Six reasons to see Cape Town as you’ve never seen her before

For one week only, prepare to be stunned on your lunch break

The city will come alive the week of 21 to 26 February. Infecting the City, The Spier Public Arts Festival is your reason to walk that extra block on your lunch break. This year’s theme is ‘Treasure’. Go see the Cape Town Station Forecourt transformed into a live art exhibition, Adderley Street a stage for the Cape’s dancers, and the vibrant ‘Jewel Box’ stages, where all kinds of performance and visual art will be cooking.

You don’t work in town? Then we suggest you arrange a few meetings in the city centre—you won’t want to miss this.

Here are our six reasons for you to make your lunch break an entertaining one

1 You’ll only see this once a year
“We’re opening up Cape Town like never before,” says Brett Bailey, curator of Infecting the City, The Spier Public Arts Festival. “We’re exposing her secrets,” he continues, “unpacking the world beneath the surface. The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Treasures’. We’re claiming our city’s jewels.”

2 It’s running for one week, and one week only
This inner city, outdoor art festival will run from 21 to 26 February and is open to everyone, at no cost.  Watch as your city’s streets are transformed into provocative performance pieces, pavements into art galleries, and car guards into soothsayers.

3 Action at the Cape Town Station
Have you seen the modernised station yet? It’s been refurbished to a fine shine. The Cape Town Station Forecourt is where the action will start, head to the Festival Hub from 8h15 to 17h30 each day.  Ditch the grotty sandwich and instead, get inspired during your lunch break.  The Music Gem stage will hot up with the diverse sounds of the Cape between 1pm and 2pm. This is also where the city’s waste will be transformed into art pieces over the course of the six days.

4 Bite into Cape Town culture
All tours will start at the Cape Town Station. Follow the ‘jewel route’ through the city centre and learn how to ‘jazz’ (salsa-inspired dancing originating from the Cape Flats) or watch an Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Then, discover your city’s underground water tunnels, guarded by gargoyles and tracked with fluorescent pink pebbles. Or join in on a treasure hunt for a magic ring on from Monday to Friday, the noon gun will signal when you can start looking for clues.

5 Because important to know your city
Statues and cannons will be given new meaning with gladwrap shells throughout the city, keep your eyes peeled. And on the station’s forecourt, artists, Mafutha Ink and Nolan Oswald will be ‘unpacking the politics of our bourgeois society’ with their piece, Gold Eggs: Sick Hens, by building two shacks, titled Egg White and Yolk.

6 The Jewel Boxes
Look out for the ‘Jewel Boxes’ the iridescent stages that will carry and display the various ‘jewels’—ranging from expressive dance performances to Indian sari-wrapping.  There’ll also be Xhosa stick fighting and drum majorettes and much, much more. You'll find them at the Grand Parade Market, the Golden Acre Foyer and

Do it. Now that you’re awake – commit. We know you’re busy and forgetful; you’re a Capetonian after all. But, be sure to make time in your week for this unique and engaging festival. Come see how Cape Town sparkles.

Follow @CapeTownMag for updates as well as @infectingthecit. 

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