Mark your diaries – the Cape Town Carnival will bring a vibrant dose of Afr’energy to the heart of the Mother City on 18 March 2023
Also read: Watch Mandisi Dyantyis live this Friday for free at Silo Concerts
A variety of participating community groups and performers will celebrate South African culture and creativity as the parade makes its way down Green Point’s Somerset Road, while locals and visitors will be able to join in the festivities from the sidelines.
The Cape Town Carnival will be returning to its classic parade format for the 2023 event. The Fan Walk side of the road will be closed to vehicle traffic in the afternoon so that spectators can safely enjoy pre-event activities, and the main parade kicking off at 7pm.
There is no cost to enjoy the event, although paid-for seats will be available for those who would prefer to sit and watch the spectacle.
Forty-eight community groups from across the Western Cape will participate in the parade, showcasing their individual talents but all reflecting the 2023 theme of “Afr’enegy”. They include Cape Town Carnival favourites such as the Western Province Marching Band and the Eaon Crew, as well as 13 new community groups. A total of 1,600 performers will take part in the event.
Cape Town Carnival Board Chair, Professor Rachel Jafta, said, “South Africans, like the rest of the world, are facing several challenges. As individuals we must summon our courage, dare to dream of a better world, work with our community of support, and build the world we want to live in; the alternative is disempowering and miserable.”
Cape Town Carnival CEO Jay Douwes said, “We can build a better world and have fun doing it. We experience this in the participating communities of the Cape Town Carnival. This is the powerful Afr’energy of Capetonians and South Africans and we want to celebrate it, as we creatively renew our collective strength to move forward.”
This will be the 12th edition of the Cape Town Carnival, which has become an iconic free annual event in the city that showcases diverse South African cultures, dance genres, art, and creativity. And although the parade is the showpiece, the impact of the Cape Town Carnival reaches far beyond this event, with job creation, skills development, and community participation a focus throughout the year.
Tickets for seats will go on sale in December. The parade can also be enjoyed for free from various points along the Fan Walk. For more information see capetowncarnival.com
Also read:
The president remains silent on declaring 27 December a public holiday
Picture: Supplied