Cape Town – Okay we’ll admit, a white European Christmas sounds like a magical fairy-tale, and everyone should experience a snowy Christmas at least once. However, a summer Christmas combines all things divine in this world – hot sun, cold beer, cool waves and best of all - family time!
It’s also a time when you want to shower all your loved ones with thoughtful gifts, but cash-flow won’t always allow for such lavish spending.
Luckily, with the plenty of original and crafty markets sewn all over SA, your Christmas spending doesn’t need to be that over the top. You can buy crafty, proudly South African gifts at these markets, or just fish around for some home-makey ideas all while enjoying a great festive vibe in summer.
Whip out your diary – these are the Christmas markets happening this year:
1. Transoranje Christmas Market
Where: Thwane Event Centre Pretoria Show Grounds
When: 21 – 30 November
Info
2. Bryanston Organic Market’s Magical Moonlight Market (1)
Where: 40 Culross road, Bryanston
When: 25 November
Info
3. Slow Market’s Christmas Night & Day Markets at Oude Libertas
Where: Oude Libertas, Stellenbosch
When: 28 (night), 29 (day) and 30 November (day)
Info
4. Parkview Christmas Market
Where: George Hay Park, corner of Waterford Ave and Lurgan Rd, Parkview, Johannesburg
When: 28 – 30 November
Info
5. Muratie December concerts starts
Where: Muratie Farm, Knorhoek Road/R44, Koelenhof, Stellenbosch
When: Certain dates in December and January
Info
6. Bryanston Organic Market’s Magical Moonlight Market (2)
Where: 40 Culross road, Bryanston
When: 2 December
Info
7. Kamersvol Geskenke Pretoria
Where: Open Window, John Vorster Drive Ext. East, Southdowns, Irene
When: 2 – 7 December
Info
8. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS at Truth
Where: Truth Coffee Roasting, 36 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town
When: 3 December
Info
9. Montecasino Christmas Market
Where: Montecasino Outdoor Piazza
When: 3 - 7 December
Info
10. Spier Festival of White Lights
Where: Spier Estate, Baden Powell Drive, Stellenbosch
When: 5 December
Info
11. I'm Dreaming Of A Vintage Christmas Market
Where: Woodstock Town Hall, Cape Town
When: 5 December
Info
12. Baynesfield Vintage Christmas Market
Where: Baynesfield Estate, outside Pietermaritzburg
When: 7 December
Info
13. Val de Vie Family Market and Polo Day
Where: Val de Vie Estate, Jan Van Riebeeck Road (R301), near Paarl
When: 7 December
Info
14. Stellenbosch’s annual Festival of Street Lights
Where: Stellebosch
When: 7 - 8 December
Info
15. Bryanston Organic Market’s Magical Moonlight Market (3)
Where: 40 Culross road, Bryanston
When: 9 December
Info
16. Franschhoek Village Market's Christmas Night Market
Where: 29 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek
When: 12 December
Info
17. Gabriëlskloof’s Favourite Things Market
Where: Gabriëlskloof Wine Farm, Overberg
When: 12 – 13 December
Info
18. Kloovenburg Wine & Olive Estate’s annual Christmas Market Day
Where: Kloovenburg Estate, Riebeek Valley
When: 13 December
Info
19. Emperor's Palace Craft Market
Where: Emperor's Palace
When 12 to 21 December
Info:
20. Fab Ideas Christmas Gift Fair
Where: Kommetjie, outside Cape Town
When: 13 – 16 December
Info
21. Middelvlei Wine Estate’s annual Sunset Carols
Where: Middelvlei Wine Estate, outside Stellenbosch
When: 14 - 24 December
Info
22. Barrydale Christmas Market
When: 13 to 14 December
Where: Corner Van Riebeeck & Bain Street, Barrydale
Info
23. Shongweni Farmers’ Christmas Market
Where: Cnr Alvestone and Kassier roads, Shongweni
When: 16 December
Info
24. Bryanston Organic Day Market
Where: 40 Culross road, Bryanston
When: 16 December
Info
25. Franschhoek Village Market's Christmas Day Market
Where: 29 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek
When: 16 December
Info
26. Blaauwklippen Vineyards Family market & Christmas Fair
Where: Blaauwklippen Wine Estate, R44, Stellenbosch
When: 16 – 20 December
Info
27. Willowbridge Slow Market Christmas
Where: Willowbridge Shopping Centre, Tygervalley, Cape Town
When: 17 – 23 December
Info
28. Christmas Crafters’ Market
Where: Graskop, Mpumalanga
When: 12 – 14 December
Info
29. All Star Christmas Market
Where: Cape Gate Lifestyle Center,
When: 13 – 23 December
Info
30. Route 44 Christmas Market
Where: Audacia Farm, Stellenbosch
When: 18 to 21 December
Info
31. Bryanston Organic Market’s Magical Moonlight Markets (4)
Where: 40 Culross road, Bryanston
When: 23 December
Info
If you know of any other Christmas markets, fairs and celebrations, please tell us! Please comment below or send them to info@traveller24.com or post them to our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram accounts.