The Festive Spirit in Cape Town's Northern Suburbs

South Africans are both proud and happy to know that Cape Town is their Mother City. This beloved city is enjoyed by residents, local holidaymakers, and international tourists all-year-round. The beautiful weather, exceptional natural beauty, attention-grabbing attractions, and turquoise beaches make Cape Town the ultimate destination to spend the December holiday and celebrate festivities.

During the Festive Season, Cape Town is bright, sunny, cheerful, and celebratory. Freshly-baked mince pies line the entrance of supermarkets, glowing Christmas trees stand proudly in the homes of residents and around public spaces, and holidaymakers are making the most of all the city has to offer.

"Tourism in this city is always a step ahead of the rest of the country. People from all over the country and world want front row seats to the Cape Town experience where they are immersed in unique attractions, leisure activities, and get to learn more about the city's incredible history, says Erna Sciocatti, a homeowner in Brackenfell and principal of RED Properties.

She explains, "latest statistics show international tourism numbers are up in the city by 1.5% over the past year - with the popular regions being the United States of America, United Kingdom and India. This is great news for Cape Town as it is bucking the trend of declining national tourism numbers which show an overall 10% year-on-year decline."

"And of course residents from around the country simply love Cape Town and it is their "go-to" destination not only to enjoy the festive season, but to celebrate milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries and other accomplishments."

The Northern Suburbs, which is only 45 minutes from the city, is always a tourist hot-spot with people flocking here to enjoy the award-winning wines, exceptional food, fun bike and hiking trails, and general scenic calmness of the region.

For Erna, Durbanville and Brackenfell, in particular, come alive with the festive spirit and residents welcome visitors with open arms and a friendly smile.

"After all, why keep these beautiful suburbs a secret?"

"When people think about Durbanville and Brackenfell, one thing comes to mind, and that is the vine-carpeted valleys and rich terrier that produce award-winning wines. But there's so much more to experience here that give these suburbs a cool urban edge, such as trendy bars, world-class restaurants, vibey entertainment, and excellent art galleries," she enthusiastically explains.

So when the time comes to celebrate the festive season in this part of the world, Erna says

there's so much to see and do for people who want an authentic experience of the Northern Suburbs.

Brackenfell

Brackenfell has dramatic mountain views of the Oostenberg and is the starting point of rural winelands that extend into the well-established wine routes in Durbanville, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek and Pneil.

Festivities in 2019

Music events

The highlight for the festive season is Jo Black and Band Live at the Jamrock Theatre

Christmas Day

If a hearty Christmas lunch is on the menu, The Vinelands on Alpha Guesthouse is hosting a Christmas buffet lunch where you can dig into dishes such as roast leg of lamb and baked cheesecake. For those who want to celebrate the day in a less traditional way, the UltraNoize & TranceMission - 8TH Annual Psychedelic Xmas Special is where most young adults will be heading.

Durbanville

The tranquil Durbanville is home to the Durbanville WIne Route where visitors can hop through 13 wine estates unique to the suburb. There are loads of attractions here that make it one of the best places to spend the festive season. You can get your picture taken at the Cape Town Ostrich Ranch, on the back of an Ostrich; sip on the suburb's award-winning Sauvignon Blanc; visit the local craft market in Rust-en-Vrede; and enjoy a picnic at the beautiful Durbanville nature reserve.

Festivities in 2019

Music events

Durbanville is welcoming the festive season with music, music and more music. Die Boer venue is hosting the majority of musicians this December - starting off with Leah, and Franja du Plessis and Ruan Josh. This is followed by Demi Lee Moore, Ruhan du Toit, Anna Wolf, Elandre, Jesse Clegg, Nianell, Brendan Peyper, Dewald Wasserfall, and bring in the new year with Refentse en Band.

Another music event to look out for is Juanita du Plessis at the Barnyard Theatre Tygervalley.

Christmas Day

For a delicious Christmas Day Lunch, the Italian Club of Cape Town is the place to be for a 4-course Italian menu. Guests can indulge in a choice of dishes such as lasagne, tagliatelle, over-baked chicken and a dessert buffet.

Whether you're a resident or tourist, the Northern Suburbs is the place to be this year-end. With plenty to do, see, and celebrate, it is sure to be a memorable experience as we close off 2019 and head into the new year.