School’s out: keep your kids occupied during the winter holidays with great activities and events in and around the Mother City!
Kids from around the Western Cape stow away their pens, pencils, text and workbooks for three weeks of uninterrupted winter school holiday down time from Friday, 24 June until Sunday, 17 July 2016. Now parents, before you start to tug at your hair in frustration, why not plan some great activities to help your perfect little bunnies expend some of that boundless energy.
So… take a deep breath, collect your thoughts and have a look at our overview of school holiday programmes, events and more to keep your little ones, tweens, teens and even toddlers busy as precious little bumblebees. What follows is a guide to the Mother City’s coolest kiddie-centric activities, from adventure and sport to-dos to creative clubs and educational trips.
2016 SCHOOL HOLIDAY IDEAS IN AND AROUND CAPE TOWN
Battlefield Live SA (May – July)
Need to get rid of some of that extra youthful energy that’s now buzzing around the house? Why not bundle up your kids and head out for an adrenaline-pumping day of outdoor laser tag with Battlefield Live SA, come rain or shine. The high-tech military simulation game features all the action of a paintball adventure sans the unsightly bruises and welts. The experience will not only have your kiddies zooming around the combat zone, but it’s also a great way to get them off the couch and working in a team. Depending on the package, participants can look forward to two hours of gaming, vests, camo paint, up to five different scenarios, state-of-the-art equipment and so much more. Do note that parties and events do not run on a daily basis and must be booked in advance. Group bookings require a minimum of 14 participants; otherwise, call to see if it’s possible to join another group.
COST: You can either book a session or simply join in the fun with other teams on a per person basis. Depending on the day of the week, session costs range from R2450 per team of 14, R3100 for a team of 20 and single player costs range from R175p/p.
School Holiday Fun at Ratanga Junction (7 – 18 July)
Billed as the wildest place in Africa, the Mother City’s ever-popular Century City theme park opens for a 12-day jol from Thursday, 7 to Monday, 18 July 2016. The fun park caters to all ages with more than 30 attractions, from exciting kiddies’ rides to thrilling adrenaline-inducing rollercoasters. Join the adventure seekers in the queues or catch one of the snake or bird shows; no matter how you choose to spend your time, Ratanga Junction is sure to provide a fun-filled experience during the winter school holiday period.
COST: Rider tickets (those over 1.3 metres) cost R181p/p, mini adventurer tickets (under 1.3 metres) cost R95p/p and non-rider tickets are only R70p/p (all prices exclude access to the slingshot, which carries a separate fee of R60p/p). For more information, contact +27 (0) 21 550 8504, info@ratanga.co.za or visit Ratanga.co.za.
Burgers and Milkshakes at Protea Fire and Ice Hotel (June – July)
Feel like spoiling your little tyke? With a delicious spin on the traditional burger and milkshake combo at the Protea Fire and Ice Hotel, thanks to Jozi-based folk swing band Rubber Duc, patrons can try something truly innovative. Spend a day out with the kids in the heart of the Mother City and grab a mouthwatering blue cheese burger or dive into crispy bacon and melted cheese burger. Nevertheless if the food doesn’t keep the kiddies happy, then the entire family can make their choice from a selection of 36 milkshakes! Our recommendation? The red velvet cupcake and cinnamon creation!
COST: Burgers range from R125p/p and milkshakes cost R55p/p. For more information visit proteahotels.com.
Kidz Season at the Table Mountain Cableway (June – October)
This winter, Table Mountain Cableway are making sure the little ones beat cabin fever this holiday season. Little ones can experience the cable way with the upcoming promotion which allows two children to travel for free when an adult return ticket is purchased over weekends, public and school holidays. The kid-centric vibe also includes free treats and a treasure hunt. So bring your little ones to see some of the beauty of Cape Town and see some of our pretty city’s natural habitat. Please take note that the Cableway will be closed from 25 July to 7 August 2016 for annual maintenance.
COST: The Kidz Season ticket special sees two kids under 18 years of age ride for free when a return adult ticket is purchased for R240p/p
Flamenco for Kids Holiday Workshop (29 June – 13 July)
Kiddies everywhere should jump at the chance to learn one of Spain’s most loved dances. Tierra Flamenca, the Cape Town based studio, teaches people of all ages to move like Spaniards, and this school holiday is hosting a class especially dedicated to kids! There are three one-hour classes running on Wednesday, 29 June, Wednesday, 6 July and Wednesday, 13 July 2016. In this class, your little ones will learn a simple flamenco routine, and at the end they will have the opportunity to perform it in front of the group and will receive a Tierra Flamenca certificate.
