Experience a vibrant week of music, culture, and sport in Cape Town

Cape Town is heading into another busy week, with major cultural, music and sporting events scheduled across the Mother City, including a Day of Reconciliation concert in the CBD, the return of the Stormers and a celebration of queer culture.

Unity on the Square will host its fifth outdoor music concert and cultural event at Greenmarket Square on Tuesday, December 16, in commemoration of the Day of Reconciliation.

The City of Cape Town will continue its partnership with the event, under the stewardship of Loukmaan Adams, for a fifth consecutive year.

This year’s concert will bring together more than 15 artists and entertainers for a six-hour showcase of music, creativity and unity. The line-up includes Mafikizolo, Emo Adams, Alistair Izobell, Robin Pieters, Black Ties, Fagrie Isaacs, Don Vino, Salome, Mujahid George and more, with emerging local artists also performing alongside established names.

“The City of Cape Town has been proud to support Unity on the Square for the last four editions, as a platform that not only provides a stage for local entertainers and entrepreneurs to make a living, but also plays a role in promoting unity. Since 2021, Unity on the Square has been on the rise and proving to be a must attend event in commemoration of the Day of Reconciliation. This year is even more special with the celebration of Loukmaan Adams’s contribution to the arts, and the City of Cape Town is thrilled to join thousands in honouring a Cape Town icon who has entertained us for over 40 years,” said the City’s Mayco member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Unity on the Square will run from 4:00pm to 10:00pm, with gates opening at 3:00pm. Tickets are available via Quicket.

Residents and motorists are advised that the following roads will be closed from 6:00am on 16 December until 12:00am on December 17:

• Burg Street, between Hout and Wale streets
• Longmarket Street, between Long and Adderley streets
• Church Street, between Long and Adderley streets
• Shortmarket Street, between Adderley and Long streets

Later in the week, the Stormers return to DHL Stadium for the first time since early October for a South African derby against the Lions in the United Rugby Championship.

The unbeaten Stormers will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the URC log in front of an expected 42 000 people.

Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30pm, with gates opening at 1:30pm. A free MyCiTi shuttle service will operate for ticket holders from 1:00pm, with buses running from the Civic Centre, CTICC and Thibault stations every 15 minutes or when full. The last bus after the match will depart the Stadium Station at 7:30pm.

“It is festive time, a lot of people are on the roads to get to shopping, beaches and other places of entertainment. This means congested roads and therefore we urge spectators to travel early and make use of the free MyCiTi shuttle to avoid being caught in the rush. The bus shuttle has a dedicated fast lane that will get you to the game in no time. We call on the Faithful to come in their numbers to welcome the Stormers back to the Mother City and ensure they close the year stronger,” said Smith.

Parking areas for ticket holders will open from 12:30pm, with bays accessible from Hertzog Boulevard incoming and Civic Road available on a first-come, first-served basis. Paid parking is available at the CTICC, Parkalot on Jack Craig Street and Harbour Arch, while off-street parking in the CBD is free from 1:00pm on Saturdays.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

Rounding off the week is TropicalDisko, a 12-hour celebration of queer culture, music and performance, taking place on Saturday, December 20, from 11:00am to 11:00pm.

Hosted at Cape Town High School in Gardens, the festival will feature performances by Tara Dey, 3Divas, German DJ Giz, Queezy and others, offering a mix of tropical house, Amapiano and electronic music in an immersive setting that reaffirms Cape Town as an LGBTQIA+ friendly destination.

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Cape Argus