October 2024: 20+ Things to Do This Month in Johannesburg

Springtime, spooky season and Joburg Pride all overlap in October, making for an exciting mix of things to do this month in Johannesburg. Stop by a haunted house, celebrate the LGBTQ+ community at the Pride parade, catch exciting acts in concert, see impressive ballet and theatre performances, indulge in delightful wine and food experiences, and more.

Only positive vibes at the Johannesburg Pride Parade and Festival

Johannesburg Pride is an open invitation for all to come and take a stride for Pride. Join the parade’s 35th anniversary in Joburg this year, and march amongst thousands of queer individuals and allies through the streets of Johannesburg in a stand for self-acceptance and legal rights, but also in celebration of LGBTQ+ pride.

Parade-goers also get to enjoy music and dance performances from top local and international artists; indulge in a variety of food trucks, vendors, and beverage stations; explore stalls and booths from local organizations, artisans, and sponsors; and access health services, information booths, and wellness activities on parade day.

Cost: FREE

When: Saturday, 26 October from 10am to 10pm
Where: Sandton, Johannesburg

Award-winning wines and fine cuisines at the Pick n Pay Wine and Food Festival

The Pick n Pay Wine & Food Festival is back in Johannesburg for two days of wine tasting and delicious food. Savour the finest selection of some of South Africa’s top wine varietals from a selection featuring over 50 top wine varietals for tasting, with purchases available on-site or for same-day delivery. The Pick n Pay Fresh Food Market along with Pick n Pay’s Burger & Pizza Trucks also offer a wide variety of delicious culinary options for guests to indulge in on the day.

Cost: General admission – R275pp | Tasting Room (add on) – R100pp per session | DOUBLE Ticket & Picnic Bag Combo – R845 | Designated Driver ticket – R150pp | Book via Webtickets

When: Saturday, 5 October and Sunday, 6 October | 12pm to 6pm
Where: The Wanderer’s Club, 21 North St, Illovo, Johannesburg

A Blooming Affair garden and craft market day returns this month

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Garden Month in Johannesburg this October? A Blooming Affair by Roedean School in Parktown is hosting their annual garden and market day event on Saturday, 5 October 2024 where visitors experience beautiful collections of floral exhibits and food and drink in a relaxed setting.

Cost: Online – Adults, R120pp. Pensioners and Children under 12, R75pp. Kids under 5 years enter free. Family of 4, R350. Book via Quicket

When: Saturday, 5 October from 9 am
Where: Roedean School, Princess of Wales Terrace, Parktown, Johannesburg

See all the things to do at A Blooming Affair this year

A runner finishing the SPAR Women's Challenge

Take part in the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi

Get ready for the SPAR Women’s Challenge Jozi this spring and celebrate a vibrant day of female empowerment, and individuality. The theme for this year’s edition of the race is proudly, #ChooseYou, a concept that perfectly captures the spirit of the event.

Participants can join for a social walk/run at 5km or 10km. Whether you’re a seasoned runner aiming to smash your personal best or a first timer seeking a motivating day out with friends or colleagues, this vibey running event aimed at raising awareness and funds for incredible causes, welcomes you with open arms.

Cost: R160pp, enter online or at participating stores | Email data@sportsvendo.co.za for group entries

When: Sunday, 6 October | Starts at 8am
Where: Marks Park, Emmarentia, Johannesburg

Hear the musical stylings of Snoh Aalegra and Ayra Starr at In The City

After overwhelming public demand, Steyn Entertainment has announced an electrifying one-night-only ‘In The City’ show headlined by international sensation, Roc Nation’s Snoh Aalegra and supported by Grammy-nominated Afrobeat star Ayra Starr. This is one of the most anticipated concerts in Johannesburg, giving Joburgers a taste of the Cape Town Rocking the Daisies experience which features both stars as headliners this year.

