It’s hard to not be a festival rat when you live in Cape Town. We’re often blessed with blissful temperatures in summer and have a melting pot of strong and diverse musical followings in the city. You can safely bet that a festival will be happening somewhere nearly every weekend around this time of year. From small trance gatherings to large-scale EDM productions to outdoor rock shows, there’s a festival for you in Cape Town this summer.

 

WOLFKOP WEEKENDER

Image: Bryce Barnard
Image: Bryce Barnard

An intimate festival located in the beautiful Wolfkop Nature Reserve in the Citrusdal Valley, this weekend-long party happens just before the beginning of Spring – the perfect precursor to a festival filled summer! Expect live electronic beats by the river, good food, beer and friendly people. Check out Wolfkop Weekender on Facebook.

 

ALIEN SAFARI: SPRUNG

Image: Aumega Photography
Image: Aumega Photography

Spring hasn’t begun until Sprung happens. This annual trance party is hosted by experienced festival organizers Alien Safari, who always amaze festival-goers with a lovely choice of venue, top selection of international psytrance artists and colourful psychedelic decor. Check out Sprung on Facebook.

 

ROCKING THE DAISIES

Image: Jonx Pillemer
Image: Jonx Pillemer

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, festival in Cape Town. Rocking the Daisies is an annual bonanza that encapsulates the Cape Town festival spirit perfectly. This year, a stellar line-up has been confirmed including The Kooks, The Cat Empire and Milky Chance. And that’s just the main stage! Check out Rocking the Daisies on Facebook.

 

DECEMBER VORTEX

Image: Courtesy
Image: Courtesy

My personal favourite trance party that often lasts longer than most, here you can get lost in the Vortex wonderland for over four days in the breathtaking, forested Circle of Dreams venue. Check out Vortex on Facebook.

 

SYNERGY LIVE

Image: Courtesy
Image: Courtesy

There has barely been a year when Synergy hasn’t brought down an impressive local act or three to grace the dam-side venue of Synergy Live at Theewaterskloof. It’s a festival with a little something for everybody – from the main stage with headline acts to the recent introduction of the Sirius floor. Check out Synergy Live on Facebook.

 

REZONANCE NYE

Image: Courtesy
Image: Courtesy

Possibly the biggest trance party in Cape Town, Rezonance is an annual pilgrimage for thousands of Capetonians to usher in the New Year. Check out Rezonance on Facebook.

 

ULTRA

Image: The Lot
Image: The Lot

A massive festival complete with some of the biggest names in EDM music. Ultra has a massive worldwide following and the Cape Town leg boasts the complete festival package, albeit not the overnight/camping type. Check out Ultra South Africa on Facebook.

 

RAMFEST

Image: Courtesy
Image: Courtesy

This one of the biggest events on the calendar for metal heads, with at least a few international acts gracing the stage on a yearly basis. Electronic music gets some love here too! Check out RamFest on Facebook.

 

LOVE & LIGHT

Image: Stu Shapiro
Image: Stu Shapiro

Lovers of techno and progressive trance make their way to Love & Light yearly without fail. Although technically not an overnight affair, this festivals pumps into the wee hours at the scenic Mountain Shadows venue outside Paarl. Check out Love & Light on Facebook.

 

FLAMJANGLED TEA PARTY

Image: Kyle Miljhof
Image: Kyle Miljhof

A quirky tea party-themed festival that is one of my favourites. One can get as eccentric as they want while jamming to a variety of beats ranging from Balkan gypsy folk to carney swing. Nobody is judging here. Check out the Flamjangled Tea Party on Facebook.

 

Featured Image Aumega Photography

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60 Comments
  • Martin Forsyth
    Martin Forsyth
    August 13, 2015 at 10:02 am

    Dumisa Lengwati

  • Kayleigh Wheeler
    Kayleigh Wheeler
    August 13, 2015 at 10:12 am

    Hannah-Jean Humphreys

  • Craig Stack
    Craig Stack
    August 13, 2015 at 10:27 am

    Major omission… Cape Town Electronic Music Festival (CTEMF)

  • Trevor Howard
    Trevor Howard
    August 13, 2015 at 10:28 am

    Wesley Mark Gouws

  • Isabella Sherman
    Isabella Sherman
    August 13, 2015 at 10:30 am

    Cannot wait for summer!!!

