PUMA Sailing fans can catch all the action of the PUMA Ocean Racing team with the arrival of PUMA’s racing yacht, Mar Mostro (Monster of the Sea), at the V&A Waterfront in November.

Mar Mostro is PUMA’s second entry into the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race having placed second in the 2008/9 Volvo Ocean Race.

Cape Town is the first stop-over in this “Mount Everest of sailing,” a 39,000 nautical mile, round-the-world ocean race, stopping in ten ports over the course of nine months.

PUMA’s Mar Mostro is expected to sail into the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on 25 November. Spectators will be able to view the boat in action in-port on 9 and 10 December and at the race restart on 11 December.

A PUMA pop-up store and entertainment zone called the PUMA Quad will be located opposite the V&A Amphitheatre, to provide the public with limited edition PUMA product for the two-week stopover.

PUMA will host daily activities at the PUMA Quad. Sailing prowess will be tested with grinding competitions taking place between 3pm and 6pm on the 26 November, 1, 3, 8 December as well as between 2pm and 4pm on 10 and 11 December.

The contestant with the best grinding results on competition days will win a R1000 PUMA voucher. Two grand prizes of R10 000 in PUMA vouchers will be awarded to the contestants with the top grinding scores on 10 and 11 December.

Daily sundowner Spinnaker Sessions will start on 25 November and will see the likes of local DJs Dino Moran and Craig De Sousa spinning cool tunes at the PUMA Quad from 6.15pm to 9pm and between 7.15pm to 9pm on 10 and 11 December.

In 2010 PUMA hosted a series of parties around the globe to celebrate the after-hours athlete – a person who loves to compete in the lesser known sports (pool, foosball etc) within the social environment. PUMA will continue to celebrate these after-hours sports heroes, this time with a sailing twist, through the PUMA Social Club presents All Hands on Deck party on 9 December from 4pm to 1am at Quay 4, V&A Waterfront.

This is the official Volvo Ocean Race party with live performances by Jack Parow, Craig de Sousa, Holiday Murray, Anthea Scholtz, Them Tornados and The Wedding DJs. Ping pong, darts and bowling are a few of the games that can be played with a drink in your hand on the night. Tickets are limited and will be sold at the door for R50 per person.

The PUMA Ocean Racing team is led by Skipper Ken Read, who has amassed 10 of the most elite off-shore sailors from across the globe, including South African born Jono Swain, to compete in this epic race.

The Volvo Ocean Race begins 5 November 2011 in Alicante, Spain and ends in Galway, Ireland in July 2012. The eight stopovers in between include: Cape Town, Abu Dhabi, Sanya (China), Auckland, Itajaí (Brazil), Miami, Lisbon and Lorient (France).

For more information on the race, team, and crew visit www.puma.com/sailing.

What better way to get your Christmas shopping started early, and spend a lazy day meandering through markets, rather than rushing around bustling shopping malls at the last minute?

Christmas Markets in Cape Town

The Drostdy-Hof Annual Christmas Market takes place on 12 November at De Oude Drostdy in Tulbagh.  A variety of stalls will be set up in the decorated Cape Dutch style museum and in the grounds. You can browse through a wonderful selection of gifts, toys, crafts, jewellery and clothing. This market is open from 10am to 3pm and you can call 021 809 7802 for more information.

The Stellenbosch Fresh Goods Christmas Night Market takes place at Oude Libertas in Stellenbosch from 2 to 3 December. Free to enter, this popular night market lets you stock up on some fabulous produce and cuisine, and wonderful Christmas treats. You can purchase a real Christmas tree, or browse through the designer clothing and accessory boutique. Designer goods and gifts for all ages and budgets are available for you to peruse. For more information, email admin@slowmarket.co.za or call Karin on 021 886 8514.

Edgemead Christmas Market runs for a long period – from 9 to 22 December – which is perfect for those last-minute must-have gifts! Only the Cape’s finest crafters are selected to exhibit their wares at this market, which is well attended by tourists and locals. Boasting a wide variety of goods, from foodstuffs, jewellery to toys and teddy bears, this market is not to be missed. The market is open every day from 10am to 8pm, including Sundays.

Kloovenburg Christmas Market takes place on 17 December at Kloovenburg Estate in Riebeeck Kasteel. This market showcases the finest produce from the Riebeek Valley and lets visitors stock up on marvellous fresh produce and gifts. Entry is free, and the market is open from 09h30 to 3pm. Call the Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Estate on 022 448 1635 or visit their website for more information.

