The annual Parkview Heritage Festival makes a much-anticipated return to Tyrone Avenue for a full day of literary encounters, foods to feast on, wine tasting and entertainment. On Saturday, 19 September 2026, bring the family along to enjoy a day-to-night experience with something to suit all ages.
Something for everyone at Parkview Heritage Festival
Hosted by the Parkview Residents’ Association, this annual festival brings everything that makes the suburb so special under a single event, from all things literature with ParkWords to kids’ fun with ParkKids, fabulous bites with ParkFood and something to sip and savour with ParkWine.
All things literature with ParkWords
ParkWords is the literary programme for the Parkview Heritage Festival, bringing together an impressive line-up of writers, journalists, academics, commentators and local personalities for conversations ranging a wide variety of topics:
- Investigative authors Gus Silber and Rob Rose discuss the lives, luxuries, lies and legacies of the super-rich.
- Helene Bramwell, Franco Forleo, Russell Wallace and Dave Gurney swap stories about the neighbourhood with Peter Delmar in a talk titled ‘Forgotten Parkview’.
- Hamilton Wende and Fiona Ramsay discuss a 1965 performance by Marlene Dietrich in Johannesburg, why the famously outspoken opponent of Nazism agreed to perform in apartheid South Africa, and the painful secret she was keeping from local audiences.
- Ferrial Adam, Ferial Haffajee, Alex van den Heever and Philanie Jooste, in conversation with David Lewis, examine the possibilities and limitations of civic action in the face of state inaction.
- Journalist and broadcaster Giulietta Talevi puts Mondli Makhanya, Rob Rose, Peter Bruce, Sithembile Mbete and William Gumede on the spot about why these upcoming local government elections could prove so important for South Africa’s democratic future.
- Sarah Nuttall, Ivan Vladislavic and Simon van Schalkwyk consider what the city of Johannesburg is becoming.
- Other sessions explore writing about family, memoir and memory, and the creation of the award-winning Brahman Hills garden in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
- The popular Lit Quiz also returns to put guests’ literary knowledge to the test (only 70 tickets are available)
- Lucille Davie leads a two-hour, 3.5km heritage walk exploring the suburb’s trees and historic landmarks.
Children’s fun with ParkKids
POPArt are curating the 2026 ParkKids programme for another year, bringing:
- readings and storytelling sessions by Hamilton Wende, Amy Hedenrich, Thandi Xaba, William Gumede and Blackbird;
- a dedicated play area for babies and toddlers featuring soft play and carnival games organised by The Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg;
- interactive POPArt drama workshops for children aged five to eight + a separate drama and storytelling session for children aged 9 to 13;
- arts and-crafts play area for toddlers;
- and a Party Squad dance-focused session aimed particularly at teens.
Fabulous bites with ParkFood
When the hunger pangs hit, stop by stalls curated by Croft & Co, MishMash Mediterranean, Palace of Punjab, Trabella Pizzeria, Blind Tiger Café, Asian Twist and Franco’s Pizzeria & Trattoria, all serving up plenty of variety throughout the day.
Sip and savour with ParkWine
It’s not just about the kids either as ParkWine, an experience catered specifically to the adults, returns to the Parkview Heritage Festival this 2026.
The experience includes a dedicated wine-tasting featuring a selection of some of South Africa’s finest wine estates, including:
- Gabriëlskloof
- Paul René
- Catherine Marshall Wines
- Bouchard Finlayson
- Iona
- Bruce Jack Wines
- Axe Hill Winery
- Bosman Family Vineyards
- Babylonstoren
Visitors can wander between tastings, linger over a cheese platter and soak up the more leisurely side of the festival before heading back out to the books, food and entertainment. Only 400 ParkWine tickets are available, so advance booking is strongly recommended.
The Parkview Heritage Festival brings the community together
At its heart, the Parkview Heritage Festival is about bringing people together to celebrate the diversity, history and creativity of the Parkview community through books, food, wine and family entertainment.
With the help of this year’s sponsors Chartered Wealth Solutions, Exclusive Books, Fine & Country, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Jonathan Ball Publishers and Ultra Liquors Parkview, the festival can once again inspire togetherness in the name of fun and creativity.
How to book
Cost: General admission – R100 per adult; R50 per child | ParkWine tickets are R250pp and are already inclusive of entry | Lit Quiz tickets are an additional R100 | Book online
When: Saturday, 19 September 2026 from 9am to 6pm
Where: Tyrone Avenue, Parkview
Website: parkview.org.za
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @parkview_residents_association
Facebook: @ParkviewJohannesburg
