Cape Town’s streets exploded with colour, creativity and carnival atmosphere on Saturday night as the third annual Cape Town Carnival lived up to its name and proved to the world how the Mother City can put on a world-class event – and also party.
The Carnival attracted an estimated 100 000 to the 1.2km Carnival route along the Fan Walk in Green Point, far exceeding organisers’ expectations.
Thousands of people took advantage of a perfect autumn evening on 24 March 2012 and flocked to the free concert on the Cape Town Stadium forecourt at 17:00 before securing a good spot to view the procession, which started on Somerset Road at 20:00.
The theme was “Cape to Cairo – a celebration of South Africa and Africa and its people”. Two thousand dazzlingly-dressed performers and nine lavish themed floats interpreted the theme in different ways – from a 20-metre crocodile to a giant pyramid, an aloe, minstrels, a minibus taxi and a modern African queen.
“The Cape Town Carnival on Saturday captured the spirit of this administration’s goal to build an inclusive city by attracting a diverse crowd from all over the city. Seeing all the people who came out to jointly celebrate this iconic event was reminiscent of the buzz that spread through the city during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™,” said Executive Mayor, Alderman Patricia de Lille.
“The successful hosting of the Carnival has shown the world once again that Cape Town is capable of hosting world class events.”
Rachel Jafta, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Cape Town Carnival, said the Carnival is more than just “Cape Town’s biggest street party”, but a massive social collaboration between different communities from all over Cape Town.
“We are so proud of the performers who delivered outstanding performances and the people of Cape Town did themselves proud with exemplary behaviour. We say a huge thank you to the National Minister of Arts and Culture, Paul Mashatile and our Mayor, Patricia de Lille for their ongoing support of the project.
“We are so proud that we are able to be a part of, and give back to a city whose unique diversity and extraordinary beauty has been the inspiration behind the Cape Town Carnival.”
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and Jafta is certain the Carnival will soon be the “biggest” event on Cape Town’s social calendar.
The Carnival is organised by the Cape Town Carnival Trust, a non-profit organisation, and funded and supported by the City of Cape Town, Provincial Government of the Western Cape, Department of Arts and Culture, Media24, M-Net, DSTV and Heart 104.9fm.
Visit the Cape Town Carnival website for more information.
