What’s happening in and around town?
Got nothing to do during the weekend or the upcoming week? Don’t look any further than the Herald’s What’s on in and around town guide …
• Until 23 December: Janice Honeyman’s Snow White – The Fairest Panto in all the Land at Joburg Theatre

We have a kind, loveable heroine, a handsome, hunky prince, seven cute dwarfs, a magic mirror and of course the ultimate example of Evil – the wicked Queen Hildegonda. Janice Honeyman’s Snow White stars Desmond Dube in the comic role of Dame Dolla Diddledaddledoodledragon, while John Robbie makes his pantomime debut as The Major-Dumb-Ou of the Royal Palace of Cool Cornucopia. The ever-popular and hugely entertaining story of Snow White will be brought to life from page to stage in an enchanting production complete with stunning sets, beautiful costumes, breathtaking special effects and lots of comedy. Click here for more details.
• Until 23 December: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at Joburg Theatre
The tale tells the story of an Enchantress who turns a cruel, unfeeling Prince into a hideous Beast. To break the spell, the Beast must learn to love another and earn her love in return before the last petal falls from an enchanted rose. Ten years later, in a small village far below the Beast’s castle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman, Belle, yearns for something more than her provincial life. On his way to show his invention at a fair, Belle’s father Maurice gets lost and seeks shelter in a castle. Click here for more information.
• 28 November 2018 to 6 January 2019: A Christmas Carol at Montecasino

Crewworks brings A Christmas Carol to life as you have never seen it before. Jason Ralph (Phantom of the Opera, Shakespeare in Love) will portray Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of warmth and redemption. It promises to be a sumptuous banquet for the eyes, ears and imagination. Introducing several ghosts and characters from his past, present and future, the play takes us on an emotional journey from the old Scrooge’s tight-fisted, miserly ways, to the new Scrooge – spreading goodwill and cheer through his generous spirit. Perfect for the entire family, this outing is bound to become a family tradition! For more information, visit Computicket.
• 30 November to 2 December: Fun activity for kids at the Parkview Charity Christmas Market
No matter where you are in the world, Christmas is all about family, love and great food. Nicarela Charity has made every effort to ensure that every member of your family gets to experience this. For the past 11 years, the Parkview Charity Christmas Market has been a festive family event with lots to do for children of all ages as well as parents. It takes place at the George Hay Park in Parkview. While the adults keep themselves busy with a variety of activities such as shopping, sipping gin, or simply watching the time go by in the park, children can occupy themselves with different activities such as sand art, face-painting, nail art, temporary tattoos, wood-painting crafts, candle-dipping, play in the snow tent and take train rides. The kiddies with a more adventurous spirit can enjoy bungee jumping, the rocket, the paintball shooting range and the mechanical bull. Visit the Facebook page Parkview Charity Christmas Market or the website www.nicarela.org for more information.
• 30 November to 31 December: Queen creates their own kinda magic at Emperors Palace
The world-famous Queen show, It’s A Kinda Magic, is back, bringing you the best of the band’s legendary music. Don’t miss the spectacular on stage at Emperors Palace. Painstaking attention has been paid to all the music, the iconic voice of Freddie Mercury, the amazing guitar solos of Brian May and the groundbreaking rock harmonies. And, with state-of-the-art sound, lighting and authentic costumes, this is as close as you can get to the real thing. For more information, visit Computicket or Emperors Palace.
• 6 to 16 December: Tina – Simply the Best is coming to Roodepoort Theatre!
Joburg can’t get enough of Tina – Simply The Best! This sensational show, highlighting the unforgettable hits from the legend herself, Tina Turner, now travels to the Roodepoort Theatre on the West Rand, providing ideal family entertainment for the festive season. Enjoy the electrifying concert experience of Tina – Simply The Best with this full stage production brimming with Tina’s hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s and featuring the powerful, raspy vocals and thrilling stage presence of Caroline Borole live on stage, complete with band, brass section, backing vocalist and dancers to make this the definitive tribute and a fabulous fun night out for the family. Hear all the energetic Rock and soulful RnB hits that made Tina Turner one of the 20th century’s biggest names in music, including Simply the Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It, River Deep Mountain High, Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, We Don’t Need Another Hero, What You Get Is What You See, Private Dancer and many more.