Remember, remember, the 5th of November. Be sure to head out to Guyfawkes celebrations this weekend and enjoy the bright lights and fireworks. Please ensure that your pets are safe and secure at home. The City of Cape Town dedicates special areas where fireworks can be let off on Guy Fawkes Day, so if you want to witness some firework displays, or let off a few fireworks yourself, please ensure you do so at one of these safe sites: Theo Marais Park, Koeberg Road, Milnerton; Bishop Lavis Sportsfield, Lavis Drive, Bishop Lavis; Wesfleur Sportsfield, Reygersdal Drive, Atlantis; Macassar Beach parking area, Macassar Road, Macassar; Swartklip Sports Complex, corner of Spine and Swartklip Roads, Mitchells Plain; Maidens Cove parking area, Victoria Road, Camps Bay; Athlone Stadium parking area (Eastern side), Klipfontein Road, Athlone and the Sunrise Beach parking area, Sunrise Circle, Muizenberg.

FNB Whisky Live Festival

The 2011 FNB Whisky Live Festival comes to the Cape Town International Convention Centre, from 2 to 4 November. The largest, liveliest and most exciting whisky lifestyle show of its kind in the world, the FNB Whisky Live Festival will showcase over 180 local and international whisky brands, including established producers, new products being launched and a variety of lifestyle products. The FNB Whisky Live Festival is fun for both the connoisseur and the beginner. You can look forward to some excellent parties, whisky workshops and the Volvo Whisky Lifestyle Lounge. A variety of ticket options are available for purchase, via WebTickets. Visit the festival website for more information.

Bonnievale Bonanza

Taking place at Bonnievale High School from 4 to 6 November, the Bonnievale Bonanza promises some excellent family fun, and a wide variety of activities. This family and town festival is great for both the young and old, and the town sets aside the first weekend of every November to celebrate, exercise and enjoy. With proper country fun and games, a fresh food market, three cycling routes and a mountain bike route, the Bonnievale Bonanza also boasts a 5 kilometre fun walk/run, wine tastings and a potjiekos competition. Visit the website for more information or call Huipie on 082 921 4463.

Caledon Beer Festival

The Caledon Beer Festival takes place on 5 November and coincides with the Caledon Casino, Hotel and Spa’s twelfth anniversary. With fantastic South Africa musicians and live acts in store, tonnes of entertainment and, of course, brilliant beer all round, this festival is also family-friendly. The kids will be kept entertained with jumping castles, face painting, a special movie theatre and playstation room. The Caledon Beer Fest is organised by The Caledon Casino, Hotel & Spa in association with the Theewaterskloof Municipality and South African Breweries. Tickets are available from Computicket.

The Old Mutual Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts run from November to April every year, and the 2011/2012 lineup has just been announced. The Summer Sunset Concerts are a wonderful way to enjoy a lazy picnic with friends and family, whilst enjoying some of South Africa’s hottest acts. These concerts are a wonderful way to wind down the weekend, and recharge for the week ahead.

All tastes are catered for, through the lineup, with the concerts featuring jazz, R&B, hip hop, rock, folk and big bands. Tickets for the concerts open on the Tuesday before, and you can purchase them from the Visitor’s Centre Ticket Office. Alternatively, book your tickets online at Webtickets. Tickets are also available at the gate, but book early to avoid disappointment, as the concerts are very popular. You can also make a telephonic booking by calling 021 761 2866. Tickets cost from R50 to R120, dependent on age, the specific concert and whether or not you are a member of the Kirstenbosch Botanical Society.

Gates open at 16h00, and concerts are held between 17h30 and 19h00. They go ahead, irrespective of the weather and refunds are not issued. Some concerts offer a kids zone, where your little ones can enjoy some supervised entertainment and activities, while you relax on the lawns to some sweet music. Please check the schedule to ensure that a Kids Zone will be operating for the concert you wish to attend.

If you forget to bring along a picnic basket, you can purchase a hamper from the Silvertree Restaurant or the Kirstenbosch Tea Room.

The 2011/2012 season features some fantastic artists. Kicking off the season will be Locnville and Jax Panik on 20 November 2011. You can look forward to Jack Parow and the Van Coke Kartel on 27 November, and Lira on 4 December. The annual Carols by Candlelight event will be held on 15, 16 and 17 December, and this is a wonderful way to ring in the festive season. Zebra and Giraffe take the stage on 26 December, whilst the New Years party features Mango Groove. Heading into 2012, you can look forward to The Graeme Watkins Project, Johnny Clegg, Dan Patlansky, Taxi Violence, Goldfish, Freshlyground and a host of other fantastic live acts.