Cost: General tickets – R1 199pp | VIP tickets – R1 699pp | Book via Quicket

When: Sunday, 6 October from 12pm to 10pm
Where: Montecasino, Fourways

Discover creativity in a broad range of design sectors at Design Week South Africa

Furniture brands, fashion houses, film, food and music all make up the first release of exciting and exclusive events happening at Design Week South Africa, powered by Yoco, this October. The calendar is set to span neighbourhoods that include Parktown North, Rosebank, Sandton, Melville, Braamfontein, Maboneng, Mountain View and Johannesburg city centre. Various activations, talks and showcases staged in the name of platforming and encouraging local designers and creators will be presented by Mødernist, Origin Art, Intrapop, CityCon Africa, dhk architects, MAXHOSA, Mamakashaka and Friends, Kalshnikovv, Latitudes and more.

Cost: Varies depending on event. Register to attend an event by consulting the Design Week schedule

When: Thursday, 10 October to Sunday, 13 October
Where: Various venues in Johannesburg

Festive fever kicks off in Johannesburg with the annual Glenshiel Fair

This year’s edition of the Glenshiel Fair running from 16 to 20 October is a must-visit market experience on Johannesburg’s social calendar every year. The fair blends charm, style, and community spirit with their fabulous lineup of over 80 labels to explore.

Held annually in the picturesque gardens of the Glenshiel Estate in Westcliff, the fair offers a carefully curated selection of locally made luxury goods, delicious food, and an unforgettable festive atmosphere. The first 500 ticket sales will receive a complimentary tote bag and there will be some exciting prizes to be won.

Cost: R400pp for Wednesday Preview Evening, includes live music, canapes, two drinks and a complimentary coffee | R150pp from Thursday to Sunday | R250pp for a 2-day ticket (Thursday to Sunday) | Free entry for children 12 years and younger | Book via Quicket

All-out glamour at the Heineken All-Invitational Polo Tournament

The 3rd annual Heineken All-Invitational Polo Tournament in partnership with Bernini and L’or Espresso returns to rewrite the playbook of elegance and the thrill of polo.

The Inanda Polo Club in Sandton will transform into a playground of excitement that blends the exhilarating world of polo with the elegance of this season’s hottest outfits, all set to the perfect rhythm of pounding hooves and guest performers. This year’s theme is A Touch of Green where guests present their personal style in this environment where luxury meets playfulness.

Cost: From R350pp, book via Howler

When: Sunday, 20 October from 11am to 8pm
Where: Inanda Club, Forrest Rd & 6th Ave, Inanda, Sandton

See the multiple award-winning play, ‘My Name Is Lucy Barton’, on stage

The multiple award-winning play, ‘My Name Is Lucy Barton’ is heading to Joburg for a limited season at Theatre on the Square in Sandton. This is the story of a writer reckoning with the legacy of a scarred family life, coming to terms with the cost of her childhood and the rewards of her art. Witness a powerful narrative of hope, triumph, and the reclamation of one’s own story as it unfolds on the stage.

Cost: R230pp, with discounts available for senior citizens, students, scholars over 12 and groups of 10 or more | Book via Computicket

When: Running from Wednesday, 9 October to Sunday, 27 October | Tuesdays to Fridays from 7.30pm | Saturdays at 4pm and 7:30pm | Sundays from 3pm
Where: Theatre On The Square, Nelson Mandela Square, West St, Sandown, Sandton

Celebrate all things hip-hop at the Back in the City Festival

The annual Hennessy Back To The City Festival returns with another lineup of artists representing the pinnacle of hip-hop artistic expression from South Africa and abroad. The festival offers a day of live music, street art, break-dancing, art installations, skateboarding, film, street fashion, gaming, speakers and panel discussions. Featured are 80 MCs, 35 DJs, 100 stalls, a game zone, basketball games, graffiti battles, four stages, and fun fair rides.

The 2024 instalment is headlined by American rapper, Benny the Butcher, who is supported by local artists including Nasty C, Blxckie, Maglera Doe Boy, Emtee, Nadia Nakai, and Priddy Ugly.

Cost: General Access – R200pp to R500pp | VIP – R900 to R5 000 | VIP Tables – R10 000 to R30 000 | Book via Quicket

When: Saturday, 12 October from 2pm to 2am
Where: Mary FitzGerald Square, 120 Lilian Ngoyi St, Newtown, Johannesburg

Joburg Ballet's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory — Company principals Revil Yon, Monike Cristina and Tammy Higgins photographed by Lauge Sorensen

The world first ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ ballet production opens in Joburg

Joburg Ballet has conceived a full-length ballet production based on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, running at the Joburg Theatre during the first half of October. This must-see production is conceived in partnership with the Roald Dahl Story Company and is the first classically based full-length ballet created for Joburg Ballet. The production features choreography from Mario Gaglione with an original music score composed by Mark Cheyne.

