Wondering where to go this New Year’s Eve? To make sure you ring in the new year in style, we’ve rounded up South Africa’s most epic New Year’s Eve parties to take you into 2017.
If you haven’t yet planned your end of the year festivities, don’t stress, we’ve got you covered!
Whether you celebrate the new year with a weekend-long music festival, attend the best beach party in town or head out to a fancy dinner – there are ample ways to bid farewell to 2016 and give 2017 the warm welcome it deserves.
NYE Event: Smoking Dragon Festival
The Smoking Dragon Festival is back for its 6th year and will be taking place from Thursday 29 December 2016 to Sunday 1 January 2017.
Overlooking the Tugela Falls, the Smoking Dragon Festival is the perfect outdoor event, with an abundance of incredible musical acts to enjoy whilst appreciating the cool waters of the adjacent dam.
The event will host more than 40 musical acts over the 3-day festival to ensure you end off the year with a bang.
Some of these acts include:
- International act - Stelth Ulvang
- International act - The Lumineers
- International act - US band Tudo Mundo
- Local act - Grassy Spark
- Local act - The Rudimentals
- Local act - The Kiffness
- Local act - Tidal Waves and more.
For your convenience, the event will have fixed toilet facilities, cooking, braai and camping areas on-site, to ensure comfort at its best.
Date: Thursday 29 December 2016 to Sunday 1 January 2017.
Venue: Amphitheatre Backpackers, Northern Drakensberg, Kwazulu-Natal.
Cost: R250 - R700.
Contact details: www.smokingdragon.org
NYE Event: Ballito New Year’s Eve Street Party
Described as ‘South Africa’s most famous street party’, Ballito New Year’s Eve Street Party on the North Coast is one of the biggest NYE bashes for KwaZulu-Natal.
This annual event has been around for 13 years and is back with a refreshing new look and feel, and an exciting number of new additions to showcase at this year’s event.
Those attending the street bash can expect the following:
- A wide variety of artisanal food trucks
- Several new decorative bars for quicker service
- A new craft beer offering
- Independent craft gins
- Various cocktail bars
- 3 dance floors and a long list of popular artists and deejays to keep you entertained.
Tickets have been on sale since 10 November and are already 50% sold out.
Date: Saturday 31 January 2016.
Venue: Sandra Road & Crush Night Club, Ballito, Dolphin Coast, South Africa.
Cost: General access: R400 | VIP access: R590.
Contact details: www.newyearsevesa.co.za
NYE Event: Fact Durban Rocks New Year’s Eve Party
The exclusive Fact Durban Rocks New Year’s Eve Party will be taking place on Saturday 31 December 2016 at the iconic People`s Park at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The event promises to feature the biggest fireworks display KwaZulu-Natal has ever seen.
Here, you can expect to see some of South Africa’s most popular musical performers to ensure you receive the very best in entertainment before welcoming in the new year.
Some of the artists include:
- Black Coffee
- AKA
- Cassper Nyovest
- Babes Wodumo
- Naak Musiq
- Somizi
- Big Nuz
- Pearl Modiadie and plenty more.
On the night, you can also enjoy a variety of food stalls, numerous bars, maximum security and credit card facilities available on-site.
For your convenience, you can also bring along your camp chairs, empty cooler boxes and food snacks along.
Date: Saturday 31 December 2016 at 6:00pm.
Venue: Peoples Park, Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Cost: R300 - R2000.
Contact details: www.factdurbanrocks.com/
NYE Event: New Year’s Eve at the V&A Waterfront
The V&A Waterfront is known for hosting one of the best family filled NYE events Cape Town has to offer each year.
The annual bash includes live music, a breathtaking firework display, several outdoor activity zones and a variety of carnival-themed performances to keep you and the kids entertained throughout the night.
At the V&A Waterfront, you can expect to be dazzled by fire dancers, magical nymphs and a towering pirate ship, amongst other attractions.
There will also be live music performances from various South African musical stars as well as more than 80 restaurants and eateries open in the evening to cater for those who work up an appetite during the festivities.
Date: Saturday 31 December 2016.
Venue: Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town.
Cost: Free.
Contact details: www.waterfront.co.za/
NYE Event: Comedy Show and Party at the Cape Town Comedy Club
Nothing beats a good chuckle, so why not laugh your way into the new year at the Cape Town Comedy Club?
