Share

Cape Carnival is 'SA at its best'

Cape Town – The Cape Town Carnival is taking place over the weekend and will see 2 500 dancers samba down Long Street next to nine floats.

A ton of raffia, 100m of foam and countless sequins, beads and ostrich feathers were used to decorate the floats.

According to Michael Worsnip, CEO of the Carnival, everything is going according to plan.

"The past few weeks felt like we were running on a wild treadmill, but in reality we have planned very carefully for this. We are confident that this year will be a spectacular event."

With an estimated 320 jobs that were created with the preparation for the event, he is sure of the positive impact it will have on the city's economy. All the floats and costumes were produced locally and all the materials were bought in the city.

New experience

"Except for that, our greatest achievement is actually the social cohesion. Rio (de Janeiro)'s carnival is one language, one faith and one rhythm. Here in South Africa we have such a great diversity of cultures to display and celebrate. It's our country at its best!"

At a pre-event arranged for a sneak peek of the parade, the dancers' energy was contagious.

Qanita Smith, one of the dancers who will be performing on Saturday night, said the production was unlike any other production she has ever worked on. "I love it! This is a complete new experience. To be honest I don't want to end it... I don't know what I'm going to do when it's over."

Kirsty Williams, another dancer from Cape Twon who was invited to join the parade, said the sheer scale of the carnival is a challenge. "Even just the costumes on their own is exciting!"

* Long Street will be closed for traffic from 13:00 on Saturday afternoon. The float parade starts at 20:00 in Long Street, after which people can socialise in the street until late.

Those who want to start celebrating early can watch the Super Rugby match between the Bulls and the Stormers at Greenmarket Square.

 
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE