Excitement is mounting ahead of one of the city’s biggest annual parties – the Cape Town Carnival, which will take place on Saturday 24 March 2012.
Organisers are urging people to use public transport and also to get to the Fan Walk in Green Point early to ensure a good viewing spot. The parade starts at 20:00.
The theme for this year’s parade is “Cape to Cairo – a journey through Africa and its people”, and it will feature 2 000 costumed performers in 11 themed floats, nine richly decorated giant floats and 11 academies with 150 community dancers.
It will be preceded by a concert at the Cape Town Stadium at 17:00. After the parade, a DJ will entertain the crowds near the Green Point traffic circle until midnight.
The City of Cape Town will implement road closures and transport plans for the event, and officials will be out in full force on the day.
For more details, visit the Carnival website, Facebook page or Twitter account.
Transport information
Event bus shuttles
Shuttle services for this event are provided free of charge to spectators between the MyCiTi Civic Centre and Stadium bus stations.
The first event shuttle bus from the Civic Centre MyCiTi bus station in Hertzog Boulevard departs at 18:00. Thereafter a bus will leave every five minutes or when full until 20:00.
Buses will depart every 30 minutes during the event from 20:00 to 22:00
From 22:00 buses will depart every five minutes or when full, with the last bus departing Stadium station at 01:00 on Sunday morning.
Please note: No park and ride shuttle service will be provided between University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Civic Centre, or between Hout Bay and Stadium station.
Extended MyCiTi Civic Centre to Table View service
The hours of operation of the MyCiTi service between Civic Centre and Table View bus stations have been extended to cater for carnival-goers after the event.
Prior to the Carnival, passengers will be required to use the myconnect card to travel to the Civic Centre bus station. Cards are available from any MyCiTi station kiosk.
After the Carnival, passengers will be able to use the service free of charge.
Buses will depart from the Civic Centre bus station every 30 minutes from 22:30. Please note the last bus will depart at 01:00 on Sunday morning.
Buses will only stop at the following stations: Lagoon Beach, Woodbridge, Milnerton, Racecourse, Sunset Beach and Table View.
The F14, F15 and F16 feeder routes will also depart Table View Station every 30 minutes from 23:00 to 01:30. The last bus will depart at 01:30.
Parking
For carnival-goers who wish to travel to the event by car, parking will be provided at:
- the Cape Town Stadium – 1 000 bays are available
- the Cape Town International Convention Centre – there is a flat rate of R30
- the CBD – standard parking tariffs apply
- VA Waterfront – standard parking tariffs apply
Rail
Metrorail has arranged for additional free trains to run after the event on selected lines from 00:45 to 01:00. Normal train services will be applicable before the Carnival. For more information, call the Transport Information Centre for more information on 0800 65 64 63.
Trains departing Cape Town Station:
Road closures Saturday 24 March – Sunday 25 March
Road closures
Between the following streets
Time
Somerset Road
CBD bound carriage way at the intersection of Ashstead Road and Somerset Road (Saturday morning and Sunday morning)
03:00 – 05:00
Prestwich Street
Alfred Street and Chiappini Street
10:00 – 01:00
Chiappini Street
Prestwich Street and Somerset Road
10:00 – 01:00
Somerset Road
Intersection of Buitengracht Street and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Chiappini
Street
Battery Centre and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Hudson Street
Harley Davidson and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Dixon Street
Cubana and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Alfred Street
Schiebe Street and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Napier Street
Sacred Heart Church and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Napier Street
Prestwich Street and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Moreland Street
Napier Street and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Cobern Street
Intersection Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Liddle Street
Intersection Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Die Smit Street
Jarvis Street and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Ebenezer Road
Prestwich Street and Somerset Road
14:00 – 01:00
Main Road
Intersection of Granger Bay Boulevard and Main Road (CBD bound carriageway)
14:00 – 01:00
Highfield Road
Highfield Street and Somerset Road (limited access from 14:00-17:00)
14:00 – 01:00
Boundary Road
Intersection Somerset Road (limited access from 14:00-17:00)
14:00 – 01:00
Wessels Road
Intersection Somerset Road (limited access from 14:00-17:00)
14:00 – 01:00
Exhibition Terrace
intersection Main Road (limited access from 14:00-17:00)
14:00 – 01:00
Ashstead Road
intersection Main Road (limited access from 14:00-17:00)
14:00 – 01:00
Granger Bay Boulevard
Helen Suzman Boulevard traffic circle to Main Road
14:00 – 01:00
Somerset Road
Highfield Street and Vesperdene Road, Sea Point bound carriageway
14:00 – 01:00
Main Road
Sea Point bound carriageway between Upper Portswood Road and York Road
14:00 – 01:00
Main Road
Varneys Road and Granger Bay Boulevard CBD bound carriage way (vehicles needing to access the car park behind Ultra Liquor can do so)
17:00 – 01:00