Chill out and enjoy some superb South African music, whilst taking in some of Kirstenbosch Gardens‘ natural beauty.

Now that the cold weather has moved on, it’s time to get out and about in the Western Cape.

Pinotage on Tap is an annual event, which sees thousands of loyal visitors flock to Diemersfontein in Wellington. With an array of quality entertainment lined up, including South African stars, aKING, Pinotage on Tap is the official launch vehicle for South Africa’s original Coffee Pinotage, this year. Pinotage on Tap takes place on 22 October, and you can find out more about it here or book your tickets on Computicket.

There’s something quite relaxing about flying a kite and this upcoming festival celebrates just that. With the theme “Uplifting Mind and Body”, the Cape Town International Kite Festival will take place for the sixteenth year, from 22 to 23 October, in Muizenberg. Hosted by Cape Mental Health and Heart 104.9FM, this is Africa’s biggest kite festival. You can look forward to kite-making, kite-flying, food stalls, kiddies’ rides, a full programme of entertainment and an eclectic craft market. Tickets cost just R15 for adults and R5 for children. Call 021 447 9040 or visit the website for more information.

The Sixth International Oriental Dance Festival takes place at various locations across Cape Town, from 27 to 30 October. This charity event raises funds for the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Abused Women and Children, in Athlone, Cape Town. With performers coming from all over Europe, Africa and Malaysia, visitors can look forward to shows from 35 international and local belly dancing schools and studios, with performances by over 500 dancers. Events include a gala dinner, workshops and a vibrant fringe programme. Call 021 701 2993 for more information.

The 8th Franschhoek Classical Music Festival takes place from 28 to 30 October. This festival offers a range of classical music events, hosted at some of Franschhoek’s finest venues and landmarks. Bringing together excellent musicians and a variety of classics – including the renowned Phantom of the Opera – this festival is not to be missed. Including local and international stars of the classical stage, the festival is put together by well-known pianist, Christopher Duigan. For more information on this festival, please visit the website here.

Now entering its fifth year, Robertson Wine on the River is a weekend of family fun and relaxation. Taking place this year from 14 to 16 October, this open-air wine festival is held on the banks of the Breede River at the Goudmyn Farm, which is found between Robertson and Bonnievale.

Robertson Wine on the River Festival

At this family-friendly festival of fun, you can look forward to wonderful wine-tasting opportunities and luxurious cuisine galore. You’ll also be entertained with live music, and there’s plenty of fun for the kids too. Wine is sold on site at cellar price, so you can pick up some fantastic bargains on excellent wine.

You can look forward to sampling more than three hundred wines, from over forty wineries. You can also take part in some tutored chardonnay tastings in the Chardonnay Tent. River cruises, a farmer’s market with a host of homemade goods on produce on sale, and so much more!

Find yourself the perfect place to stay in Robertson and enjoy a weekend of sunshine and fun. Tickets can be purchased via Webtickets and cost R220 for the full weekend, per adult. Children under 18 gain admission free. For more information on this festival, visit the website here.

Rocking the Daisies takes place this coming weekend , from 7 to 9 October 2011.. This festival takes over Cloof Wine Estate in Darling and has fast become one of South Africa’s premier music festivals.

Rocking the Daisies is a music festival with a message – that of “play hard, tread lightly”. It is South Africa’s top eco-friendly music and lifestyle festival, and exhibits environmentally conscious products and systems, whilst employing them throughout the festival. Rocking the Daisies exists to entertain and inform, whilst providing a pleasant festival experience.

Rocking the Daisies - 7 to 9 October 2011

This year, the main stage will host a variety of top local musicians, including Jack Parow, Just Jinjer, The Arrows, Gazelle and Prime Circle. The Red Bull Studio Live stage keeps it funky, with artists like Felix Laband, El Gordo andAudiophile 021. The Lemon Tree Theatre presents a variety of different types of artists, from comedians to dancers and even a UV light show. The New World Beat Ring is the World Music Stage, and features Guy Buttery, Sylvestre Kabassidi and a host of other artists. Whatever your auditory tastes, Rocking the Daisies has something for everyone.

The festival also provides comfortable accommodation, for both campers and those who don’t enjoy camping. The Kreef Hotel provides pre-pitched tents with mattresses and magnificent ablution facilities. For those who like to camp, the ablution facilities are great, and the Brutal Fruit Daisy Den will be offering a little extra luxury for women – including complimentary massages, manicures and pedicures.

