1. Christmas lights and displays
Fri, Nov 14, 2025 – Sun, Jan 4, 2026: Destination Christmas at Melrose Arch
Thu, Nov 27, 2025 – Sun, Jan 4, 2026: Joburg Zoo’s Festival of Lights
The Johannesburg Zoo becomes a festive wonderland with glowing life-size animal sculptures, live music, and a food and craft market. Take a peaceful stroll along the well-lit paths, surrounded by trees twinkling with lights. Perfect for all ages – plus, kids younger than three get in for free. Book your tickets here.
Wed, Dec 3 – Wed, Dec 31, 2025: Christmas Village at Emperors Palace
Step into a world of wonder and delight at the Christmas Village at Emperors Palace. Expect to be enchanted by the lights, festive characters, charming shops, games, and entertainment. Tickets are available here or at the box office at Emperors Palace.Sat, Dec 13 – Sat, Dec 27, 2025: Sunsets, city lights, and Christmas magic with City Sightseeing
With its iconic double-decker, open-top Red Bus, City Sightseeing offers a special, three-hour tour to celebrate the festive season. The sunset and Christmas lights tour begins at the City Sightseeing ticket office at The Zone @ Rosebank, journeying to savour sunset views from Munro Drive with a complimentary snack, before moving on to explore shopping, dining, and festive events at Melrose Arch. Book your tickets now.
Until Wed, Dec 31, 2025: Christmas lights on Moray Drive
Get ready for a magical December evening along Moray Drive in Bryanston, where the whole street lights up with festive charm, drawing families from across Joburg. Stroll or drive through to enjoy twinkling displays, Grinch characters, sleighs, nativity scenes and plenty of Christmas charm. The best part? It’s all lovingly created by the residents, led by Bryanston’s very own Mrs Claus, Danielle Goff, making it a true celebration of neighbourhood spirit and holiday cheer. Entrance is free. Follow Moray Drive Bryanston Claus International on Facebook for announcements of dates and other updates.
Until Wed, Dec 31, 2025: Lawley Street lights up Pretoria
Every Christmas, Lawley Street in Waterkloof, Pretoria, transforms into a dazzling wonderland straight out of a holiday film, drawing fun-seekers from near and far (it's worth the drive for us Joburgers). Whether you drive through or explore on foot, you’ll find snack vendors and festive displays – some even courtesy of foreign embassies. But the real magic? It’s all brought to life by the residents, a true celebration of Christmas spirit and community cheer. You can view the lights on Lawley Street daily from Wed Dec 31 from 19:00 – 23:00.
2. Family-friendly theatre and live entertainment
Mon, Dec 8 – Fri, Dec 12, 2025: National Children's Theatre Holiday Camp
National Children’s Theatre in Parktown brings a dose of festive fun with its Grinch-themed Holiday Camp. Kids aged seven to 17 can spend the week singing, dancing, and acting their way through Whoville, ending in a special showcase for friends and family. It’s a joyful, creative way for children to shine this holiday season. Book your tickets here.
Until Wed, Dec 24, 2025: Madagascar – A Musical Adventure Jr
Madagascar – A Musical Adventure Jr is a lively stage adaptation of the DreamWorks hit, perfect for a family outing. Join Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria as they escape Central Park Zoo for a wild adventure in Madagascar, packed with humour, music, and sing-along fun. All children over one year need a booked seat. Book your tickets here.
Until Wed, Dec 24, 2025: Panto magic for everyone
It wouldn’t be the festive season in Joburg without a Janice Honeyman pantomime! This year’s Pinocchio at the Joburg Theatre promises music, dance, circus magic, and laugh-out-loud fun for the whole family. Book your tickets now.
Until, Sun, Dec 28, 2025: Cape Ballet Africa’s The Nutcracker
Step into a world of festive magic as Cape Ballet Africa brings The Nutcracker to the Teatro Montecasino. This brand-new production sparkles with South Africa’s finest classical dancers and international guest stars, transporting audiences into a dreamscape of twirling snowflakes, the Sugar Plum Fairy’s shimmering kingdom, and the brave Nutcracker Prince’s enchanted adventure. Book your ticket here.Until Sat, Jan 31, 2026: Gatsby: A Cirque Extravaganza
Step into the roaring 1920s with Gatsby – A Cirque Extravaganza, By The Cirk at Cresta Shopping Centre. With eight phenomenal dancer-aerialists, this family-friendly spectacle combines breathtaking acrobatics with Gatsby-style glamour. Book your tickets here.
3. Christmas markets and holiday pop-ups
Tue, Nov 18 – Tue, Dec 16, 2025: Bryanston Night Market
Catch The Bryanston Moonlight Christmas Market over five festive Tuesday evenings, spanning across November and December. Expect twinkling lights, relaxed night-time browsing, stocking fillers, gifting stalls, craft-your-Christmas activities for the whole family, plus plenty of great food. A lovely tradition during the week.