  • Dominic Irla
    Dominic Irla
    August 13, 2015 at 10:36 am

    Should have made it at least 15 or 20… There’s a lot of quality festivals missing from this list that deserve a mention. Origin Festival, Earthdance Cape Town, Cape Town Electronic Music Festival (CTEMF) to name a few.

  • Cécilia Cazal
    Cécilia Cazal
    August 13, 2015 at 10:45 am

    Elise Bouyer 🙂

  • Elise Bouyer
    Elise Bouyer
    August 13, 2015 at 10:47 am

    Ça va être intense !!!!! 😀

  • Cape Town Etc
    Cape Town Etc
    August 13, 2015 at 10:48 am

    Looks like we’ll need to attend some of these to find out more 😉

  • Devika Giga
    Devika Giga
    August 13, 2015 at 10:51 am

    Vikisha Giga

  • Vikisha Giga
    Vikisha Giga
    August 13, 2015 at 10:53 am

    @ Jéssica Narcy

  • Hannah-Jean Humphreys
    Hannah-Jean Humphreys
    August 13, 2015 at 10:55 am

    I’m seriously not missing one of them U0001f645U0001f3fb so ready for summer

  • Charmaine Gargan
    Charmaine Gargan
    August 13, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    me!! can’t wait!! good trance!! yes please 🙂

  • Jo Adams
    Jo Adams
    August 13, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    Dusty Rebels and the Bombshells – Rockabilly should be on this list too ;0

  • mariuswestraad
    mariuswestraad
    August 13, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    CapeTownEtc Hey guys, thanks for the info. Any idea on dates for love and light?

  • CapeTownEtc
    CapeTownEtc
    August 13, 2015 at 1:41 pm

    mariuswestraad Thanks! We haven’t seen anything about a date yet but heard it will be at Mountain Shadows again cc LoveandLightCT

  • mariuswestraad
    mariuswestraad
    August 13, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    CapeTownEtc LoveandLightCT Thanks. I will keep an eye on it!!

  • Madri Greyling
    Madri Greyling
    August 13, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    Marinus Greyling

  • Angie Floyd
    Angie Floyd
    August 13, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    Bonnie Floyd

  • Clifford Linton Lötter
    Clifford Linton Lötter
    August 13, 2015 at 7:47 pm

    Up the creek man come on

  • ababhishekshar1
    ababhishekshar1
    August 13, 2015 at 8:20 pm

    CapeTownEtc marisashaun
    Oh My God!!!! I Will Miss this Great Music Festival because I’M here in India…So, Sorry but I can Watch in YT.

  • Angie Booyens
    Angie Booyens
    August 13, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    Tamika Booyens

  • Sasha Runs
    Sasha Runs
    August 13, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    חיים אלה

  • Francesco Mariola
    Francesco Mariola
    August 13, 2015 at 9:46 pm

    Awesome CT 😉

  • Mark Engels
    Mark Engels
    August 13, 2015 at 10:15 pm

    Blake Thornycroft

  • Marie Bolish
    Marie Bolish
    August 13, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    Come on Summer

  • Janine Baum
    Janine Baum
    August 13, 2015 at 11:02 pm

    Jonathan Baum ??

