A four-day arts and entertainment extravaganza will give Joburgers the opportunity to rediscover and celebrate the inner city.
The Absa Joburg City Festival, planned for October, will highlight the inner city’s re-emergence as a commercial, creative and residential centre, rich in culture and diversity.
“[The festival] is an initiative of the Joburg City Tourism Association, a voluntary group of businesses and organisations committed to growing the inner city’s tourism industry,” said festival spokesperson Gerald Garner, adding that the first festival took place last year.
The main programme will cover more than 10 inner city hubs including Absa Campus, Braamfontein, Constitution Hill, the Fashion District, Ferreirasdorp, Fordsburg, Maboneng Precinct, Marshalltown’s Corporate Mining District, Milpark, Newtown, and the Retail District.
Garner said that a fringe programme will include art, film, music, poetry and theatre events, as well as food, drink, and inner city tours.
Park-and-ride facilities from central nodes, and the Gautrain and Rea Vaya will make the festival venues accessible.
“Former president Nelson Mandela once described Joburg as a ‘mecca for enterprising people’ and ‘a city of dreams and opportunity’,” said Garner.
“The festival gives Joburgers and visitors the chance to experience the city’s past, present and future.”
He added that there was no need to travel around the world in search of cosmopolitan experiences like outdoor markets, rooftop bars and side-street cafes.
“All we need to do is step out of our comfort zones and rediscover the city we call home,” he said.
“Accordingly, the festival’s call-to-action is ‘Go to town’. We [will show] people the way to a good time, literally and figuratively.”
The festival will take place from 2 until 5 October.
Details: www.joburgcityfest.co.za; www.pnptickets.co.za
Main programme (subject to change):
2 October:
Starfish Greathearts Foundation fundraiser at The Sheds @ 1 Fox, Fox Street.
3 October:
Art exhibition at the Absa Art Gallery, 160 Main Street.
State of the Heart cabaret featuring Amanda Strydom at AFDA, 41 Frost Avenue, Milpark.
4 October:
Food, Folk and Beer, featuring Bye Beneco, Tailor, and The Runaway Train Cult, at The Sheds @ 1 Fox, Fox Street.
Film festival featuring four South African films at AFDA, 41 Frost Avenue, Milpark.
The God Complex theatre piece, created by Sylvaine Strike and Daniel Buckland, at AFDA, 41 Frost Avenue, Milpark.
Kalawa Jazzmee presents Professor, Busiswa, Candy, Nokwazi, Bobsta, and Stiff at The Bassline, 10 Henry Nxumalo Street, Newtown.
Fashion shows and fashion market featuring emerging and student fashion designers at Fashion Kapitol, 130 Pritchard Street.
Jack Parow and Janie Bay live at Moad, 281 Commissioner Street, Maboneng Precinct.
Joburg Ballet performance at Newtown Junction, Carr Street, Newtown.
Vimo and Friends, featuring Vimo, Whitey Divine, 2Lani the Warrior, Nick Essential, Mbuso, Pimp Squad, Household Funk, and Roger D’Lux at Randlords, 41 De Korte Street, Braamfontein.
Stand-up comedy with Loyiso Gola and Friends at Ster Kinekor, Newtown.
Johnny Clegg Unplugged at Wits Great Hall, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein.
5 October:
An artists’ showcase at Newtown Junction, Carr Street, Newtown.
Balcony TV presents Balcony Blues at Randlords, 41 De Korte Street, Braamfontein.
