Aaaah, Easter. After the flurry of Christmas and Valentine’s Day, you’ve gotta love a holiday that doesn’t require you to buy flowers, bubble-bath, or stupid hats. In addition, you get a lovely long weekend and hot cross buns! If you don’t already think that Easter is absolutely the best holiday, these events are bound to convince you. And I solemnly swear not to use the “words” egg-citing or egg-xcellent. Not even once.
1. Easter egg hunt on Table Mountain (31 March)
Photo courtesy of Shaen Adey
This has become a favourite outing for many families over the last few years. A cable-car ride is exciting enough. With the added promise of chocolate at the top, it’s almost too much. This year, the annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Sunday, from 10:00 – 13:00.
You can book tickets on the Table Mountain website.
2. Lindt Gold Bunny Maze and V&A Waterfront (22 – 31 March)
This event should make every adult feel a little sad: why do kids get to have all the fun? The Lindt Gold Bunny Maze at the V&A happens every second hour in the Barrow Court, where a maximum of 15 children can explode into a labyrinth like chocolate-minded sniffer-dogs. There will also be face-painting, sand art workshops, a petting zoo and papier-mâché decoration.
Find out more about the Lindt Gold Bunny Maze here.
3. Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (29 March – 6 April)
The roadtrip is as important as the destination - photo courtesy of Peter Wager.
Or, National Arts Festival for the English speakers amongst us. This festival offers up a rich mix of arts, music, culture and children’s events in the heart of the Klein Karoo. If you don’t speak Afrikaans, think of it as an opportunity to be a tourist in your own country: and also make sure to work on your mimed gesture for “more lamb stew, please!”
Visit the Klein Karoo Nationsale Kunstefees website for more details.
4. Easter egg painting workshops at Winchester Mansions
Kids will love the opportunity to get messy and paint their own Easter eggs. And instead of frantically newspapering all surfaces, the parents can indulge in a salted chocolate caramel tart, or any of the other home-baked treats from the deli.
If a two-hour jaunt just isn’t going to cut it, they’ve got some great accommodation specials for that weekend only: “Hop to It!” includes a free DIY Easter egg painting kit, hot breakfast and home-baked hot cross buns for R2 600 a night (the suite sleeps two adults and one child). Its more upmarket brother, the “Bunny Good Idea” special, will see you in the most gorgeous sea view family suite for R3 999 a night.
Book for an Easter event at Winchester Mansions here.
5. Oyster and Champagne Festival at Bloemendal Wine Estate (7 – 8 March)
You don’t have to be a child to enjoy Easter. Prove your maturity by competing in the “shuck and slurp” competition, or sample as much of the French and local bubbly as you can. There will be 20 000 oysters, folks, and they’ve got to go.
Book your ticket to the Oyster and Champagne Festival.
6. Rand Show (29 – 31 March)
Fun at the Rand Show 2012
This year the Rand Show is focusing on “getting its show floor right.” What does this mean? Bring a wallet and shopping bags. From furniture to French cheese, from cosmetics and scarves to textiles and bathroom fixtures, exhibitors from all over the country will be showcasing their best products and specials.
Find out more about the Rand Show here.
7. Band Stand on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton (31 March)
This year’s celebration is all about the swing. From 13h00, you’ll be serenaded with the old classics: three hours of awesome live music from the Big Band will have you feeling like you’re back in the 50s. Have lunch at one of the restaurants around the edge of the square, or a few cocktails. Entrance is free!
On Monday, SAFM presents a live choral rendition of Handel’s Messiah. This is also free: although if you sing along too loudly to the “Haaaaaallelujah” parts, we suspect you’ll pay dearly.
Find out more about Band Stand on the Square (and other Easter events) here.
8. The Blades, Pretoria: Easter Egg Hunt and Buffet (31 March)
“The Blades” is a beautiful spot to spend your Easter Sunday. They’re having an Easter buffet with all sorts of delicious treats: how do you choose between butternut-feta stuffed chicken breasts and salmon, mussel and mango salad? Well, it’s a buffet, so you don’t have to. You can even have seconds of the pecan-nut tart with clotted cream for dessert (have a look at the mouth-watering menu here.) Meanwhile, your darling kiddies can be entertained by a mobile petting zoo, face painting, a jumping castle and an Easter egg hunt. Everyone wins.
Check out the menu and booking details for The Blades’ Easter Buffet here.
9. Largest Easter Egg Hunt in Africa
This is quite the boast. Eggs are hidden all over the Phantom Ship Wreck Aquarium at uShaka Marine World, which has plenty of nooks and crannies in its 500 metre-long viewing galleries. When the bun-fight is over, your sugar-fiends will be entertained by an Easter Dolphin show, also starring Slippy the Seal, Rusty the Penguin and Raggy the Shark. The hunt begins at 07h00, which means that by the time the sugar high has dissolved, everyone will be ready for an afternoon nap.
Click here to book for the Largest Easter Egg Hunt in Africa.
10. Splashy Fen
Music festivals are popping up all over South Africa like (ahem) daisies, but the upstarts don’t have anything on the old faithfuls. Splashy Fen has been going since 1990, making it older than many of the born-frees who pass out on its lush grassy banks. The Natal Midlands is a gorgeous area, and enjoying it whilst listening to the best live music in South Africa is an experience not to be missed.
Find out more about Splashy Fen here.
11. Easter celebrations at the One&Only
The One&Only is going to be rather busy over Easter weekend. Vista Lounge is holding an Easter Bunny Afternoon Tea buffet from 2:30 – 5:30 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday for R165 per adult. What makes this different from any other tea? Well, the option of a melted Lindt fondue, for starters! (Yes, you can have chocolate as a starter if you want. It’s Easter, remember?)
Reuben’s will be holding an Easter buffet on Sunday, with a variety of delicious food with a Cape twist. It’s R395 per person, and R175 for a child between 4 – 12. As we’ve learnt from eating Reuben’s cooking before, no doubt your tastebuds will sing with delight. Honey-roasted Karoo lamb shoulder, anyone?
If these are all a little too “sit-inside-and-behave” for your kids, there will be a Lindt Easter Egg Hunt at 3pm on Easter Sunday where they won’t have to use their inside-voices.
Click here to find out more about Easter events at the One and Only.
