It may only be the third Cape Town Carnival but the spirit of Mardi Gras has inspired Cape Town’s costume designers, float builders and choreographers; they are creating a larger-than-life pageant that will make its way through the streets of Cape Town on 24 March. 

The parade has moved from Long Street to the Greenpoint Fan Walk to accommodate the expanding cavalcade. The procession is made up of 9 richly decorated floats, 11 themed pods and 80 lead performers in out-of-this-world costumes. Eleven academies each with 150 community dancers brings together 45 community performance groups from 23 areas of Cape Town. Three lead dancers judged the best on the night will be given the amazing opportunity to travel to Brazil to perform in Rio Carnival 2013. 

Music and dancing is going to ignite the Mother City with the theme of ‘Cape to Cairo’, celebrating the rich art, music, culture and heritage of the African continent. Objectives are to celebrate diversity, social cohesion, economic development, tourism and training, particularly among Cape Town youth.  

When: Saturday, 24 March 2012

Time:   Street performers from 5pm, carnival parade begins at 8pm, free street party from 11pm until midnight at the end of the carnival route (York Street).

Get more info about the Carnival on Facebook, Twitter, and this website.