Fri, Nov 28 – Sat, Dec 27, 2025: Zootropolis-inspired mini golf
Swing into the festive season with Mall of Africa’s Zootropolis-inspired mini golf experience, open daily from 09:00 – 20:00. Tickets are available online or at the gate, but booking in advance is encouraged. Get your tickets here.
And, while you're there, why not catch Zootropolis 2 on the big screen at Ster-Kinekor Mall of Africa.
Tue, Nov 25 – Thu, Dec 11, 2025: Learn AI + Coding with Copy Paste Tech
Copy Paste Tech’s holiday bootcamp invites teenagers aged 13 – 19 to dive into coding, creativity, AI, and future-focused skills across three short, hands-on sessions this November and December. Hosted at Constitution Hill’s Transwerke Creative Uprising Hub, the programme offers a practical, inspiring way for young people to build confidence in tech.
Fri, Dec 5 – Sun, Dec 28, 2025: Sandton City's City of Enchantment
Sandton City is spreading festive cheer with City of Enchantment. Little ones can get creative with holiday-themed activities, from decorating cookies and doughnuts to crafting ornaments and festive trees. At the letters-to-Santa station, kids can pen their wishes and snap a photo with the big man himself, who will be in residence until Wed, Dec 24. Along the way, families will discover charming surprises, including Santa’s wishing well, a drawbridge, and a reindeer merry-go-round. Festive cakes and treats from Château Gâteaux are also on hand to keep everyone fueled for fun.
Tue, Dec 09 – Tue, Dec 23, 2025: Fourways Mall's Santa Land
Fourways Mall is stepping into the festive season with a dose of pure holiday magic thanks to the return of Santa Land, with the theme of The Jingle Bell Academy. From Tue, Dec 10 – Tue, Dec 24, 2025, kids can train to become Santa’s little helpers as they decorate cookies, scoot through chimneys, stack presents, write elf letters, enjoy face painting, and wind their way through charming Christmas houses before “graduating” with a photo with Santa. The fun doesn’t stop there; the mall is packed with family adventures, from Bounce and Adventure Golf to Total Ninja, Xtreme Go-Karting, cinemas and more.
Fri, Dec 12 – Mon, Dec 22, 2025: Celebrations on the Square at Nelson Mandela Square
Nelson Mandela Square is turning up the festive glamour with Celebrations on the Square! From Fri, Dec 12 – Mon, Dec 22, 2025, step into a glass marquee filled with seasonal cheer, where you can sip Laurent-Perrier champagne, snack on a charcuterie board, and browse boutique gifts and artisanal treats from local favourites like Babylonstoren, Oooh La La, Gelato Mania, and the recently opened Standard Bank Art Lab gallery. Daily violin performances add a melodic touch, while charming décor, Instagram-worthy corners, and curated Christmas finds make it the ultimate festive escape in Sandton. Limited entry keeps the experience intimate and indulgent, perfect for sipping, shopping, and celebrating the season in style.
Sat, Dec 13, 2025: The Pastry Playhouse Festival
Photo: Pastry Playhouse via Instagram.
The Pastry Playhouse Festival brings Joburg its sweetest day out in Parktown. From 09:00 –18:00, expect live music, pastry tastings and bake-offs, food stalls, and plenty of family-friendly activities.
Sat, Dec 20, 2025: Norwood Mall's drive-in movie night
Get ready for a family-friendly night under the stars at Norwood Mall’s Drive-In Movie Night. From 18:00, catch this year’s fan-voted film, Inside Out 2, on an impressive 11-metre screen while the kids enjoy pre-show fun like a Zoom with Zebra activity and a mini driving adventure. Tickets start at R150 per car, R120 per bean bag pod, or R130 for a snack package of popcorn, bubble tea, and candy. Book your tickets here.
4. Festive fun, all season long
Aerial escapades at Acrobranch
Hang out at Joy Jozi
Play a game of padel
Spiderman fun at a trampoline arena
Rollercoasters and thrills at Gold Reef City
Gauteng's leading theme park is open throughout the holidays, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a better place to keep surly teenagers amused. Extreme rides like the Anaconda, Jozi Express and Tower of Terror are for the brave, and for toddlers, there's the option of a gentle train ride around the park with a soft-serve ice cream in hand. Note that tickets are limited, so make sure to book online in advance.Jozi X
Catering for super-active kids from five to 75, Bryanston's Jozi X offers loads of physical fun for fans of extreme adventures. There's mountain boarding, a slack line park, big wheel trike drifting, a parkour gymnasium and the star attraction, an extreme wipeout course.Cool off at the pool
5. Day trips
Nature adventures for the whole family
All aboard the Gautrain
Discover your origins at Maropeng
Tour with City Sightseeing Bus
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