Image courtesy of B.T. Indrelunas
The Mother City is generally regarded as the epicentre of gay culture in South Africa. Cape Town abounds with gay-popular accommodations, restaurants, and bars and annually celebrates one of the biggest and most exciting gay pride events in the Southern Hemisphere – Pride Cape Town – which takes place over 10 days in early March 2012.
The Cape Town Pride Festival is a celebration of South Africa’s wonderful diversity, and from the 2nd till the 11th of March 2012, Cape Town will once again be uniting cultures to create awareness around issues impacting on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities locally and throughout Africa.
The festival comprises a variety of cultural and arts events, parties, and other gatherings and one can expect everything from film screenings and relationship workshops to pool parties and the Mr. and Mrs. Pride Cape Town pageant. Included in the list of activities are an interfaith service, a beach picnic, a book fair and discussions led by the Institute for Humanities in Africa, as well as a “pink ball,” and pride hike.
The main event though, is the Pride Parade, which takes place on the final Saturday of the festival. Typically beginning at 11 am it starts at Cape Town Stadium and continues to Beach Road, passing along Sea Point’s Main Road, and ending back at the stadium for a large celebration featuring a number of music acts and performers.
Cape Town Pride is a Non-Profit Organisation that is committed towards being inclusive and encompassing and the annual Cape Town Pride Festival is driven by passionate volunteers who freely give their time, effort and energy to the event. More information can be found on the official Cape Town pride website including entry forms for the pageant, stall applications and float registry.
The Taj Cape Town provides luxury accommodation in Cape Town and its central location makes it the perfect launch point for exploring the many pride festival activities as well as other Cape Town events. The Taj Cape Town is also a proud sponsor for Mr Gay SA.
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Image Courtesy of fabulousfabs
A key event on South Africa’s Parliamentary and political calendar is the opening of Parliament in Cape Town and the State of the Nation Address. This year the opening of Parliament will be taking place on 9 February 2012 as Cape Town once more hosts the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
Completed in 1885, the parliament building with its central dome and Corinthian porticos and pavilions was originally designed by Charles Freeman who, following a miscalculation of the foundations, was later replaced by Henry Greaves.
The building itself lies in the uppermost corner of Company Gardens, with an entrance on Parliament Street. During parliamentary sessions between January and June, tickets to sit in the public gallery are available to visitors as well as guided tours though the Houses of Parliament buildings during the week.
The opening of parliament does come with its downside though as several road closures creates a challenge getting in and out of the Cape Town city centre.
Between attending the spectacle of the State of Nation address and chancing the tactical-plan-ahead-escape-routes out of the CBD, the opportunity to spend a relaxing evening in the city centre is too often overlooked.
With its large street-side windows which create a unique viewing room for glimpses of the Houses of Parliament and Table Mountain, as well as its plush comfortable décor, the Twankey Bar is perhaps the best place to be during the opening of parliament.
A relaxing evening of fresh seafood tapas, perfectly poured cocktails, a range of champagnes and excellent oyster experiences makes the end of any workday a celebration and the opening of parliament a breeze.
The Taj Cape Town provides luxury accommodation in Cape Town and is home to the Twankey champagne and oyster bar open weekdays from 16:00 till late.
