Heritage Day is almost here, and while there is nothing wrong with firing up the braai, Cape Town has plenty of other ways to celebrate the country’s diverse cultures, food, music and stories.
From live music and traditional dress to art, astronomy and rock, here are seven ways to spend Thursday, September 24.
Mojo Heritage Day Street Fest
Venue: Mojo Market and Regent Road, Sea Point
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: 2pm to midnight
Tickets: From R200
Regent Road will turn into a South African street party featuring 16 live bands, DJs and artists across genres including Afro-soul, jazz, rock, hip-hop and amapiano.
The lineup includes Bongeziwe Mabandla, Jack Parow, Dwson, Kujenga and the Congo Cowboys, with food stalls, bars and plenty of dancing.
SAFRA Heritage Gala: The Free Reed Sounds of Mzansi
Venue: Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium, Parow
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: 3pm to 5pm
Tickets: R175
Explore South Africa’s free-reed musical traditions through accordion, concertina and harmonica performances. The programme moves across classical music, boeremusiek, maskandi, famo, South African pop and more, with performances and cultural demonstrations throughout the afternoon.
Heritage Day Braai at Jack@SKYE
Venue: Jack@SKYE Rooftop Bar, Sea Point
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: From noon
Price: R395 per person
If you cannot quite give up the braai, do it with a view. Jack@SKYE is serving a Heritage Day menu featuring braai-grilled lamb cutlets, Malay chicken, Saldanha Bay oysters, and malva pudding, with a vegetarian option available on request.
An evening with Mfazwe ya Mwezi
Venue: Novel Wine Bar, Salt River
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: 2pm to 8pm
Tickets: From R120
Spend the afternoon and evening celebrating heritage through music, storytelling, culture and community. Guests can expect live music, traditional attire and a programme centred on sound, story and ritual.
Explore Cape Town’s scientific heritage at SAAO
Venue: South African Astronomical Observatory, Observatory
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: 1pm to 3pm
Admission: Free, booking essential
Take a guided tour through one of Cape Town’s historic scientific institutions, including the main building, Photoheliograph, and McClean Museum. Weather permitting, the tour will also include sun gazing.
Spend Heritage Day at Zeitz MOCAA
Venue: Zeitz MOCAA, Silo District, V&A Waterfront
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: 10am to 6pm
Admission: Free
Zeitz MOCAA is opening its doors for free throughout Heritage Day, with exhibition and architecture tours, creative workshops, and live performances planned. You can also grab something to eat at Makers Landing while exploring the museum.
Get loud at Glastonfurry 2026
Venue: Woodstock Brewery
Date: Thursday, September 24
Time: Market from 11am; bands from 4pm
Tickets: R250 online, R300 at the door
For something completely different, head to the seventh edition of Glastonfurry for a day of psych-rock and metal. The lineup includes BEAST, ToughGuy, Constellatia, Sabretooth and Cape Riot, with food, beer and local vendors on site. All proceeds go to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA.
Whatever your version of Heritage Day looks like, Cape Town has plenty of ways to celebrate. Pick your plans, gather your people and make the public holiday count.
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