From ballet to comedy and poetry we’ve got you covered with all the hip and happening lifestyle and arts events going on across South Arica this August.
Arts

Kings and Queens of Comedy
9 August | Johannesburg
South Africa’s Women’s Day celebrations culminate in this hilarious comedy spectacle at Emperors Palace’s Centre Court as Tumi Morake hosts an entourage of local comedy giants.
Book your spot, and enjoy the comedy musings of Angel Campey, Annalakshmi, Celeste Ntuli, Kate Pinchuck, Lindy Johnson, Nina Hastie, Thenjiwe Moseleym and Tracey-Lee Oliver, with a special guest appearance by Marc Lottering.
Stomp
13 August | Johannesburg
The global smash hit stomps its way to South African theatres, stopping first at Montecasino, bringing its clapping, slapping percussive madness with it.
It is a show like no other, with talented dancers using anything from brooms to barrels to beat out a musical conversation.
#HETWO
18 August | Johannesburg
Evita Bezuidenhout is a South African comedy institution – as is Pieter-Dirk Uys, the comedy legend behind her success.
Uys and his alter ego appear on stage together for the first time in this one-man (or two-person?) show at Montecasino.
Sleeping Beauty
22-31 August | Cape Town
Cape Town City Ballet’s winter warmer brings a handful of international guest artists (including Vadim Muntagirov and Sarah Lamb, principal dancers of the Royal Ballet) for a restaging of Tchaikovsky’s beautiful ballet.
The production is staged by South African ballet legend Denise Schultze Godfrey, so you know it is going to be a delight.
The Old Man And The Sea
24 August | Cape Town
Repertory group Contagious Theatre presents an eye-catching adaptation of this Hemingway classic at District Six’s fabled Fugard Theatre, using imaginative twists like masks, physical performance, a chorus, and an innovative set to bring the tale to life.
Lifestyle
Klein Karoo Klassique
8-11 August | Oudtshoorn
For a supposedly quiet Karoo town, Oudtshoorn sure has a lot going on.
This August, the venue of the ever-popular KKNK hosts a festival of classical music, local art, and regional wine and cuisine.
You will meet potters, painters, visual artists, and foodies – all with the sounds of cello, piano, and string quartets blissfully humming in the background.

Poetry In McGregor
23-25 August | McGregor
The sleepy Breede River village of McGregor shakes awake with this popular poetry festival, which sees about 200 poets – and a few open-mic hopefuls – gathering to share their art.
This year, as the festival celebrates its seventh year, the theme is a haunting The Heart of the Moon.
Proe’toria
30-31 August | Pretoria
Pretoria’s National Botanical Gardens play host to the fourth edition of this annual outdoor festival, which blends food, drink, crafts, and music.
The emphasis this year is on the food and drinks (you’ll want to visit the market and try the craft gin and beer), but the music – featuring local artists Dewald Wasserfall, Roan Ash, Demi Lee Moore, and others – alone is worth the trip.

Stonehaven Spring Beer Festival
31 August | Johannesburg
Join thousands of festivalgoers in bidding winter goodbye at this fun annual event on the banks of the Vaal River, just outside Vanderbijlpark.
This year’s edition – the 21st – promises food, music (including The Parlotones and Fokofpolisiekar), beer (of course), and an epic rubber duck race down the river.
Look out for more events taking place this August.