Cost: From R240pp to R580pp, book via Webtickets

When: Running from Friday, 4 October to Sunday, 13 October | Various times
Where: Mandela Theatre at Joburg Theatre, 163 Civic Blvd, Braamfontein, Johannesburg

Tackle a prestigious sporting challenge with The Cradle Mountain Trophy

The Cradle Mountain Trophy is an exhilarating Mountain Biking and Trail Running/ Walking event. Enter the MTB race and choose from distances of 90km, 54km or 35km that offer some of the best gravel sections in the Magalies region. Enter the Trail Running or Walking segment of the event and pick from routes of 5km, 10km, or 15km. As always, the event offers new and exciting routes, great trails, lots of fun both on and off the trails, and great company.

Cost: MTB – R275pp to R480pp | Trail options – R130pp to R250pp | Enter via Entry Ninja

When: Saturday, 26 October from 7am
Where: Valley Lodge & Spa, 13 Jennings Street, Magaliesburg

Get your game on at the Joburg Games Fest

The Goethe-Institut hosts the inaugural Joburg Games Fest, a community-driven event for game makers, this October. The event is a celebration of making games, creating art, collaboration, and the growing game development community in Johannesburg. The Fest includes a series of talks and workshops from local and international industry professionals who represent the growing industry and tackle conversations about the business, art, and creation of games.

Also featured is a curated arcade, showcasing some of the best games made in the country and city alike.

Cost: FREE, book via Quicket

When: Saturday, 26 October from 9am to 10pm
Where: Goethe-Institut, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg

Experience luxury with The Maslow’s Sunday Society Picnic

The Maslow Sandton Hotel welcomes guests to their monthly luxurious Graham Beck picnics. Sip on the finest Graham Beck bubbly while you indulge in meticulously crafted light meals for two in a picnic basket, from appetizers to decadent desserts. The picnic also features curated live music and engaging activities all set up in a vibrant atmosphere.

A dress code applies for each event, with the October picnic’s dress code being Modern African/Ankara-inspired style.

Cost: From R750pp | R1 500 per couple | Book via Quicket

When: Sunday, 6 October from 1pm to 5pm
Where: The Maslow Hotel, 146 Rivonia Rd, Sandown, Sandton

Get into the spooky spirit at The Haunted Forest®

The Haunted Forest® is an experience where visitors are invited to walk through a forest with eerie fog, strange sights, multiple life size scenes, and scare actors accompanied by the spine-chilling screams from the Haunted House. The event also consists of a main festival site with a big screen featuring the scariest of films.

Festival guests can enjoy features including a bar and picnic area, accompanied by a vendor and food village with tastes for every palate. For the young ones, there is a Trick & Treat in the forest that takes place before the forest walk. For an added fee, visitors can also tour a Haunted House at the event, and there are costume prizes up for grabs for the Most Horrific Family and the Freakiest Couple.

When: Saturday, 26 October from 5pm to 11.30pm
Where: Inanda Country Base, Rose Rd &, Maple Rd, Knopjeslaagte, Midrand

Two BMW Cars drifting — Image by Double Apex

Celebrate the return of the BMW M Fest

The BMW M Fest is a full weekend of hot laps, exhilarating stunts, BMW Car Club Races, live entertainment and more. After a two-year hiatus, the festival’s return in 2024 is set to be bigger and better than ever. Come by and experience live music performances, an M-Showroom where you get the inside track on never-to-be repeated offers, M-Hot Laps and Drift Rides with professional drivers, BMW Test Drive experiences, food trucks and stalls, an M-Beer Garden, an M-Kids area, a BMW Lifestyle Collection store, a BMW M car display, and BMW Car Club races.

