Need an excuse to hit the road this weekend? South Africa’s event calendar is making a pretty convincing case.
Gallo Images/Misha Jordaan
Western Cape
Hermanus Whale Festival
📅 2–4 October
📍 Hermanus
The Hermanus Whale Festival returns for another weekend celebrating the southern right whales that visit the Cape Whale Coast. The eco-marine festival combines whale watching and conservation activities with an Eco-Marine Village, arts and crafts, family entertainment and live performances. Several additional events take place as part of the festival programme, including the 10km Whale Festival Fun Run and Whales & Wheels Classic Car Show on Saturday.
Whales & Wheels Classic Car Show
📅 3 October
📍 Sandbaai, Hermanus
Part of the Hermanus Whale Festival, Whales & Wheels brings classic and vintage vehicles together at Sandbaai Hall on Saturday. It is a good excuse for motoring enthusiasts to combine a car show with a weekend on the Cape Whale Coast.
Whale Festival 10km Fun Run
📅 3 October
📍 Hermanus
Lace up for the 10km Whale Festival Fun Run on Saturday as part of the Hermanus weekend programme.
Franschhoek Classic Car Festival
📅 3–4 October
📍 Huguenot Monument, Franschhoek
Classic motoring takes centre stage in Franschhoek as the Classic Car Festival returns with a selection of collector vehicles and displays celebrating motoring history. The 2026 programme includes Volkswagen’s 75-year history, a Mercedes-Benz centenary display, Land Rover Series and Defender vehicles, modern sports cars and a Formula One 75-year tribute.
Boland Summer Festival
📅 2–4 October
📍 Daljosaphat Stadium, Paarl
Paarl welcomes spring with three days of entertainment, food, shopping and family activities. The festival includes more than 180 vendor stalls, a Show N Shine display, carnival rides and a tea garden.
Mossel Bay Sports Festival 15km
📅 3 October
📍 Mossel Bay
Runners can take part in the 15km Mossel Bay Sports Festival race on Saturday. The event forms part of a busy sporting weekend in the Garden Route.
Eastern Cape
Tsitsikamma Adventure Fest
📅 2–4 October
📍 Storms River
Adventure lovers have a full weekend ahead at the Tsitsikamma Adventure Fest. The programme includes trail running, mountain biking, the Draadkar Grand Prix, environmental activities, markets, art, live entertainment and family activities. Friday launches the festival, with the main racing and street activities taking place on Saturday before MTB and e-bike events continue on Sunday.
Komani Half Marathon
📅 3 October
📍 Queenstown/Komani
The Komani Half Marathon takes place on Saturday, starting at Dicla Agricultural Farm. The race gets underway early, making it a chance to see more of the Eastern Cape countryside before the day heats up.
O.R. Tambo Marathon
📅 4 October
📍 Mthatha
The O.R. Tambo Marathon takes place on Sunday from Walter Sisulu University. The event forms part of the province’s road-running calendar and commemorates the legacy of former ANC president Oliver Reginald Tambo.
Gauteng
Red Bull Box Cart Race
📅 4 October
📍 Sandton, Johannesburg
Forget horsepower. This race relies on gravity, creativity and homemade engineering. The Red Bull Box Cart Race takes place on Sandton Drive on Sunday, with teams sending their imaginative carts hurtling downhill while putting on a show for spectators.
Soweto Ubuntu Festival
📅 3 October
📍 Pimville Zone 3 Soccer Ground, Soweto
The Soweto Ubuntu Festival brings music, community and cultural entertainment to Pimville on Saturday. The event is scheduled to run from 10:00.
Supa Store Soweto Run
📅 3 October
📍 Elkah Stadium, Soweto
Runners can choose between 5km and 8km routes at the Supa Store Soweto Run on Saturday. The event starts at Elkah Stadium.
BHACA Heritage Dance Festival
📅 3 October
📍 Krugersdorp
Traditional dance takes centre stage at the annual BHACA Heritage Dance Festival in Krugersdorp on Saturday. The event celebrates South African cultural heritage through performance.
Parkhurst Village Fair
📅 3 October
📍 Verity Park, Johannesburg
The Parkhurst Village Fair brings a community-market atmosphere to Verity Park on Saturday, making it an easy option for a local day out.
KwaZulu-Natal
ICON Durban
📅 3–4 October
📍 Westville Girls’ High School, Westville
Tabletop gaming takes over Westville for the weekend at ICON Durban. Expect Dungeons & Dragons, trading-card games, board games, miniature painting, workshops, escape rooms and VR. The convention runs from 09:00 to 17:00 on Saturday and 09:00 to 16:00 on Sunday.
Mpumalanga
Sabie Cycle Tour
📅 2–4 October
📍 Sabie
Cyclists face three days of riding through some of Mpumalanga’s best-known mountain scenery during the Sabie Cycle Tour. The 2026 route covers approximately 364km and includes Sabie, Graskop, Pilgrim’s Rest, Lydenburg and Hazyview, with thousands of metres of elevation gain.
Mbombela Farmers Market
📅 3 October
📍 Lowveld National Botanical Garden, Mbombela
Spend Saturday browsing local produce, food and handmade goods at the Mbombela Farmers Market. The market takes place at the Lowveld National Botanical Garden.
Mbombela Hello Summer
📅 3 October
📍 Nelspruit Rugby Stadium, Mbombela
Spring gets a summer-style welcome at Hello Summer in Mbombela on Saturday. The festival forms part of the city’s weekend entertainment programme.
Limpopo
Phalaborwa Spring Carnival
📅 3–4 October
📍 Phalaborwa
Phalaborwa welcomes spring with the Spring Carnival, beginning on Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday morning. The event brings music, dance and cultural entertainment to the town for an evening of festivities.
Limpopo Heritage & Food Festival
📅 3 October
📍 Hayani Guest House, Polokwane
Food and cultural heritage come together at this Saturday festival in Polokwane. Visitors can learn about Limpopo’s traditions through food, storytelling and interactive sessions with elders and local experts. The festival runs from 10:00 to 18:00.
As always, check the organiser’s latest information before travelling, particularly for ticket availability, starting times and programme changes.
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