Switching on of CT Xmas lights
Its the festive season in Cape Town (gasp, that means xmas shopping for most of us) and along with this comes the switching on of the Adderley Street Festive lights.
This 42nd iteration of this totally Cape Town tradition sees the emphasis being switched to the promotion of the 2010 Soccer World Cup with 12 new soccer-focussed light installs being incorporated into the kaleidoscope of colour on one of our oldest and most famous streets.
The city expects Some 50 000 people to gather in Adderley Street to watch the colour extravaganza of light and sound. Festivities will kick off on November 29 at 16h00 with a star-studded stage concert at the Heerengracht Fountain, featuring local stars including Loyiso, Idols winner Jody Williams, Dr Victor & The Rasta Rebels, Dozi and Die Burger U-tune winner Alfredo Prins.
At MyCityByNight we’re huge fans of our mayor the Zillenator and are pretty stoked that she will be there to flick the switch along with soccer icons including Zakumi the official 2010 mascot (who we dont like so much). In keeping with her unique style of political correctness, our Mayor Helen Zille has also decided to replace the huge Christmas tree at the top end of Adderley Street with an indigenous aloe plant… spread the aloe joy!
Daniel Petersen, a six year-old drumming genius from Kraaifontein, will demonstrate his mad drumming skills and do a special drum roll in the countdown to the switch on. There will also be A 2,000 strong carnival parade which will move from the fountain up to Strand Street and it will include a fire engine with Santa Claus, Cartoon Network characters, dancers, giant puppets, stilt walkers, unicyclists, Simba and a 2010 FIFA World Cup™ host city float.
A special musical tribute to the late Miriam Makeba will also be performed by the SA Youth Choir and will include some of her best known international hits.
The Adderley Street lights will stay up until mid-January 2009 and before any eco jockeys start complaining and Eskom introduces rolling black outs it must be made known that- “The introduction of rope lights two years ago has drastically cut power consumption. We do not foresee a burden on the city’s electricity infrastructure as most industries are closed over the festive season, thus reducing the energy loads,” well at least thats what Charles Kadalie, Manager of the City’s Public Lighting Department says.
From 12:00- 24:00 on 29 November both carriage ways Heerengracht and Adderley will be closed between Bureau Street and Coen Steytler Avenue along with all side streets leading into Adderley so plan your routes if you are going to be in the area.
We’ll be there and will try get some sick photos to put up for all you who just dont feel like dealing with the nause of crowds and crowds of festive revellers.
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