The Comedy Show New Year’s Eve line-up includes a variety of top South African and international comedians who promise to offer a good giggle all the way into midnight.
Once the clock strikes 12, patrons can dance the night away with DJ Godfrey who will offer plenty entertainment to ring in the new year in style.
Date: Saturday 31 December 2016.
Venue: The Pumphouse, 6 Dock Rd, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa.
Cost: R350 (includes a welcome drink).
Contact details: www.capetowncomedy.com/new-years-eve-party
NYE Event: Rezonance NYE Festival
For those who fancy a road trip out of town, the Rezonance NYE Festival at the Contermanskloof Farm in Durbanville will make sure your 2017 kicks off with a bang.
The festival promises four days of stomping madness, with a stellar line-up comprising both local and international psytrance, progressive, techno, drum n bass and electronica acts.
Those camping at the festival can choose to pitch their own tents or rent one of the pre-pitched tents available for the long weekend.
Date: Saturday 30 December 2016 to Monday, 2 January 2017.
Venue: Bergendal Farm, Bergendal Road, Klaasvoogds West, Robertson.
Cost: R620 - R680 per a person.
Contact details: www.rezonancefestival.com
NYE Event: Soweto Theatre in Colour Countdown
The Soweto Theatre will be hosting its first New Year’s Eve party - a family-friendly event featuring well-known musicians, deejays and comedians.
The afternoon programme consists of an arts and crafts fair, music from local bands, drum majorettes, a larger-than-life puppet show and various indigenous games.
To ensure you dance your way into 2017, the evening programme will host live music from local Jozi FM deejays.
Safe and secure parking will be available, along with a variety of food and beverage stalls. One cooler box per person will also be allowed at R50 per box.
Admission is free but tickets are limited. Tickets for the event can be obtained from Soweto Theatre, Jozi FM studios or Soweto TV.
Date: Saturday December 31st 2016.
Venue: Cnr. Bolani Rd and Bolani Link, Jabulani, Soweto. Cost: Free.
Contact details: www.sowetotheatre.com/
NYE Event: Razzle Dazzle NYE Party at Chicago Piano Bar
Chicago Piano Bar promises to be a royal affair this New Year’s Eve.
The bar will be hosting an exclusive Razzle Dazzle dinner and dance.
Here, you can enjoy a mouthwatering 3-course meal, roulette shooters, as well as a countdown to the new year, before partying the night away with live music.
Dinner bookings are essential, but if you prefer to skip the meal and dance the night away, tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
Date: Saturday December 31st 2016.
Venue: Corner of Beyers Naude and Duiker street, Randpark Ridge, Randburg.
Cost: From R200.
Contact details: www.facebook.com/Chicagos.Piano.Bar
NYE Event: Revolution New Year’s Open Air Music Festival
The annual Revolution New Year’s Open Air Music Festival is back for another splendour filled event.
If Johannesburg’s underground dance scene excites you, then this soul shaking 3-day festival is the ideal NYE bash for you.
Taking place in Magaliesburg, the festival is set to showcase a variety of international acts live on two stages, as well as more than 40 of South Africa’s top trance, techno and drum & bass deejays.
Bring along your camping essentials and set up your own camp site, or you can hire Tent Nation Hotel to do it for you.
The ticket prices start from R350 and promises to be a jampacked musical whirlwind to help rope in the new year with joy and merriment.
Date: 30 December 2016 to 1 January 2017.
Venue: Hornbill Lodge, Magaliesberg.
Cost: R320.
Contact details: facebook.com/RevolutionNYE
NYE Event: The Barnyard Theatre 99 Hits Party
Attend the most daring 99 Hits rock show ever to hit the Barnyard Theatre stage.
This spectacular NYE event will feature a colourful, versatile cast who will take you on a roller coaster ride through more than 60 years of hit songs.
Featuring an 11-piece cast of singers, musicians and dancers, the 99 Hits party promises to keep you rocking from beginning to end of this music marathon.
Experience music from Robbie Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, The Supremes, Lady Gaga, Toto, Bon Jovi and many more.
Date: Saturday 31 December 2016.
Venue: The Barnyard Theatre, Pretoria.
Cost: From R140.
Contact details: barnyardtheatre.co.za
