V&A Waterfront's New Year street carnival to feature entertainment zones

Crowds in each entertainment zone will find themselves immersed in a sensory experience bursting with colour, constantly moving visuals, sound and activity to get them in the mood to party. Entertainment zones include the Amphitheatre and children's playground, the NSRI tree, the Alfred Mall, Pier Head, Nobel Square and the Clock Tower.

From 5pm onwards, the various zones will come alive with activities from buskers to Zip Zap Circus performances, roaming musicians, singers and bands, dance performances, floats and characters from the Cape Town Carnival and much more. The approximately 80 restaurant tenants and caterers operating from food trucks will also be available throughout the evening to cater for all late-night tastes.

Roaming performers will entertain with violin, saxophone, drumming, opera singing, Dixie, classical, a capella, guitar, pop, rock, accordion and more, while popular performers Dave Ferguson and Chad Saaiman will perform from the Amphitheatre stage, Jimmy Nevis at the Pier Head, and Jeremy Oliver at Nobel Square. A host of other bands and artists will share these stages with them.

Saaiman, Nevis and Oliver's performances will start at 11pm, stopping 10 minutes before midnight to prepare for the countdown, and resuming at 12.10am until 12.30am. As always, party-goers can look forward to the midnight countdown to New Year, which, as usual, will be marked by a spectacular fireworks display, co-sponsored by the City of Cape Town.

In a New Year message and commenting on the celebration, Cape Town's Mayor, Patricia de Lille said: "This annual event by the V&A Waterfront is a highlight in our city as a great party for all to join in, and bring the New Year in with fun and flare. As we celebrate and usher in a New Year, I wish all residents and visitors in Cape Town a happy and safe festive period. May you use this time to refresh and spend quality time with your loved ones."

Traffic and parking

Given the popularity of the V&A Waterfront's annual New Year party, parking fills up quickly, while traffic congestion in the city can make getting into the Waterfront difficult. Far better solutions include using the MyCiTi bus or booking an Uber. The V&A Waterfront has a special promotion for the festive season.

For those who would prefer to use their cars, park in the Silo parking garage at the Clock Tower and pay only R10 for four hours. It is only a five-minute stroll from there to the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre and other activities on offer.

For anyone travelling from the Atlantic Seaboard, the quickest route is via Granger Bay Boulevard. Convenient parking options include the open-air parking from R20 per day, to undercover parking in Breakwater Parking Garage from R15 for three hours. Another hint is to take the Beach Road entrance into the Breakwater Parking Garage. It's a quick stroll from there across the road to Entrance 2 of the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre.