Cape Town Events October 2010

Spring is starting to show its real colours and everybody is feeling rejuvenated after the winter months.

Activities vary and you'll notice all types of outdoor festivals are happening all around the Western Cape.

Here are a selection of some of these activities.

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Chelsea Flower Show Exhibit at Kirstenbosch

When:  02 Oct 2010 to 10 Oct 2010

Where: Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Town

Cost: Entry fees: R37 per adult. Children 6 to 17 years R10, students with valid student card: R20, Free entry to pensioners every Tuesday. The exhibit entry fee is an additional R10 per person.

More information: Kirstenbosch information desk at 021 799 8783 / 021 799 8773

Visitors to Kirstenbosch will delight in being able to view the re-created, award-winning 2010 Kirstenbosch–SA Chelsea Flower Show exhibit. Titled "Bio[logical] diversity is the variety of life" it shows plants that represent several of the different vegetation types comprising the nine biomes of South Africa. This spectacular display will be housed on the Marquee Lawn just below the Kirstenbosch Tea Room.

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Breedekloof Outdoor Festival

When:  Friday October 8 to Sunday October 10

Where: Breede River Valley

Cost:  Buy your festival pass for only R40 at the first cellar you visit. The pass will be valid for the weekend and gives you access to the festival and free wine tastings at the cellars.

More information:  www.breedekloof.com/outdoor

This fun-filled weekend will include events hosted at the wineries in the Rawsonville, Slanghoek, Goudini and Breede River areas, just one-hour drive from Cape Town. Besides being able to sip award winning wines, activities include live music, food and wine pairing, quad-biking, mountain-biking and fynbos hikes, as well as a tagged fishing contest and trail run. Taste buds will be tantalised with a range of delights from Oysters to potjiekos, sushi and a skaapkop dinner.

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Cape Town International Boat Show

When: 08 Oct 2010 to 10 Oct 2010

Where: Cape Town International Convention Centre and the V&A Waterfront

Cost: Adults R60 - kids + scholars free if accompanied by an adult.
Ticket prices include transport between the venues and entry to all Boat Show related events.

More information:  www.boatshow.co.za

The Cape Town Boat Show is not only South Africa’s longest running boat show, but also the largest dedicated boat show with the widest and biggest diversity of exotic boats and boating related products on display. It is already an established and well known fact amongst the industry that The Cape Town Boat Show attracts more overseas visitors than the other boat shows in South Africa put together.

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Robertson Wine on the River

When:  15 Oct 2010 to 17 Oct 2010

Where: Robertson

Cost: Ticket prices start from R90 and includes the following:

* tasting glass * goodie-bag * all wine tasting * access to tutored tastings (first-come-first-serve) * shuttle rides between parking and festival site * free shuttle service between towns and festival area

CHILDREN under 18 enter the festival area free of charge.

More information: www.wineonriver.com

The Robertson Wine on the River takes place at the Goudmyn Farm on the banks of the Breede River. 45 wineries from Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and Robertson showcase more than 300 wines for you to taste in a central location. Although the focus is on the tasting of wine, you will also be able to sample olives, cheeses, olive oils and other regional produce.

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Spring it On Constantia

When:  15 Oct 2010 to 24 Oct 2010

Where: Constantia Wine Valley

Cost: Dependent on activities chosen.

More information: www.spring-it-on-constantia.com

The Constantia Valley Association invites you to the Constantia Valley where you will enjoy warm hospitality, fine wines, heavenly food and a lot of fun. "Spring it On" Constantia is the perfect way to shake off those winter blues and ready yourself for the coming summer season. The wineries making up the Constantia Wine Route will each be hosting various activities, including tastings, fun runs, food and wine pairings, barrel making demonstrations and much more.

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Helderberg Wine Festival

When:  15 Oct 2010 to 24 Oct 2010

Where: Helderberg Wine Region

Cost: Dependent on activities chosen.

More information: http://helderbergwinefestival.co.za

Thirty wineries from Stellenbosch and Somerset West have joined forces to offer the third Helderberg Wine Festival. The festival is a self-drive festival which takes place on all the participating wineries with each winery hosting their own programme of events. There are 4 big events aimed at drawing the crowds and they are:

Os-Innie-Bos at Annandale Winery - Friday, 22 October

Enjoy a spit braai, with accompanying salads, veggies, breads and dessert whilst chatting to friends, dancing and just chilling out with a glass or two of fine Helderberg Wines.

Mountain Bike Fun Ride at Lourensford - Saturday, 23 October

Choose the 10km or 30km option when booking, depending on your fitness level.

Volksies & Vere at Vergenoegd - Saturday, 23 October

We’re inviting all Volkswagen Beetle Owners to bring it along to Vergenoegd Estate and participate in the biggest Volksie expo in the Cape!

The Foot of the Helderberg Big Walk at Eikendal - Sunday, 25 October

Both 5km and 10km routes are through beautiful private vineyards at the foot of the Helderberg.

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Kamersvol Geskenke

When:  27 - 31 October 2010

Where: Lourensford Wine Estate

Cost: Entry R40, Pensioners and students R35, Children free.

More information: www.kamersvol.com

Kamersvol Geskenke is a five day long inspirational and extraordinary happening of exclusive hand made products with stalls selling exotic deli foods and designers creating beautiful spaces. It is a celebration of creative living and offers the public rooms filled with gifts, innovative concepts and creative stimulation.

The success of Kamers speaks for itself. In seven years of time this festival has grown from 40 suppliers and 400 visitors in 2003 to 11 000 visitors and 150 suppliers in 2009.

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Elgin Open Gardens

When:  30 - 31 Oct 2010 and 6 - 7 Nov (10:00 -17:00)

Where: 20 gardens in Elgin, Bot River and Vyeboom

Cost:  Fees depend on the garden. Either free entry, or from R10 - R20 per person.

More information: www.elginopengardens.co.za where a leaflet with full details and a map can be downloaded.

Twenty gardens are open in the Elgin, Bot River and Vyeboom areas. These range from established parklike gardens to smallscale gardens rich in detail; from sundrenched gardens to shady woodland ones; to ones created by designers to those created and maintained by their owners over decades. Many gardens offer teas or light meals, and gardens suitable for disabled access are marked on the leaflet which is available at all major nurseries. Other events over the two weekends include art exhibitions, wine tastings at the local wine estates (many not normally open to the public), greenhouse tours and an antiques roadshow.