  • Elizora Olivier
    Elizora Olivier
    August 13, 2015 at 11:43 pm

    http://electricvines.co.za not to be missed

  • Dionette Theron Pieterse
    Dionette Theron Pieterse
    August 14, 2015 at 6:12 am

    Dionysis Gold

  • Madalitso Sefu
    Madalitso Sefu
    August 14, 2015 at 7:07 am

    So over winter…ill go crazy happy over summer

  • Mary-Kate Hedding
    Mary-Kate Hedding
    August 14, 2015 at 7:19 am

    Stanton Hendriks

  • Jameelah Abrahams
    Jameelah Abrahams
    August 14, 2015 at 7:26 am

    MoeneebAbrahams you in this picture

  • Julia Travis
    Julia Travis
    August 14, 2015 at 7:46 am

    Maria Ross

  • Johann Adams
    Johann Adams
    August 14, 2015 at 7:59 am

    Another one Malibu summer splash in Paarl happening on the 16 dec.www. Malibusummersplash.co.za

  • Michaela Mylo
    Michaela Mylo
    August 14, 2015 at 9:45 am

    Aaron Rhode

  • Oli Rees
    Oli Rees
    August 14, 2015 at 10:13 am

    Nick Beal Sipho Gule-Davidson

  • Melissa Pathon
    Melissa Pathon
    August 14, 2015 at 10:24 am

    Sam Pugh

  • Mathew Elvin-Jensen
    Mathew Elvin-Jensen
    August 14, 2015 at 10:25 am

    Simon Teixeira… Must make your way down to Cape Town for the summer sometime 😉

  • Robyn Fritz
    Robyn Fritz
    August 14, 2015 at 12:21 pm

    Lyndall Radcliffe Moses festive buddy!!

  • Lou Claassen
    Lou Claassen
    August 14, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    Tumi Mothei

  • Lyndall Radcliffe Moses
    Lyndall Radcliffe Moses
    August 14, 2015 at 1:23 pm

    Nou weit jy Nou hoe!!!!

  • Monica Murray
    Monica Murray
    August 14, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    Meeeeee

  • Tyron Lloyd-Smith
    Tyron Lloyd-Smith
    August 14, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    Natalie AickenChloë DownesChloe HolmanDelilah MosesGrace Adams

  • Deolan Pillay
    Deolan Pillay
    August 14, 2015 at 3:14 pm

    Kivithra Naicker and Chandrika Naicker get amped!!

  • Juanita DuToit
    Juanita DuToit
    August 14, 2015 at 3:57 pm

    No-o-o-o.I am not ready for summer! Our dams are still too empty. We need more rain.

  • MyMoena Jaffer
    MyMoena Jaffer
    August 14, 2015 at 4:14 pm

    can’t wait for summer

  • Chandrika Naicker
    Chandrika Naicker
    August 14, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    Amped for days 🙂

  • Kenneth Molifi
    Kenneth Molifi
    August 14, 2015 at 4:36 pm

    I’m ready to go dere

  • Paul Ziegenhardt
    Paul Ziegenhardt
    August 14, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    Julia Hellmann

  • Natalie Aicken
    Natalie Aicken
    August 14, 2015 at 5:02 pm

    Yeeeea buddy

  • Grace Adams
    Grace Adams
    August 14, 2015 at 5:03 pm

    oi oiiii

  • Kivithra Naicker
    Kivithra Naicker
    August 14, 2015 at 5:51 pm

    Yessssssss!!!!!!! Xoxoxo

  • Edwin Romero Romero
    Edwin Romero Romero
    August 14, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    I am keen for all these festivals…

  • Natalie Aicken
    Natalie Aicken
    August 14, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    Lotti April Hawkins

  • Joshua Gordon
    Joshua Gordon
    August 14, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    Broc Werner

  • Jennie Greves
    Jennie Greves
    August 14, 2015 at 8:43 pm

    I can’t wait.

  • Delilah Moses
    Delilah Moses
    August 14, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    U0001f440

  • Madel Herbst
    Madel Herbst
    August 15, 2015 at 10:29 am

    Martin Coetzee

  • nigelforce
    nigelforce
    August 15, 2015 at 1:52 pm

    in_southafrica CapeTownEtc apparently they can be, cos I miss it all the time U0001f602U0001f602

  • in_southafrica
    in_southafrica
    August 15, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    nigelforce 🙂

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