• 12 December 2018 to 6 January 2019: The ultimate kids holiday at Cradlestone Mall
This Festive Season, Cradlestone Mall is bringing youngsters wild, fun-themed holiday activities. Their free holiday fun will be on offer inside the Mall in the lower-level promotional courts and includes a jungle playground for kids. Adrenalin-pumping inflatables may get all the buzz in the Adventure Park situated outdoors in the open parking area, but there’s also a lot of tamer fun to be had for families with little kids. They’ve put together various inflatable activities with lower admission prices.
Activities include:
Under the sea obstacle course
Enter through monstrous shark jaws, battle through the undulating obstacle course, face the Kraken, and make your final escape through the Pirates Cove.
Animal Express train
Hurry, don’t miss a ride for a scenic trip and jump, jump, jump …
Rainbow rush
Can you slide down the 8m high rainbow? It’s not scary, it’s colour fun.
Rain, rainbows and sand goes in hand
Dig for gold nuggets and gems galore. There will be enough buckets, spades and shiny delights. Dare to try the fun water experience with giant fun props.
Tropical jungle playground at the Woolworths court
This play area is quite something to behold – wild animals and exotic plants dangle from a thicket of vines that loom overhead. And so the adventure begins … from the first step, you are swiftly transported to a world of wonder as you walk beside gigantic flowers swarming with butterflies in an array of tropical colours. It’s the perfect spot for a photo.
The adventure heats up a notch as you notice danger ahead! You must now balance across a perilous swinging bridge that hangs over blazing coals and flames to make it to the other side … all while making sure that the poisonous fire-snakes don’t get a bite of you!
Once out, the next point of adventure is to navigate on all fours and crawl through a cobweb-laden, dark, mysterious cave. Be sure to avoid the creepy crawly giant spiders! As you move out of the cave, jump up onto another bridge and slide down to the next branch of the adventure.
The little explorers need to get down on their paws to discover all the treasures that lie beneath them. Best you grab some tools and start digging. Look closely in between the plain old rocks – you may spot those rubies, sapphires and diamonds. At the very edge of this forest, the real fun awaits – with run-up ramps, ropes to hoist yourself, slides that let you slip down in a jiffy, a crawl-through tunnel, wooden decks, a mini-rock climb and more!
King Kong’s hide-out at Mugg & Bean
Jumping fun through the gigantic gorilla
Who’s who in the zoo at the Edgars court
Take selfies with the majestic animatronic Panda and White Tiger! There’ll also be arts, crafts and fun quizzes.
Jungle Vibe Tribe at the Game court
It’s time to unleash that wild, playful spirit! Enter into the Jungle Vibe Tribe Shack, and work on your drumming and war cry skills on the rustic jungle drums. Examine the optical illusion wall of natural wonders. Challenge yourself to Jungle Fear Factor – be brave and stick your fingers into jars of Jungle Frog’s Eyes, Slippery Slime and other weird wonders!
Interactive wildlife talks
Kids can play with creepies, crawlies and cutesies. There will also be interactive talks on the animals. The time schedule is available on the Mall’s Facebook page.
For further details visit Cradlestone Mall’s Facebook page and www.cradlestonemall.co.za.
• 13 December to 6 January 2019: Getting Festive at Silverstar
Silverstar is gearing up to become a holiday paradise right on your doorstep once again.
• Getting your Beach Fix
For the fourth year running, The Square, situated at the heart of this Tsogo Sun property, will be transformed into a sandy amusement park from 10am to 10pm daily (closed on Christmas Day). No need to pack up half the house and drive for hours for the family to enjoy the sun and sand – and the best part is that entry to Silverstar’s Beach Festival is free!
From beach fun for the kids to sunset cocktails for the grown-ups, sizzling food specials and live entertainment, there really is something to appeal to every single member of the family’s sense of holiday fun.
The whole family can spend the day in the sun and sand surrounded by a myriad entertainments – and entrance to the beach is absolutely free, with full access to all of the fun from the minute your feet touch the sand.
Beach activities for the little ones (or young at heart) include:
• Sandcastle-building competitions
• Stage music and dance
• Tug-o-war
• Hula-hoop competitions
• Ice-cream-eating competitions
• Inflatable waterslide
• Beach volleyball
• Beach-themed cut out for photos
• Beach bar – serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic slush
As the sun sets, the Beach transforms into a Calypso paradise, the perfect spot to party the night away.
Evening activities include:
• Beach bar – serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic slush
• Limbo competitions
• Fire poi (Fridays and Saturday)
• DJ (Fridays and Saturdays)
Silverstar’s Beach Festival 2018 is also the perfect place to see in the New Year, so make sure you don’t miss out on all the ‘staycation’ action – head to Silverstar this December.