The entertainment lineup for 2024 includes Mi Casa and DJ Zinhle on the Friday, Kabza De Small, Big Zulu and Inkabi Nation on the Saturday and Rubber Duc and Uncle Waffles on the Sunday, along with a variety of other entertainers and DJs set to entertain all weekend.

Cost: R350pp (day pass) | R1800pp (Friday preview ticket) | R3500pp (Lounge tickets: Saturday and Sunday) | Book via Howler

When: Friday, 25 October to Sunday, 27 October | Friday from 2pm to 9pm | Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 9pm
Where: Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Cnr R55 &, Allandale Rd, Kyalami Estate, Midrand

Witness The Magic of Rob Lake

For the first time in South Africa, one of the world’s most celebrated illusionists, Rob Lake, brings his internationally acclaimed show, ‘The Magic of Rob Lake‘, to Johannesburg. Described as “The World’s Greatest Illusionist” by NBC, Lake is globally renowned for his grand illusions and elaborate interactive theatrical performances. His show features astonishing original illusions uniquely presented with awe-inspiring storytelling on the grandest scale.

Cost: R300pp to R600pp, book via Ticketmaster

When: Tues to Sun 9 to 27 Oct | Various times
Where: The Teatro, Montecasino, Teatro Road, 1 Montecasino Blvd, Fourways, Johannesburg

A net installation in the Ecospheres Exhibition — An installation in the ‘Ecospheres’ Exhibition

Stop by the ‘Ecospheres’ Group Exhibition at the JCAF

Earlier this year, the Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF) unveiled their 2024 exhibition titled Ecospheres, a dense body of work that hopes to start a conversation around ecology, the environment, climate and the natural world through the concept of making-with (living with). Based on the elements of Water, Air and Earth, the exhibition is divided into three Atmosphere Rooms which function as conceptual spaces that foreground and amplify various artists and artworks in relation to the thematic ideas of the exhibition.

Cost: Admission to JCAF is free and by appointment only. Reserve your appointment here

When: Running until 7 December | Thursdays to Saturdays, based on bookings | Closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays
Where: No 1 Durris Road, Forest Town, Johannesburg

Learn how to Lino Print at West Cafe

Lino Eatery invites lovers of creativity to its first Lino printing workshop in collaboration with West Cafe. This is an opportunity to let the creative juices flow as quests dive into the art of Lino Printing, which entails carving unique designs onto linoleum and bringing them to life with roller and ink. Templates are available to trace or draw inspiration from or guests can come up with their very own design.

The guided printing session lasts three hours and by the end, attendees will have made 2 x A5 final artwork prints. All materials, including printmaking paper, inks/mediums, pressing tools, etc. are provided.

Cost: R450pp, book via Quicket

When: Thursday, 10 October from 9am to 12pm
Where: West Cafe, Forest Walk, 27 Maroelana St, Hazelwood, Pretoria

See English pop band, Take That, on Tour

The multi-award-winning and smash hit makers, Take That, bring their ‘This Life On Tour’ to Pretoria this month. The band responsible for hits like ‘Back for Good’, ‘Patience’, and ‘Never Forget’, and for giving Robbie Williams his musical start, perform their newly released album, ‘This Life’ on the tour. The album is described as a vibrant body of work with the, now trio, at their most confident musically. Join Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald as they welcome audiences to enjoy live performances of their latest work.

Cost: R855pp to R1 535+pp, book via Ticketmaster

When: Sunday, 20 October from 7.30pm
Where: SunBet Arena, Time Square, 209 Aramist Ave, Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria

Catch international R&B legends, Blackstreet, live

Grammy Award-winning R&B legends, Blackstreet, tour South Africa for the very first time, stopping in Pretoria for a performance whilst they’re here. Fans can expect to hear timeless singalong hits like ‘Don’t Leave’, ‘(Money Can’t) Buy Me Love’, ‘Before I Let You Go’ and of course, the iconic ‘No Diggity’. The group is set to bring the house down with their smooth, melodic harmonies and unforgettable grooves with the support of South African sensation, Lwa Ndlunkulu.

Cost: R650pp to R1 390pp, book via Webtickets

When: Saturday, 26 October from 6pm
Where: SunBet Arena at Time Square Casino, 209 Aramist Ave, Waterkloof Glen, Pretoria