COST: Classes cost R150p/p, and spaces are limited. The workshop runs from 14:00pm to 15:00pm. For bookings and more info, contact Tierra Flamenca Dance Studio directly via email at tierra.flame@gmail.com.
Stretch-N-Grow Holiday Programme at the West Coast Family Church (29 -30 June)
This holiday programme is perfect for anyone who wants their little one to get a little bit of exercise. Stretch-n-Grow introduces classes for different age groups. The first is for ages three to six- years-old, which takes the form of 40-minute themed play sessions. The first session, on Wednesday, 29 June 2016 has a ‘princes and princesses’ theme, while the second session on Thursday, 30 June 2016 is ‘Paw Patrol’ themed. If your children are a little older, between six and 10 years old, then Camp Fit is perfect for them. These classes are an hour long, and allow children to play and be physical with kids of the same age. Camp Fit also runs on Wednesday, 29 and Thursday, 30 June 2016.
COST: The 40-minute play classes are R35 per child per class, and Camp Fit is R50 per child per session. For more info, please contact Michelle at Stretch-n-Grow on +27 (0)83 650 3353, or email her at michelle@stretch-n-grow.co.za.
Mini-Chef at the Table Bay Hotel (30 April – 5 November)
Masterchefs in training be aware, cooking classes for kids have officially landed at the Table Bay Hotel. With eight classes running from May to November, there is a multitude of opportunities to get your child involved. Please note that these classes are aimed at children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old.
COST: The cost of participation is R300 per child. Mini-chef classes begin at 12:30pm. For more info and bookings, email TableBayDining@suninternational.com or call them on +27 (0)21 406 5988.
| Saturday, 30 April 2016 | Breakfast Spoils for Mum | Buttermilk and Oat Crumpets topped with Maple Syrup, Butter and Beef Sausages |
| Saturday, 21 May 2016 | Chicken Time | Chicken Mayo Roosterkoek, Tannie Rose’s Pumpkin Fritters with Cinnamon Cream |
| Saturday, 4 June 2016 | Traditionally South African | Chicken Bryan and Chef Bobby’s Koeksisters |
| Saturday, 2 July 2016 | Warming Winter | Tomato Beef Bredie and Table Bay’s Famous Hertzoggies |
| Saturday, 6 August 2016 | Easy as Pie | Chicken Pot Pie and Gloria’s Apple Fritters with Vanilla Cream |
| Saturday, 3 September 2016 | What’s in the Oven? | Banana Bread, Wild Garlic Rolls and Mosbolletjies |
| Saturday, 1 October 2016 | Oodles of Noodles | Whole Wheat Spaghetti and Rocky Road Oats |
| Saturday, 5 November 2016 | Foraging Garden Visit | Special Lettuce Wraps and Oscar’s Chocolate Brownies |
Noddy at the Artscape Theatre Foyer Well (27 June – 9 July)
Enid Blyton’a beloved Noddy returns to the stage for your enjoyment, and your kiddies won’t want to miss this! The show, adapted by David Woods, is an interactive masterpiece that will both delight and intrigue their little imaginations. Only toys are allowed to live in Toyland, and the job of the audience, is to decide whether Noddy can stay with Mr Plod, Big Ears and Tesstie Bear! There will be pre-show activities that include face painting and play tents, with the added bonus of bike rides. Expose your child to a classic work of literature in a new and exciting form this holidays with Noddy at the Artscape Theatre.
COST: Tickets are available online at Computicket, and cost between R60p/p and R80p/p. The show is approximately 1 hour long. Noddy will be at the Artscape from Monday, 27 June to Saturday, 9 July 2016
Kidz Skouspeel at Tyger Valley Centre (9 – 10 July)
Think Skouspel but for kids, with all the music and wonder that goes along with it. Join Princess Arena for an adventure that will teach your little ones all about friendship and kindness. Join the Princess on a quest that will see her come face to face with friends, new and old, like Lollos and Lettie, Tjiff & Tjaff, Liewe Heksie and the Tyger Valley mascots Tom and Tina. Join the fun and let your little one delve into a world of colour and adventure.
COST: Tickets are R85p/p, and the show lasts for roughly an hour. You can get your tickets at Computicket.com, the show starts at 10am
Snow World at GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World (1 May – 31 July)
Snowing in Cape Town? Surely not? Well, it’s true because this school holidays, Snow World snow park is coming to Cape Town! This is the perfect event to get your kids involved with all the wintery fun. There is an attraction for all ages, with a selection of cool activities to join in on. Make this an educational trip and take the kids to see the Animals of the Ice Age Exhibition. Choose from three ice slides, take a snowboard down the largest synthetic snow slope to come to Cape Town, build a snow man, have a bite to eat and more!
COST: Non-Rider Pass R50p/p. Mini Pass (includes ice slide, Ice Age exhibit and snow play area) R60p/p. Snow & Ice Rider (includes snow tubing, two ice slides, Ice Age exhibit and snow play area) R120p/p. Snow Boarding Pass (includes snowboarding and snow tubing, all ice slides, Ice Age exhibit, snow play area) R140p/p.
Circus Holiday Workshop (27 June – 1 July)
You might have the next circus star in your own house, so why not explore something new and let your child have a go at an uncommon activity? Safe under the supervision of the professionals from The Silk Workshop, your little darlings will have the opportunity to learn tricks of the trade from the best of the best, such as acrobatics, juggling, human pyramid building, hula hooping, contortion and aerial skills. This amazingly fun workshop ( aimed at ages 6-13 years old) will keep the kids off the sofa and get them into active mode, ready for more fun activities to come. The workshop is a week-long session, and is being hosted at Erin Hall in Rondebosch.
COST: As the workshop is a week-long session, days are not priced individually, and the entire experience costs R650 per child. For more info, contactthesilkworkshop@gmail.com, or call them on +27 (0)73 273 3538.
Child City Sightseeing 3-for1 Special (1 May – 9 Oct 2016)
Being a tourist in your own city is always a good idea, especially when you live in Cape Town and there are amazing deals on the Big Red Bus tours! Take your child around the attractions that they have never been to, all in one day. All of the tours that City Sightseeing offer are part of the special, namely the Red City Tour, the Blue Mini Peninsula Tour, the Yellow Downtown Tour, and the Purple Wine Tour. The kids would love to explore the Company Gardens, or visit the World of Birds, so why not treat them to a day of exploring?
COST: You can take two kids (under 18) along for free when you buy one adult one-day ticket. The special runs from 1 May to 9 October 2016 and will be valid on weekends as well as South African public and school holidays.
Kids’ Rock Climbing Holiday Programme (12 – 14 July)
Keeping kids active during the school holidays can be tough, and CityRock have just the solution. Their rock climbing holiday programme for children is the perfect way to keep your kids away from the TV. This workshop occupies two hours of your child’s day for three days in a row, and who knows they might become the next rock climber extraordinaire. The minimum age for this workshop is six-years-old, and participants don’t need any previous climbing experience to participate.
COST: The workshop costs R630 per child for the three sessions. These sessions run from 10am to 12pm or 1pm to 3pm. For more info and to make a booking please contact the organisers directly on +27 (0)21 447 1326 or email them at kids@cityrock.co.za.
The Wizard of Oz (15 June – 2 July 2016)
Take the kids to see a classic, right here in our fair city this school holidays. Everyone has heard the story of Dorothy and Toto, and the tornado that changed their lives forever. Their subsequent adventures in the magical land of Oz would see them meet a lion without any courage, a scarecrow without a brain and a tin man without a heart. Dorothy and friends will be at The Playhouse in Somerset West from Wednesday, 15 June to Saturday, 2 July 2016. You’ll see the gang meet the Wicked Witch, the munchkin people and even get chased by winged monkeys sent to capture Dorothy.
COST: Tickets are available through Computicket.com, and cost R120p/p. The show is approximately two and a half hours long. For more info, visit the Computicket website.
Disney on Ice: Worlds of Enchantment (6 – 10 July 2016)
We know that all kids love Disney, and we also know that Frozen was one of Disney’s most popular films ever made, so take the kids and join Anna and Elsa with a host of other Disney favourites for this themed spectacular, on ice! Even though they are only at GrandWest’s Grand Arena for four days, there will be 13 shows, so there’s no excuse not to attend. Not only will your two favourite princesses be there, but they will be joined by the stars from Cars, The Little Mermaid, and Toy Story 3. Help Ariel, Lightning McQueen and Woody tell their stories, and bring smiles to the audience faces. Not only will the characters be there, but they will be singing the songs you loved from the movies! Let it go, people.
