Events calendar
Looking for events near Somerset West? Here are mountain bike races below the Helderberg, concerts at Vergelegen, garden festivals, whales and the best of Cape Town, with dates and driving times.
Event calendar
Swipe or use the arrows to browse the next twelve months. Tap any event to visit the organiser's website.
23 to 25 Oct
Private gardens around Somerset West · 4 to 15 minutes
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23 Oct to 1 Nov
Stellenbosch · about 25 minutes
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30 Oct
Lourensford Wine Estate · about 12 minutes
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Whale season, June to November
Southern Right whales from Gordon's Bay to Hermanus
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27 to 31 Oct
Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town · about 1 hour
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1 Nov, 16:00
Intimate garden concert · R200, 50 seats
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6 to 15 Nov
Three editions, race packs at Lourensford · 12 minutes
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Late Nov (usually)
Sundays until March · about 40 minutes
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Whale season, until November
Southern Right whales along the coast
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Early Dec (to be confirmed)
Vergelegen Wine Estate · about 15 minutes
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9 Dec
Helderberg Hospice at Vergelegen · 15 minutes
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Sundays
Picnic on the lawn · about 40 minutes
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5 and 6 Dec
DHL Stadium, Cape Town · about 1 hour
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31 Dec
Free entry, line-up to be announced · about 1 hour
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20 and 22 Jan
MI Cape Town at home · about 1 hour
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Sundays
Live music below the mountain · 40 minutes
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Early Jan (date varies)
Colourful minstrel parade in the city centre · 1 hour
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2, 4 and 14 Feb
MI Cape Town home matches · 1 hour
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21 Feb
Newlands, Cape Town · about 1 hour
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Sundays
Bring a picnic · about 40 minutes
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5 to 28 Feb
Parade and Mardi Gras on 27 Feb · about 1 hour
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19 to 21 Feb
CTICC, Cape Town · about 1 hour
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Usually March
Vergelegen · 2027 dates to be announced
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14 Mar
Around the Peninsula · about 1 hour
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21 to 28 Mar
Prologue at Lourensford · 12 minutes
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31 Mar
Cape Town · about 1 hour
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All of March
A month-long festival across the city · 1 hour
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20 Mar
Green Point Fan Walk, free · about 1 hour
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Late July (usually)
Tastings and events in town · 25 minutes
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June and July (usually)
Wine estate trail runs · dates to be announced
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Whale season
Gordon's Bay, Clarence Drive and Hermanus
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Early Sept (usually)
The 2026 opening was on 4 September · 12 minutes
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Usually early October
Hermanus · 2026 was 3 to 4 Oct, 2027 to be announced
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Peak whale season
Activity peaks from September
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Dates checked on organiser websites in October 2026. "Usually" means the 2027 dates are not announced yet.
Coming up · October 2026 to April 2027
Confirmed dates for the next six months, with driving times from Villa Helderberg. Taking part or coming to watch? Book early for race weekends.
Two garden events fall in the same week. The Helderberg Hospice Open Gardens run from 23 to 25 October 2026. Garden Town Stellenbosch runs from 23 October to 1 November 2026. Spring is the best time to see the Winelands in bloom.
Garden TownThe Proteas host Australia for a five-day Test at Newlands, one of cricket's most beautiful grounds, under Table Mountain. A calm base outside the city is ideal for a long Test week.
TicketsThis three-day mountain bike race links Lourensford, Oak Valley in Elgin and Benguela Cove near Hermanus. In 2026 there are three editions: Chardonnay (6 to 8 November), Pinotage (9 to 11 November) and Shiraz (13 to 15 November). Race packs are collected at Lourensford, so the villa is a perfect base.
Race informationCape Town's rugby sevens weekend is a fixture of the summer calendar. The 2026 tournament takes place on 5 and 6 December at DHL Stadium in Green Point. Book your bed early, as the city fills up fast.
Event informationHelderberg Hospice hosts its Carols by Candlelight evening at Vergelegen Wine Estate on 9 December 2026. Bring a picnic and make it your first Christmas outing. Ticket prices and the start time are not published yet, so check with Helderberg Hospice.
Event detailsThe Noddy Christmas Party at Vergelegen is a family favourite in early December. We could not yet confirm the 2026 dates, so please check Vergelegen's events page before you plan around it.
VergelegenMI Cape Town play at Newlands on 20 and 22 January and on 2, 4 and 14 February 2027, and the final is at Newlands on Sunday 21 February. Paarl Royals play at Boland Park in Paarl, about 55 minutes away. Tickets for the season go on sale on 5 November.
FixturesThis famous mass-participation race loops around the Cape Peninsula, past Chapman's Peak and the False Bay coast. Riders start very early, so many prefer a quiet place to sleep the nights before and after. Stay a few extra days to recover by our pool.
Race informationCape Town's biggest street party fills the Green Point Fan Walk with costumes, floats and music. Watching is free. It falls on the weekend before the Cape Epic starts at Lourensford.
Carnival informationThe famous mountain bike stage race starts in our neighbourhood. The 2027 prologue is a 27 km loop at Lourensford Wine Estate on 21 March. After that, the race heads to Ceres, Tulbagh and Wellington, where it finishes on 28 March. Ideal for teams and supporters arriving early.
Route and stagesCape Town's famous run between two oceans. In 2027 the trail run is on Friday 2 April, the half marathon on Saturday 3 April and the ultra marathon on Sunday 4 April. Come for the week, then rest your legs in the Winelands.
Race information
In 2027 the Cape Town Marathon becomes Africa's first Abbott World Marathon Major. Expect road closures around Green Point and Sea Point on race day. Stay with us and travel in the day before or after.
Race informationEvery week and every year
These come back every week or every year. Exact dates change, so check the organiser's website before you book.
Around 60 stalls with food, estate wines, craft beer, crafts and art. Friday evenings are especially lively. The estate also offers padel, pickleball and mountain biking. Check the estate's website for what is on.
LourensfordVergelegen hosts open-air concerts and events in its historic gardens throughout the year. The RMB Starlight Classics are usually held in March; the 2026 shows were on 13 and 14 March. Check the estate's events page for the 2027 dates.
VergelegenBring a picnic and a blanket and watch top South African artists below the mountain. Last season ran every Sunday from 23 November 2025 to 29 March 2026. The new line-up is usually announced before the season starts.
KirstenboschSmall, intimate concerts in the gardens of Old Nectar Estate. The next concert is on 1 November 2026 at 16:00. Tickets cost R200 and only 50 seats are available, so book early.
Visit Stellenbosch events
A winter series of trail runs on wine estates around Stellenbosch. Past venues include Zevenwacht, Delheim and Nitida. Dates change each year, so check the organiser's page in May.
Find eventsStellenbosch University holds graduation ceremonies in March and December. In winter, Wine Town Stellenbosch brings tastings and events to the town; in 2026 it ran from 25 July to 2 August. Families and wine lovers stay with us for a calmer base nearby.
Wine TownGood to know
Villa Helderberg is a quiet guesthouse in Somerset West, 12 minutes from Lourensford, 15 minutes from Vergelegen and about an hour from Cape Town's big race and stadium venues. Tell us which event you're coming for. We're happy to help with timing, directions and tips, and you can ask us about an early breakfast or a place for your bike.
More event listings: Lourensford, Vergelegen and Visit Stellenbosch. Travelling as a team or a family? You can also book the whole villa, with six rooms for up to 14 guests. Getting married nearby? See our guide to Cape Winelands wedding venues.
More things to doStay with us
Book direct and save 8% at Villa Helderberg, our guesthouse in Somerset West. Questions about your event? Just ask.
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