Jam-packed December line-up planned for fun, summer holiday

Sapphire Coast Tourism (SCT) members have been hard at work to provide plenty of sizzling fun in the sun for residents and holidaymakers this summer. “December is always a really busy month for the jewel of KZN,” said SCT chairman, Romy Wentzel.

“Our incredible beaches, world-class dive sites, cultural spots, nature reserves and quality food and drink venues keep the tourists coming year after year.
In preparation for the busy holiday season, SCT has been turning the Sapphire Coast blue by cleaning and painting bridges.

We want all visitors to really enjoy their stay which is why Sapphire Coast Tourism also supports a really well-planned holiday programme with a host of fun, family-friendly activities throughout December.”

Amanzimtoti parkrun

One of the community initiatives supported by SCT is the weekly 5km parkrun which sets off every Saturday at 8am from Toti Main Beach. This run is unique in that it incorporates the beach, testing runners’ endurance in a beautiful setting.

CPR lessons

Partake in some potentially lifesaving lessons at Toti Main Beach on 18, 20 and 22 December. All lessons are arranged by PDA Health.

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Nature walks

There will be two nature walks taking place at Burchells Coucal Eco Trail, 1 Deeptank Road, Lower Illovo. On Wednesday, 20 December there will be a children’s nature walk with Blessing Majoka from 8am to 10am at a cost of R30 per child, which includes a snack pack from Cafe Familia. On Saturday, 23 December there will be birding and nature walk with Blessing from 7am to 11am at no cost.

Saturday, 16 December events

Christmas tree lighting

Everyone is invited to watch the lighting of the giant Christmas tree, arguably the tallest in KZN if not South Africa, at the amphitheatre on Toti promenade at around dusk. The 15-metre high structure is lit by a kilometre of LED lights, mounted on a cellphone tower base and secured by a 4.5-ton foundation. This is a joint community initiative organised by SCT and Durban South Business Forum.

Summer Watermelon Festival

This is a fantastic family-friendly event centred on this refreshing summer fruit. Taking place at the Amanzimtoti Sports Centre from noon, visitors can expect a juicy line-up of fun watermelon activities, with food trucks serving delicious fare and refreshments in the form of craft beer, as well as tasty pink gin and tonics. For the younger ones, there will be a secure children’s area with fun play equipment to keep them entertained.

READ ALSO: Celebrate festivities at biggest Christmas market in Toti

Umgababa Mnini Dam Extravaganza

eThekwini Municipality is sponsoring the fantastic Umgababa Mnini Dam Extravaganza at Mnini Dam Resort from 10am. This year’s event features a host of top South African musicians, including a number of great local acts. There will also be an exciting array of arts and crafts stalls for festival-goers to enjoy. Tickets are available from Computicket at a cost of R150 for general admission or R500 for the VIP experience.

Amanzimtoti Main Beach programme

Amanzimtoti, Baggies and Winklespruit beaches play host to a number of beach activities centred on the theme ‘Family – young and old having fun together!’ Organised by the Stranddiens Team with the support of SCT events’ liaison, Awie Pienaar, beach-goers are sure to be kept entertained this holiday. DJ Fluffy and DJ Chris will ensure the music keeps everyone in the party mood and there will be plenty of fun giveaways, vouchers and promotions supplied by local businesses, among them Lords and Legends, Thirsty Whale, Splash, Aliwal Dive Centre, Illovo Nursery, KFC, Pick ’n Pay Galleria, Debonairs Amanzimtoti, Tiago’s and more.

Visitors can look out for Happy Drums who will offer free drumming lessons while Funland and Dolphin Bowl will set up mobile tenpin lanes with voucher giveaways, all on selected days only. Don’t miss out on any of these and more exciting festive season events listed below:

Toti Main Beach activations

On 9, 23, 24, 27 and 28 December, there will be a Vodacom activation by Blue Alley Trading 210cc. On Saturday, 16 December, there will be Sprite and McDonalds sample activations by Blue Alley Trading 210cc. From Tuesday, 19 December to Friday, 22 December there will be Nu Metro 4DX activations by Thubalisanda Marketing.