COST: Tickets are available online through Computicket.com, and cost between R150p/p and R400p/p. The show is approximately two hours long, and more info can be found on our event page, just click the title!
Little Red Riding Hood (13 – 17 July 2016)
Little Red Riding Hood is one of the most popular children’s stories ever told. It tells of a young girl, who ventures to her granny’s house all alone, and along the way meets a rather unsavoury wolf. Spoiler, things get a little harsh from then on, but not in the PG version that is totally kiddy friendly. The tales of Little Red Riding Hood will be performed at The Playhouse in Somerset West from Wednesday, 13 July to Sunday, 17 July 2016. Little Red Riding Hood will meet new friends, experience new things and sing new songs, all to keep your little one entertained. Remember that this is a fairy-tale and is probably more suited to younger children.
COST: Tickets are available online through computicket.com, and cost R50p/p. The show is approximately one hour long. More info can be found at their website (Theplayhouse.org.za) or visit their Facebook page!
Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer (15 – 17 July 2016)
Dora the Explorer is back, and her friends Boots and Diego have come along too! Fellow explorers are usually of the younger variety, so if you have a little one that loves Dora, then why not take them to see her in her Pirate Adventure? She will be setting sail at the Grand Arena at GrandWest from Friday, 15 July to Sunday, 17 July 2016. Although the performance only goes on for three days, there are nine shows in total, so there is plenty of time to go on an adventure with Nickelodeon’s favourite explorer! This voyage of discovery will teach the little ones all about friendship, kindness and adventure.
COST: Tickets are available online through Computicket.com, and cost between R185p/p and R525p/p, depending on where you elect to sit. The show lasts approximately one and a half hours, with most shows starting during the day. For more info, visit their Facebook event page (Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer LIVE!)
Slava’s Snow Show (17 – 28 August 2016)
Parents beware; this show is not for any child that does not like clowns, because this showcase features multiple. Watch Russian performance artist Slava Polunin’s masterpiece at the Artscape Theatre Opera House, with its amazing dreamlike setting and its larger-than-life characters. This interactive show features real water (so if you’re sitting close to the stage, bring a raincoat), a real blizzard (with fake snow, but still, the effect is the same), a feather rainstorm and giant bouncy balls. If ever there was a show with fun and laughter at its heart, it’s this one.
COST: Tickets are available online through computicket.com, and range in price from R175p/p to R400p/p. For more info, click through to our event page for the juicy details, and a video trailer.
Robotics Workshops at the Cape Town Science Centre (29 June – 1 July)
Learning robotics is a universal skill that most will benefit from in later life, and this June andJuly the Cape Town Science Centre is hosting a bunch of really fun workshops for kids of all ages. Whether your child has experience with robotics or not, this course is perfect to introduce them to a world that will stand them in good stead for future experiences. On offer is their Robotics and Aviation Workshop aimed at grades one to four, and the Mindstorm Robotics Holiday Workshop aimed at grades five to nine. They’ll learn to build and design, programme and develop, and work in teams.
COST: These three-day courses run concurrently from 29 June to 1 July 2016. The price for the full three days is R600per child. Places are limited, so get in contact with the organisers ASAP via info@ortsacape.org.za.
Fun Activities for Kids at the V & A Waterfront (18 June – 18 July)
This year, the V&A Waterfront has got a huge amount in store for the kids. These events, various in description, will run from Saturday, 18 June to Monday, 18 July 2016. On offer is a reptile garden, filled with all sorts of interesting slithery things, a skill-building pump track, an ‘innovation station’, rugbytots and the world largest floating book fair. Rugbytots is something that really shouldn’t be missed if your little on loves the bokke, and the floating library is definitely the coolest way to get your little one reading this holiday. These activities are aimed at children of all ages, and allow for a little shopping time for mum and dad while the kids check in to a session of fun.
COST: The prices vary depending on which experience you elect to go to, ranging from R5p/p to R550p/p. For more info, visit the V&A Waterfront website at Waterfront.co.za or contact the V&A Waterfront Info Centre on info@waterfront.co.za
Follow this link for more info: http://goo.gl/NQAuHl