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WowZA! The Cape Town Carnival is back!

Dust off your feather boas: the Cape Town Carnival returns to the streets of Green Point in March!

Richard Holmes
Written by
Richard Holmes
Local expert, Cape Town
Cape Town Carnival
Photograph: Cape Town Carnival
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After the roaring success of 2024's 'Lekker' edition, the Cape Town Carnival will return to the Green Point Fan Walk on Saturday, March 15, 2025, with a burst of creativity around the theme 'WowZA'.

This year's Carnival marks 15 years of celebrating the culture and creativity of the people of Cape Town and will feature more than 1500 performers across 50 groups and troupes, who will transform the Fan Walk into a riot of colour and fun.

Expect eye-catching floats, vibrant music, and high-energy performances that celebrate the heart, spirit, and spirits of Cape Town. Alongside amateur performers, this year's Cape Town Carnival will also welcome a few very special guests!

Erika Januza, the Rio Carnival's Queen of the Drums, travels all the way from Brazil to bring her international samba flair to the Mother City, while the DHL Stormers will appear for the first time, 'Taking the Cape by Storm' on their own dedicated float.

Idols winner and South African singing sensation Paxton Fielies brings all the feels and incredible energy to the Carnival, as local hip-hop star YoungstaCPT adds a dose of rhythm and street culture. You can also look forward to more tunes from Bravo le Roux, The Drag Cartel, and the Cape Town Youth Choir.

Along with this world-class entertainment, the best thing about the Cape Town Carnival is that it is entirely free! Free! Mahala!

Locals and tourists can soak up the festivities without spending a cent, as roadside standing areas are open to all on a first-come-first-served basis. But if you want to be sure of a good view and don't mind paying for it, there are limited VIP paid seating options available via Quicket. These range from R350 for a seat atop the City Sightseeing Red Bus to R2,145 for an exclusive viewing platform with food and drinks included.

The Carnival pre-parade starts on the corner of Main Road and Granger Bay Boulevard, opposite the circle, at 6 pm, with the main parade setting off at 7 pm sharp. The parade ends at the corner of Somerset Road and Chiappini Street. There are also two Carnival villages close to the route, with food, drinks, and festivities on offer throughout the afternoon.

Want a taste of what's in store? Watch the teaser video over here!

Events Guide: Stay in the loop with all the best events in Cape Town .

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