press photo competition Cape townInvestec presents World Press Photo ...

The best of 108,059 photographs

Hanepoot grape picking de krans cape townHanepoot picking at De Krans

Grapes taste better picked

Menopause the musicalMenopause the Musical

Touch, Meno (pause), hot flush!

Casa Labia MuizenburgHero book Workshop at Casa Labia

You’re the hero

Fashion Week 2010 The Red Carpet Fashion Show 2012

Lights, cameras, fashion!

Darling Music ExperienceDarling Musical Experience Weekend two

Escape to the country for the classics

Tallest man on earthThe Tallest Man on Earth

No shortage of reasons to go

City Bowl MarketFriday markets in and around Cape Town

Celebrate your love for Friday with one of these markets happening in and ...

Suidoosterfees 2012Suidoosterfees 2012

... where we are unashamedly Cape.

Hi-Tec Tygerberg 6Tygerberg Nature Reserve

Hiking in the Northern Suburbs with Hi-Tec

Events at table bay hotelHigh tea at the Table Bay Hotel

Pastries paired with specialist teas in an elegant setting

HQ Restaurant Cape TownRicky Botis gets you groovin’

Live entertainment every Saturday evening at HQ Restaurant

Shakespeare in the ParkShakespeare’s comedy of errors

Shakespeare at Maynardville open air theatre

Moreson5Wine Tastings at Môreson Wine Estate ...

Sip your way through Miss Molly with a Kitchen Thief

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

Haartenburg Riesling RocksRiesling Rocks at Hartenburg Wine Estate

Head off to Stellenbosch for live music and a gastronomic feast

Fugard's Statements | Cape Town Theatre ProductionsStatements After an Arrest under the ...

Forty years on it’s as relevant as ever

IL Caperro Italian Restaurant Cape TownVacanze Romance at IL Cappero

(Italian) Dinner and (Italian) show

Sacred Elephant | Cape Town TheaterThe Sacred Elephant

The mighty elephant portrayed

World press photo competition Cape townInvestec presents World Press Photo ...

The best of 108,059 photographs

Hanepoot grape picking de krans cape townHanepoot picking at De Krans

Grapes taste better picked

Menopause the musicalMenopause the Musical

Touch, Meno (pause), hot flush!

Casa Labia MuizenburgHero book Workshop at Casa Labia

You’re the hero

Darling Music ExperienceDarling Musical Experience Weekend two

Escape to the country for the classics

degrendel6aCannon shooting at De Grendel Wine ...

Perfect Saturday afternoon with or without the kids

Cape Town night skylineVinyl Digz Rooftop Party

No school like the old school

Laborie Lazy Days marketSaturday markets in Cape Town's ...

The weekend is here and there is nothing better to do than spend a few hours at ...

nitida1Saturday markets in Cape Town's suburbs

The weekend is here and there is nothing better to do than spend a few hours at ...

City Bowl MarketSaturday markets in Cape Town's city ...

The weekend is here and there is nothing better to do than spend a few hours at ...

Suidoosterfees 2012Suidoosterfees 2012

... where we are unashamedly Cape.

Two Door Cinema Cape TownTwo Door Cinema coming to South Africa

UK indie heavyweights set to rock the Cape

Hi-Tec Deer park | Cape Town HikesDeer Park

Exploring an abundance of nature with Hi-Tec on the edge of the city

Haartenburg Riesling RocksRiesling Rocks at Hartenburg Wine Estate

Head off to Stellenbosch for live music and a gastronomic feast

tenorsGugulethu Tenors

O Afrika! You raise me up!

Fugard Theatre 1Il Trittico

Puccini’s three-piece stringed together

Renegade BingoRenegade Bingo Lust in Space

There are no such as things as flying saucers. Please step away from the flying ...

Cape ConsortMonteverdi Project

Sunday with the Cape Consort

Fugard's Statements | Cape Town Theatre ProductionsStatements After an Arrest under the ...

Forty years on it’s as relevant as ever

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