Father’s Day falls on Sunday, 21 June this year, and both cities have turned the full weekend of 19 to 21 June into something worth planning around. Whether Dad’s idea of a good time involves live music under open sky, theatrical dining, a braai with a view or something that involves racing, there is an option. Here is the shortlist.
Johannesburg and Gauteng
NIROX Sculpture Park in the Cradle of Humankind is hosting its annual Honour the Fathers event on Sunday 21 June, with live music set against one of Gauteng’s most beautiful outdoor environments. It combines the park’s permanent sculpture collection with performances and food in a setting that tends to produce exactly the kind of Sunday afternoon that is easy to remember. Check the NIROX website for ticketing and the full programme.
The Sunset Music Series at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Roodepoort has its Saturday, 20 June instalment from 10 am to 6 pm. This series, one of Joburg’s most reliable winter outdoor events, offers live music against the backdrop of the garden’s landscape with children’s areas, food stalls and the Witwatersrand ridgeline in the distance. Tickets are available from Howler.
For something on the more unusual end, Prison Break Market at its Gauteng venue runs a Vintage Car and Motorcycle Showcase over the Father’s Day weekend, with free entry. The Secret Sunrise Maboneng edition on Sunday morning offers a rooftop silent dance experience as the sun comes up, which is admittedly either exactly your kind of thing or very much not, but makes for a memorable morning for those it suits.
The Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer concert at Shepstone Gardens on the preceding Friday (12 June) rolls into a full weekend of events across the province. For dining, Dineplan has rounded up over 60 restaurant specials nationwide, from buffet lunches in Sandton to five-course experiences in Pretoria, all bookable directly on the platform.
Cape Town
Stardust Theatrical Dining in Noordhoek is offering a special Father’s Day menu on Sunday, 21 June from 4 pm to 7:30 pm, at R480 per person. For those who haven’t been, Stardust is the experience where your waiter is also a performer, delivering a rotating setlist of musical theatre hits between courses. A wagyu beef burger main, mushroom arancini on arrival, and a cast that performs with genuine commitment make this one of the more fun ways to spend a Sunday evening in Cape Town. Book directly through their website.
The V&A Amphitheatre hosts its Father’s Day concert from 4 pm to 5 pm on Sunday, 21 June, with live music at the waterfront on a winter Sunday afternoon. Cavalli Estate in the Stellenbosch Winelands offers a Father’s Day lunch built around a specially curated wagyu beef menu in one of the Winelands’ more striking settings.
For dads who love racing, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is running a Father’s Day at the races experience on Sunday 21 June with free entry, food specials and a full race day programme. For something more physical, Air Blade Aviation is running a Father’s Day special on Saturday, 20 June from Cape Town International Airport for those who want to mark the weekend with something genuinely memorable from the air.
The Jive Cape Town Funny Festival is in its final weekend at the Baxter Theatre and Artscape, with the last shows running through 21 June. The CPO Winter Symphonies programme continues on Thursday 18 June at the City Hall with cellist Hayoung Choi, a good option for the evening ahead of the weekend. And Sunday 21 June is also the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Yoga, with the Cape Town celebration drawing together yoga communities from across the city for classes, community events and a good cause.
ALSO SEE:
Featured Image: Pexels
