How to celebrate Easter in Cape Town

Family fest, rooftop party, hot cross bun pairing and more

Last updated: Tuesday, 26 March 2024

There’s a hot cross bun and wine pairing, rooftop party with games, superhero family fest, weekend getaway in nature, chocolate making and tote painting workshop, free amazing race, family lunch and more. Whether you celebrate Easter traditions or not, it’s hard not to be joyful during this time of year (hello, extra long weekend!)

JOIN A FREE AMAZING RACE 

Hint Hunt is hosting a (free)  amazing race starting in the Watershed, where participants race around the V&A to collect clues. Sign up and registering can be done on the day at the ticket office, and there are prizes available such as tickets to Comic Con, HintHunt vouchers and more. 

Date: 10am to 2pm

Cost: Free entry

Watershed | 17 Dock Road | V&A Waterfront | @hinthuntafrica | Image: V&A Waterfront

FAMILY LUNCH AT A NEW HIDDEN GEM 

Palm House, a new luxury boutique hotel in the southern suburbs, is hosting a family lunch on Easter Sunday. There’s a set menu at the stunning La Carte Restaurant where the executive chef is Gerard van Staden (known for Urchin at Hyatt Regency Hotel). Sit outside and enjoy the greenery of the garden while kids can take part in an Easter egg hunt. 

Date: 31 March

Cost: R900 per person, book via email at reception@palmhouse.co.za

10 Oxford Street | Wynberg | @palmhousehotel | Image: Palm House

EXPLORE THE V&A WATERFRONT 

Chocolate Easter egg hunts, meet the Easter Bunny, Easter-themed face painting… Plus there’s a record and vinyl fair with over 6 000 records and memorabilia, kids market with gifts and gadgets, and free live performances. See what you can get up to over Easter weekend at the V&A Waterfront.

Date: 29 March - 31 March 2024

Cost: Varies

V&A Waterfront | 021 408 7600 | Website | @vandawaterfront

ATTEND AN EASTER FESTIVAL

The Nekkies Easter Music Festival has food stalls, wine, beer and gin bars, an amusement park with rides and a soft play area for kids. For the main event, there’s live music by local performers like Early B, Micasa, Emo Adams, Judy Boucher, Jarrad Ricketts and more. 

Date: 29 March - 1 April; 3pm onwards

Cost: Day passes and weekend passes from R20 - R120, book via Webtickets

Nekkies Holiday Resort | Worcester | Facebook

CHANNEL YOUR INNER SUPERHERO 

Dress as your favourite superhero for this family festival. It’s a packed day with activities like amusement rides, kids face painting, jumping castles, crafts, a Nerf Gun battle area, food stalls and a market. While the kids play, parents can relax in the gaming lounge at the Superhero Family Festival. 

Date: Saturday, 30 March; 11.30am to 7pm

Cost: R100 for adults, R60 for kids, book via Quicket

Sunningdale Sports Complex | 12 Waterville Street | Milnerton | @superherofamilyfestival24

 

HAVE A FRIENDS DAY OUT ON A ROOFTOP

Make the most of a long weekend and go to Cape Palooza: A day filled with games, live music, food and more. Get some ink at the tattoo station or take a dip in the rooftop pool. And for music you can expect genres like afro-house, hip-hop, RNB, afro-beats and funky reggae. 

Date: Saturday, 30 March; 1pm to 10pm

Cost: R80, book via Quicket

Twinell Rooftop | 113 Loop Street | City Centre | @untameduth_ | Image: Untamed Authority

PAINT TOTE BAGS ON GOOD FRIDAY 

No prior experience is needed at this class. Guides teach you step-by-step how to paint your own tote bag. Over the three-hour art social, all required materials and aprons are provided (it is recommended to wear something you don’t mind getting paint on). Food and drinks from the restaurant are also available. 

Date: 29 March; 12pm to 3pm

Cost: R600, book via Quicket

The Yard | Silo District | V&A Waterfront | @studio.artwave | Image: Studio Artwave

TASTE WINE AND PET ALPACAS

Spend a day out in the winelands where parents can enjoy a wine and hot cross bun pairing (three wines and three hot cross bun flavours), while kids play at the alpaca loom and taste hot cross bun ice cream at Vrede en Lust Wine Estate.

Date: 30 March - 1 April; 10am to 4pm

Cost: TBC, book via the website

Intersection R45 & Klapmuts Road | Simondium | @vredeenlust | Image: Vrede en Lust

SPEND A LONG WEEKEND IN NATURE 

Reforest Fest is an annual feel-good getaway with no shortage of activities. There’s tree planting, upcycling, arts and crafts, theatre, games, and music performances by Jeremy Loops, Nomadic Orchestra and more. For accommodation, you can pitch your own tent or join the Tented Village with luxury-fitted bell tents. 

Date: 29 March - 1 April; 12pm onwards

Cost: R370 for kids, R880 for adults (accommodation from R200), book via Quicket

Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat | R43 Grootbos Road | Stanford | @greenpopsa | Image: Christian Khayo

MAKE YOUR OWN CHOCOLATE

Just in time for Easter weekend, you can give someone special handmade bonbons. Local brand Honest Chocolate hosts monthly chocolate making workshops, beginning with an introduction about cacao farming and how a chocolate bar is made. Guides will teach you how to dip, decorate and wrap up your own bonbon set. 

Date: Saturday, 30 March; 10am to 12pm

Cost: R450, book via Quicket

Honest Chocolate Factory | 7 Barron Street | Woodstock | @honestchocolate | Image: Honest Chocolate

GO TO A FAMILY COLOUR DAY

The Family Picnic with Colour is coming to Cape Town, where guests wear all white and colour powder is released into the air. It’s a day filled with fun from the foam pit machine to the jumping castles, train ride, stilt walkers, bull riding, go-karting and more.  

Date: Saturday, 30 March, 10am to 6pm

Cost: R150 for adults, R170 for kids, book via Webtickets

Wynberg Sports Club | Rosmead Avenue | incrediblefamilies.sa@gmail.com | Image: Unsplash

WATCH A MUSICAL PRODUCTION

This Easter, Good Hope Christian Centre is producing a weekend of entertainment that tells the Easter story from The Bible. The Promise is an immersive evening from world-renowned director Richard Montez where the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ will be portrayed. 

Date: 29 - 31 March, 7.30pm

Cost: R70 General, R100 VIP, book via Webtickets

Corner of Plantation Road and Panton Road | Ottery | Cape Town | @goodhopechristiancentre | Image: Good Hope Christian Centre

By Sarah Williams  

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