December in Cape Town – a favourite time of year and location for many for more than one reason. It’s the month when most people take leave from work, it’s the first month of summer (meaning beautiful weather) and if you’re in the know, it’s when there is a lot going down in the Mother City. The beaches will be busy and more people will be outdoors. But besides all of this, there is additionally a good number of events taking place in and around Cape Town in December.

There will be a lot of music, some fine dining, totally local comedy, some antique collections up for sale, an art exhibition and even a public cannon firing, so it’s more than likely you’ll be doing, seeing and hearing just what you want to this December.

First up is the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay. If you haven’t heard of it before, this market is distinguishable by its blend of music and entertainment with the shopping experience. It additionally serves as the launching pad for local growing artists and comedians. KWV Sound Stage, the official cultural partner to the Bay Harbour will be the official pouring wine and chosen brands at the market’s Boom Bar. At this event you’ll experience a creative energy unique to South Africa in the vibrant colours of the local arts and crafts and the exquisite aroma of freshly prepared meals with the live music and conversations of traders serving as the backdrop.

Next up, at the Pump House in the V&A Waterfront, the popular Jou Ma Se Comedy Club performs  Wednesdays to Sundays each week. Jou Ma Se Comedy Club provides the spotlight for emerging comedians to perform along  with the more grounded names in the industry. The club additionally supplies the centre stage for international celebrity comedians and maintains its well-earned reputation as Cape Town’s best and ideal stand-up comedy venue.

If you’re a collector at heart, the Alphen Market is Cape Town’s very own Antiques and Collectables Market, based in Constantia. This market is defined by the various types of people that attend, which includes dealers, collectors, the fashion enthusiasts and the everyday person who’s curious to see what the market has to offer. A variety of dealers sell in this market, all with their own particular forte – implying this is a market that can cater to all tastes. The items on sale at this market include watches, coins, glass, ceramics, medals, porcelain, silver, toys, books, paintings, small furnishings and militaria among many other products.

“Kom Sit” is a project of the Stellenbosch Outdoor Sculpture Trust (SOST). It features 24 purposefully positioned benches in the city centre altered by established and up-and-coming artists. Among these original artworks is “Kom Praat – The Travelling Baboon” by Wilma Cruise and the works of artists like the well known Strijdom van der Merwe. The aim of this exhibition is social at its core: to create interactive and accessible art, specifically aiming to inspire people who don’t usually connect with each other.

Cannon firings have been taking place at the magnificent Afrikaans Language Monument in Paarl in participation with the Cannon Association of South Africa (CAOSA) on the final Saturday of every month since Saturday 31 May. More than simply a regular spectacle of the cannon’s power, the demonstration is preceded by a brief outlining of the history of cannons in South Africa and the DEIC (Dutch East India Company) cannon sign system and a view of the process of loading the gear (which excludes the loading of a projectile). At the end of the talk, the cannoneer quizzes the audience about the cannon’s history and the person who answers correctly gets to fire the cannon. Care to stand a chance to be the one fires that cannon?

The Groote Post Country Market, hosted by the Pentz family in Darling, is one of the few kinds that offers a mix of eating gourmet produced meals, the sale of arts and crafts, home ware and furnishings, live performances, activities for the children and what Groote Post is well known for: premium wines. At a driveable distance away from Cape Town, the venerable Groote Post farm (dating back to the 18th century) will prove a worthy outing for families looking to have a quality experience. Not only will you have a lot to do at this market, but it’s perfectly positioned to give you breathtaking views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic coast, and its proximity to nature is primed for taking walks and observing the plant life and birds in spring weather.

With December only a few months away, make sure you’re ready to have lots of fun this summer in and around Cape Town.