• Lazy Weekends at the Silverstar Local Market
The Local Market has partnered with Silverstar to create a specialised market that promotes small business owners, artisans, musicians, designers and culinary specialists. The Silverstar Market will provide a platform for passionate local people who are proud of their work and offer quality products to showcase their talents and wares.
While you browse the stalls for delectable eats and other artisanal goodies, the kids can enjoy the dedicated play area. And, when you’re all shopped out, grab a few ice-cold drinks and a bite to eat, find a spot to sit, then relax and enjoy the entertainment. What’s not to love?
Entry to The Silverstar Market is free and it will run every Sunday from 9am to 4pm; and from 12 noon to 9pm only on Saturday 15, 22, 29 December and 5 January. From 6 January the Silverstar Local Market will take place once again only on Sundays, and only from 9am to 4pm (weather permitting).
• Half the price, double the big screen fun
Get 50 per cent off any movie, any time, any day at Silverstar from 7 December 2018 until 10 January 2019! It’s never hard to find a reason to catch a movie at Silverstar and now movies@ gives you an even better reason to catch the latest blockbusters at the West Rand’s favourite entertainment destination.
• Riding High
The Sky Rider – rated the number 1 amusement park attraction in South Africa – is a spectacular family sky ride experience, never to be forgotten … and it’s coming to Silverstar this December, along with Rodeo Trail, a favourite rodeo circuit with beautiful ponies, suitable for children of all ages.
• 15 December: Soweto Art and Craft fair
Get to the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani from 12 noon and 10pm on 15 December for an extended ‘I Love Soweto’ edition of the Soweto Art and Craft Fair in association with Concerts SA and Joburg City. This family-friendly fun day is a boastful display of the abundant creative flair that is fuelling the local creative economy of Soweto. Not only will you’ll be able to shop from a bespoke variety of fashion, furniture, art and tasty food, but audiences will also be spoilt with life-giving live music performances from the afro-psychedelic BCUC, an afro-coustic infusion with Msaki and Neo Muyanga, as well as offerings from Umle, Sun Xa Experience and Makhafula Vilakazi. These are artists who are at the forefront of the sonic/ spoken spaces they occupy, and they’ll be joined in the line-up by upcoming artists who have been accessing the platform that is this culture-building SACF Fair, such as Dragon Karly and Afrika Cele. For more information please visit our website [https://concertssa.co.za], follow @ConcertsSA on Twitter or like them on Facebook
• 16 Desember: Kersfees Skouspel in Pretoria
Lefra Produksies kondig met trots aan dat vanjaar se Kersfees Skouspel by die Sun Arena, Time Square in Pretoria aangebied gaan word. Meer as 15 topkunstenaars gaan in hierdie produksie optree, onder andere Brendan Peyper, Chris Chameleon, Die Broers, Jannie Moolman, Joshua Ziervogel, Katlego Maboe en Steffie le Roux. Dit gaan ‘n wonderlike Kerskonsert wees in die ware Boney M-styl van Kerskonserte. Dana Winner sal as spesiale gaskunstenaar optree. Sy het oor die jare meer as 3,5 miljoen albums verkoop, en het verskeie toekennings ontvang en die trefferparades gehaal in haar tuisland, België, asook in Nederland, Noorweë, Denemarke, Swede, Duitsland, Oostenryk, Switserland en natuurlik Suid-Afrika. ‘n Volledige orkes gaan optree. Besoek www.kersfeesskouspel.co.za vir meer inligting.
• 16 December: Fun Run in Toekies
The Church of the Nazarene will be hosting a Fun Run in Toekomsrus. Runners will start at 8.30am at the corner of Diamond and Visrivier Streets. The 8km run will cost R25 and the 4km run is R15. Registration will be on the same day, at 6.30am. For more information, contact Eunice Sedith on 082 358 3950.
• 17 December: Reaching out to the needy in Randfontein
Randfontein Christian Outreach Alliance will be handing out food parcels, clothes, toys and other basic necessities to the needy at the Elandsvlei Centre. The assembly point is the Spar Taxi Rank from where they will proceed to the Randfontein CBD. A group of volunteers will distribute pamphlets and spread the Gospel to the people in the streets. The procession will leave for the Elandsvlei Centre, and will be escorted by traffic officers and the police. Contact Lucky Masoek on 082 951 3724 for more information.
• 20 December: Christmas party for the elderly women of Mohlakeng
Sadmon (a social impact agency) in conjunction with Chomaka Catering are planning to host a Christmas party for the elderly women (bonkgono) of Mohlakeng. The event will take place on 20 December at the Mohlakeng Stadium. According to Mapheto Sadiki of Sadmon, this event seeks to recognise the value that the bonkgono bring to our lives in different ways, as well as acknowledge the various challenges they face in caring for different households. On the day, they anticipate welcoming about 200 grannies (sponsorship permitting). There will be various people assisting with welcoming of guests, a number of cooks, waiters, and runners, a brass band and a variety of performers awaiting the guests. Mapheto added that they seek to make lasting memories for the elderly who reside around Mohlakeng by giving them an early Christmas. The local municipality supports this event.
• 20 December 2018 to 7 January 2019: The Billions Bubble Show in Pretoria
The Billions Bubbles Show to be held at the Sun Arena at Time Square is a must for young and old. International sensation and bubble scientist, Fan Yang, brings his world-renowned bubble show to South Africa for the very first time and will literally blow you (and the family) away! The show involves spectacular displays of lights, lasers, smoke and thousands of bubbles of all sizes, bubbles within bubbles, as well as bouncing, floating and mega bubbles, to name but a few. Interested yet? Yang has spent over two decades combining the science of soap bubbles with the artistry of theatre. He has made the Guinness Book of World Records 16 times and, in the course of his career, developed and manufactured The Ultimate Bubble Toy, which will be available for purchase throughout the duration of the Billions Bubble Show. Each show is about 80 minutes long and show times are 10.30am, 2pm and 7pm. Tickets sell for R120 per person. Parking is available at R20 per car. Visit billionsbubbleshow.co.za for more information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51UkQ21UJyM&feature=youtu.be
• 21 December: Brush and Wash day at Rand West SPCA
Tails will be wagging during the fun-filled Brush and Wash day event to be held at the Rand West SPCA in Uitvalfontein on Friday, 21 December. The charity day will be hosted by Animal Resource South Africa ahead of Christmas, to share the excitement of the festive season with the animals. The idea is just for people from the local community to take along any old towels, dog shampoo, brushes, buckets, dog leashes as well as treats for cats so that these animals aren’t left out of the festivities. It will be a kid-friendly event and promises to be a fun day for the whole family! The Brush and Wash will take place at the SPCA Randfontein branch on 21 December from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm. For more information about the event, call 061 131 1672.
• 30 December: Ubank Challenge in Greenhills
Runners are encouraged to enter the Ubank Challenge, hosted by Colossus Athletics Club. It consists of a 5km and a 10km race, and starts and finishes at the Greenhills Sports Stadium. For more information, contact 073 613 9412, 078 5690 042 or 081 365 8430.
• 30 December 2018 to 2 January 2019: Crossover Dance Festival in the Johannesburg CBD
The Crossover Dance Festival is an annual engaging outdoor New Year’s Eve (NYE) camping and electronic music festival that is held in the city of gold – Johannesburg (exact venue to be confirmed). As 2019 promises to be a great year, the year 2018 did not have a shortage of its own happenings. Let’s end it on a good note. Book yourself in for a great time. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
• 31 December: New Year’s Eve bash at the Botanical Garden in Roodepoort
Enjoy a family-friendly New Year’s Eve with the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden in Poortview, Roodepoort from 5pm on 31 December. You can picnic under the stars while waiting for 2019 and even take a stroll through the gardens or play on the endless manicured lawns with the kids. Food stalls will be available as well as entertainment for the kids, not to mention a DJ who will be turning up the volume. Visit their Facebook page for more information.
• 18 January to 10 February 2019: The ABBA Show at Emperors Palace
The ABBA Show, scheduled to take place at the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park between 18 January and 10 February 2019, is a full-scale concert production featuring more than two hours of fun, live musical performances, a live backing band, replica costumes, theatrical lighting and effects and all the dancing an ABBA fan can handle. This is the must-see show of the year! Click here for more information.
• 24 March 2019: Ed Sheeran coming to Johannesburg

With 40 million albums sold worldwide, the famous Ed Sheeran is coming to South Africa in 2019. Following the overwhelming response to the first-ever tour announcement in June, he is pleased to announce an additional show at the iconic FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. Ed continues his rise as one of the world’s most successful musical talents, selling out stadiums across the globe. Those interested are encouraged to get their tickets early to avoid disappointment. For more information, visit www.bigconcerts.co.za.
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