CALENDAR

Top events this month

Floating away

Fan Yang has spent his life perfecting the science of bubble making. He has several Guinness World Records, including the biggest bubble (2,3m circumference), largest bubble wall (47,4m wide) and putting

100 people inside a bubble. During his

Billions Bubble Show, audiences can expect to be blown away by a fantastical combination of lights, lasers, smoke effects and bubbles – small ones, enormous ones, bubbles within bubbles, bouncing, floating and dancing bubbles… Kids will be able to make their own giant bubbles in the play ring, or buy Fan Yang’s Ultimate Bubble Toy and secret formula. Three shows a day at the Sun Arena in Pretoria. Tickets from R120 pp. 20 December– 7 January. webtickets.co.za

Let there be light

The new Spier Light Art

Show will weave a spell of enchantment with illuminated and sound installations scattered across the estate’s newly landscaped gardens.

On the first two nights, there will also be a procession of performers choreographed by Jay Pather. Free except on the first two nights: R200 adults (with a glass of wine), R75 kids. 8 December–30 January. spier.co.za The Night of the Lights in White River, Mpumalanga, started three years ago ‘just for the fun of it’ – the main street is decorated in fairy lights, shops stay open and there are buskers, food stalls, activities and live music, including special guest Matthew Mole. Free but R100 pp for his concert. 30 November. Find it on Facebook.

The biggest display of Xmas lights in SA? It’s in Pretoria, at the Jacaranda Children’s Home – 21 houses and the grounds are lit up. Plus there’s a funfair, market stalls, live music and laser shows. 1–31 December. jakarandaliggiefees.co.za

Push ‘play’

Imagine creating sublime weather by your mere presence? This installation by Miranda Moss is one of many mindboggling things at Playtopia, SA’s first celebration of playful media and interactive art (part of Africa Games Week) at the Castle in Cape Town. There’s also African wire-art turned into robots, the coolest embroidery ever (pictured below left), a ‘digital garden’ pop-up by A Maze/Berlin, video art, VR and new indie games to try (from the cute and absurd to the cerebral and insightful). Our game developers have been making waves internationally, including Nyamakop’s ‘Semblance’, the first SA game picked up by Nintendo. There will be live music too. Entry R120–R180 pp, weekend pass R320. 30 November–2 December. playtopia.co.za

Heading far south

Doing the 72km route at the Cape Agulhas

Classic MTB race will take you to ‘the most stunning view in South Africa’ (say organisers): the top of the Anysberg in Agulhas National Park. But even those who enter the easy 10km will get to ride beside the gorgeous blue-green sea from Struisbaai to L’Agulhas, while the 35km and 46km riders pass the iconic lighthouse – and the official southern tip of Africa site, with its new map of Africa. There’s also a late-afternoon trail-run option – 10km or 15km, along Marine Drive and up into the fynbos hills behind the two towns, plus a 6km family fun run. Entries are accepted up to 15 minutes before the start. Entry fee R50–R280 pp. 21–22 December. capeagulhasmtb.co.za