Rocking the Daisies is also a family-friendly festival, and provides great entertainment for kids at the kids’ playground. For festival-goers who don’t want to miss a match, the Black Label Champion Zone will screen all Rugby World Cup games played over the weekend, including the South Africa game which will be screened on the Main Stage’s big screen.

You can find out more about the festival here and order tickets from Webtickets. Full weekend, Campervan, two-day and one-day tickets are still on sale.

Play hard, tread lightly.

The Western Cape has always placed emphasis on celebrating nature and environmental conservation issues. Arguably the most beautiful province in South Africa, the Western Cape is renowned for its progressive thinking and support of natural causes. This is evident in the number of environmentally conscious events that take place throughout the year in the province, and the month of October is no different.

The Riebeek Valley Shiraz and Art Weekend celebrates the fabulous wines and artwork that emanates from the Swartland Wine Route. Taking place over the first weakend of October, this event celebrates the region’s Shiraz heritage and showcases its wonderful local artists. This sensory exploration of a weekend is packed with activity, and includes participation by most of the restaurants, cellars, shops and galleries in the region. For more information, contact Sue Pugh on 082 407 3858 or contact them via email.

The ninth edition of the shnit! International Short Film Festival takes place from 5 to 9 October 2011. The South African event takes place at the Labia Theatres in Gardens, Cape Town. Nearly 300 short films are to be shown, and you’ll enjoy some truly eccentric and cutting edge work, including the best of South African short film makers’ work. A full festival pass costs R180, or R150 for students. A single entrance costs R30, or R25 for students, whilst a day pass costs R75, or R60 for students. Tickets can be bought through Computicket or visit the Festival website.

Bredekloof Outdoor Festival takes place from 7 to 9 October 2011, across the Breede River Valley. The region is a fantastic natural playground, with majestic mountains, vineyards, sparkling rivers and of course, quality wine and cuisine. Events take place at wineries and cellars across the region and include something for everyone – from helicopter flips, to live music, sports, wine-tastings and fantastic food. This festival is definitely family-friendly, and worth a weekend getaway. Take a look at possible accommodation here or visit the region’s website.

Rocking the Daisies Music Festival takes place for the fifth year running, in Darling, from 7 to 9 October 2011, at the Cloof Wine Estate. Offering the finest in live entertainment, lifestyle exhibitions and food, Rocking the Daisies is a music festival with a message, and incorporates environmentally conscious products and systems into the festival, emphasizing the theme of “play hard, tread lightly”. Rocking the Daisies is committed to bringing home the message of greener lifestyles, and showing attendees how to incorporate it into their lives once they’re home again. This year’s line-up includes The Arrows, Jack Parow, Lark and an abundance of other top acts. Entertainment is spread across four stages – the Main Stage, the Red Bull Studio Live, the Lemon Tree Theatre and the Nu World Beat Ring. Visit the website for more information.

The route for the Cape Town Marathon 2011, which takes place on Sunday 25 September during the Heritage Day weekend, has been created to celebrate the Mother City’s rich natural and cultural heritage.

The run starts in Adderley Street at 6.30am and passes many of Cape Town’s attractions and sites of significance including the Castle of Good Hope, Groote Schuur Hospital, the Astronomical Observatory, Rondebosch Common, the Salt River Market, the V&A Waterfront, the Green Point Lighthouse and the Cape Town Stadium.

The 42.2km Cape Town Marathon, taking place on 25 September, starts in Adderley Street at 6.30am and passes many of Cape Town’s attractions and sites of significance including the Castle of Good Hope, Groote Schuur Hospital, the Astronomical Observatory, Rondebosch Common, the Salt River Market, the V&A Waterfront, the Green Point Lighthouse and the Cape Town Stadium before the finish at the Green Point Urban Park. Pic credit: Illustration by Caroline Vos for Cape Town Marathon.

James Evans, the president of Western Province Athletics, said the marathon was created with a specific vision which included showcasing Cape Town’s natural and cultural heritage.

“When the Cape Town Marathon was started in 2007 there was a lot of discussion about what we were trying to achieve. Various principles were set out: the standard of South African marathon running is weak, mostly because we do not have fast courses in South Africa. So the course design had to take that into account,” Evans said.

“But we also wanted to showcase Cape Town. It is internationally renowned for the mountain and the sea, so that influenced the course design with mountain and the sea providing a backdrop for most of the race. We also wanted to tie in with Heritage month and to highlight the heritage sites of Cape Town.”

The sites en-route which are of significance include:

• The Adderley Street flower sellers are a colourful Cape Town institution.
• Table Mountain can be seen from different perspectives throughout the race.
• The Castle of Good Hope – the oldest building in South Africa was built by Jan van Riebeeck and the Dutch East India Company and was completed in 1679.
• Groote Schuur Hospital – site of the world’s first human heart transplant.
• The University of Cape Town is South Africa’s oldest university.
• The Rondebosch Common, declared a National Monument in 1961, was used as a military encampment and in 1855 it became open for public use when the rector of St Paul’s Church was given permission to gaze his cows on the land.
• The globally respected Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
• The South African Astronomical Observatory, which grew from the Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope, was founded in 1820.
• The Salt River Market is the oldest market in Cape Town, where traders sell fresh produce daily.
• The V&A Waterfront is South Africa’s most visited destination – the combination of shops, restaurants, nightspots, tourist attractions and museums in the city’s historic harbour attract millions of visitors annually. Harbour construction began in 1860, when Prince Alfred tipped the first stones for the breakwater.
• The Green Point Lighthouse is South Africa’s oldest dating back to 1824.
• The new Cape Town Stadium which hosted eight matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup including the semi-final between the Netherlands and Uruguay.
• The Green Point Urban Park which hosts the finish to the race is a new multipurpose 10.5 hectare “people’s recreation park” and has a fitness park with cycling, outdoor training and gym facilities which are available to visitors.

If you would like to take part in the run visit www.wpa.org.za and submit your entry online – the pre-entry deadline for the 42.2km and 10km races has been extended to noon on Monday 19 September. Manual entries will be taken on Friday September 23 between 10h00 and 18h00 at the Tea House situated close to the South Gate of the Green Point Urban Park (mountain side).

Marathon and 10km runners can collect numbers and temporary licenses (if required) from the Tea House on Friday 23 September between 10h00 and 18h00 or on the Saturday between 09h00 and 17h00.

Participants in the 5km fun run and 5 x 4.2km relay, which take place on Saturday 24 September Heritage Day, can enter and collect their numbers and temporary licences (if required) at the Tea House on the Friday between 10h00 and 18h00 or on the Saturday between 09h00 and 13h45.

The prize money for the marathon winner is R25 000 followed by R15 000 for second and R12 500 for third place. In the 10km race the winner will receive R12 500 with the second runner winning R7 500 and third place R6 250.

The event is supported by the City of Cape Town, Cape Town Tourism, the Cape Town Partnership, Coca- Cola, Spur Restaurants and Second Skins.

To book accommodation for the Cape Town Marathon contact Cape Town Tourism on 021 487 6800 between 9am and 9pm.

For information contact WPA on 021 699 0615. For daily news about Cape Town Marathon follow www.twitter.com/@CTmarathon or www.facebook.com/CTmarathon.

The September school holidays are coming up, and it’s almost time to relax and unwind in the Spring sunshine. Start planning your holiday itinerary, and fill up your calendar with fun events like these, taking place in the Western Cape.

The Nederburg Wine Auction features a collection of 150 of South Africa’s finest wines. The 37th edition of this auction takes place on 16 and 17 September at the Nederburg Winery in Paarl. A premier event on Cape Town’s wine calendar, the auction has evolved over the years, and is now an international event, where major local and foreign wine buyers bid for the best wines. The original first five wine producers who featured in the very first auction in 1975, are again taking their place under the hammer. They are Delheim, Groot Constantia, Overgaauw and Simonsig, and Nederburg. These stalwarts of the South African wine scene will be joined by a host of established wines and a few newcomers, including JP Bredell Wines and Perdeberg. For more information, visit the Auction website.

The Cape Town Marathon takes place on 25 September, and sets out to test athletes whilst treating them to some of South Africa’s most beautiful scenery. The race begins in Adderley Street, heads in Rondebosch, towards the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and finally finishing at Green Point Urban Park. Limited to just 7000 runners,  the marathon covers 42,2 kilometres. There will also be a shorter 10 kilometre race, and a 4.2 kilometre mini-marathon for juniors. Starting at 06h30, the marathon has an 8 hour cutoff time. Go along and support your runners, and call 021 669 0624 for more information.

The Cape Town International Boat Show is a must-see for all boating enthusiasts. Now in its eleventh year, the Boat Show will take place at Cape Town International Convention Centre and extend to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. This year’s event showcases exotic boats and a variety of boating technology and products. Tickets cost just R60 per person per day, which includes entry to all Boat Show events. There is no charge for children to attend. For more information on the Cape Town International Boat Show, call Shirley Roos on 083 384 8595 or visit the website for more information.