Monday, 18 December

9am: Beach volleyball and touch rugby
10am: Music, puppet show, children’s games, treasure hunt
11.30am to 12.30pm: Soccer city with elimination rounds for different ages, children’s musical and games, art competition, Fear Factor and hamburger eating competition.

Tuesday, 19 December

9am: Mixed volleyball, touch rugby for teens and cricket for younger children;
10am: Music and puppet show;
10.30am: Treasure hunt and flagging;
11am: Karaoke;
11.30am to 12.30pm: Crazy games – water balloon tarp catch and silly tag, among others. Ice cream eating competition, banner making competition, fives volleyball tournament and tenpin bowling hosted by FUNLAND.

Wednesday, 20 December

9am: Beach volleyball with prizes
10am: Music, puppet show and children’s band
11.10am to 1pm: X-Factor

Thursday, 21 December

9am: Volleyball and soccer
10am: Puppet show
11am to 12.30pm: ‘Blind mol’ treasure hunt, boere sport, including aartappelresies, driebeenresies, eiergooi, sakresies and toutrek, and ‘The Voice’ for individuals, groups and families

Friday, 22 December

9am: Beach volleyball tournament
10am: Music, face-painting, hairspray and puppet show
11.10am to 12.30pm: Action cricket, flagging, board games, beach bowling, Fear Factor, pizza eating competition and tenpin bowling hosted by Funland

Saturday, 23 December

7am: Fun run together with parkrun
9am: Beach volleyball tournament
10am: Music, face-painting and hairspray
10.30am: Puppet show
10.50am: Treasure hunt
11am to 12pm: Water games and sandcastle building, X FACTOR – musical and theatre talent, hamburger eating competition and tenpin bowling hosted by Funland.

Sunday, 24 December

9am: Touch rugby and ‘aflos-relay’ with crossfit or volleyball
10am: Puppet show and beach frisbee golf
11am to 1pm: Toti’s Got Talent
6pm: Carols by Candlelight at the big Christmas tree, where families are asked to bring presents for the poor

Monday, 25 December

8am: Christmas service on the beach
8.45am: Christmas puppet show
9.30am to 11am: Volleyball, The Voice – Christmas songs, Christmas trees in the sand and decorations

Tuesday, 26 December

9am: Family volleyball and soccer
9.30am: Treasure hunt
10.30am: Puppet show
11am: Family Wipeout

Wednesday, 27 December

9am: Touch rugby, volleyball and soccer
10am: Puppet show
11am to 1pm: Do you want to build a sandman?, boeresport, Miss Toti (heat 1) and hamburger eating competition

Thursday, 28 December

8am: Family walk
9.30am: Beach volleyball, rounders and soccer
10.30am: Treasure hunt and hula hoops
11.40am to 12.30pm: Family creativity competition with sand and Miss Toti (heat 2)

Friday, 29 December

9am: Beach volleyball fives tournament
10.30am: Puppet show
11.15am to 1pm: Balloon creativity competition, creativity exhibition, Miss Toti (final), pizza eating competition and tenpin bowling hosted by Funland. Also, DSTV Cartoon Network roadshow by Wozani Africa Events.

Saturday, 30 December

7am: X FACTOR and parkrun
9am: Beach volleyball and touch rugby
10am: Music and puppet show
10.40am: Treasure hunt and paper plane competition
11am to 12pm: Water balloon, dodgeball, mini-gladiators, including tug-of-war and gauntlet
12pm: Karaoke, volleyball and tenpin bowling hosted by Funland

New Year’s Eve

Celebrate the New Year’s with a family-fun event at the KwaMakhutha New Year’s Eve picnic sponsored by eThekwini Municipality at Mkhumbi Sports Grounds, starting at 3pm.

For more information on the Sapphire Coast, visit www.sapphirecoasttourism.co.za or the Sapphire Coast Tourism page on Facebook.