Every year, the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts draw in thousands of residents keen to spend the day dancing away to their favourite local musicians.
This will not be the case this year, as the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) has officially cancelled all concerts in its national botanical gardens for this coming summer and the following winter. These gardens include Kirstenbosch and Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens.
In a statement, SANBI explains that the yearly concert series is impossible to continue as usual, due to the current COVID-19 regulations.
“The current COVID-19 regulations and uncertainty around the regulations going forward over the coming months make it impossible for us to plan a concert series”, says Craig Allenby, SANBI’s Director of Marketing and Commercialisation. “Visitor safety is our top priority and under the circumstances, our concert model of large visitor numbers and affordable ticket prices will not be sensible in the near future.”
The iconic Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts in association with Old Mutual, which started 28 years ago, have become synonymous with the Cape Town lifestyle; enjoying a relaxed picnic with family and friends on the slopes of Table Mountain while listening to some of the best music South Africa has to offer.
“It is hard to imagine a quiet garden on Sunday afternoons this summer,” says Sarah Struys, Events and Tourism Manager at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, “But we hope that our visitors will continue to enjoy our national botanical gardens and the smaller events we are planning over the coming months.”
Echoing those sentiments, Thobile Tshabalala, Head of Brand at Old Mutual stated, “These are uncertain times but the things that matter seldom change, so it’s the safety and wellbeing of our customers, employees, guests and visitors to the gardens that is of utmost importance. We understand and are supportive of the decision made by SANBI and our associated partners and can only look forward to enabling a positive and enjoyable future or us all.”
Ticket holders of Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts from last season that were to be rescheduled this summer will be refunded through Webtickets.
To get a refund, simply log into your Webtickets profile, click on My Tickets and click on “choose action” and “refund tickets” next to your transaction. If you paid via Pick n Pay or EFT, you will be prompted to enter your banking details and will receive a confirmation email. Refunds will be processed and paid within 5 working days.
Refund Customer support: [email protected]
Picture: SANBI