V&A Waterfront’s free New Year’s Eve party (with fireworks)

All the details: Concert line up, where best to watch & park

Last updated: Tuesday, 24 December 2024

The V&A Waterfront has been the gathering place for a special New Year’s Eve celebration for 30 years, where over 200 000 families (from gogos to grandkids) watch fireworks displays at midnight. This year the fireworks are back, for a responsible 5 minutes, and they’ll go off at midnight after a fabulous free concert with massive names like Mi Casa and Matthew Mole.

Get all the details, like what time to get there to avoid traffic, the easiest place to park and the best spots to watch from.

(RESPONSIBLE) FIREWORKS SHOW 

The V&A consulted with the Two Oceans Aquarium to make sure that the noise and lights won’t harm the creatures, like otters, sunfish, seals, birds, and jellyfish, in the surrounding natural environment. 

The 5 minute display, which has been reduced in length from previous years, is just long enough to celebrate 2025 with flair, without causing significant stress to both pets and wild creatures. 

The Waterfront also collaborated with the SPCA to give nearby residents a helpful guide on protecting pets from fireworks. 

The V&A’s NYE party is an iconic Cape Town event. Image: V&A Waterfront

FREE NYE 2024/25 PARTY 

The fireworks show will start at midnight, with a fantastic lineup of local talent leading up to the display. 

The lineup features Matthew Mole, the indie-pop star from Fish Hoek, beloved pop trio BlackByrd and Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels (known for their RnB and afro-pop sound). 

Mi Casa starts at 11pm and will be the final artist before the fireworks go off.

See the full entertainment schedule below:

• 6pm Soniq6teen and MC

• 6.30pm BlackByrd

• 7.30pm Soniq6teen and MC

• 8pm Matthew Mole

• 9pm DJ Snezzy

• 9.30pm Dr Victor and the Rasta Rebels 

• 10.30pm DJ Snezzy

• 11pm Mi Casa 

• 12pm Fireworks 

• 12.05pm DJ Snezzy 

• 1am Ends 

The concert is right on the harbour’s edge with views of the ocean and Table Mountain. Image: V&A Waterfront

BEST FREE SPOTS TO WATCH FROM   

The concert will take place next to the harbour. The best spots to watch it live are by the Victoria Wharf Mall terraces (these are the balconies outside the cluster of restaurants like McDonald's and Wimpy). Anywhere overlooking the harbour works too, like around the giant Christmas tree by Paul’s Bakery and Tang.

Other spots will have screens livestreaming the festivities. 

Try the Amphitheatre, Nobel Square (the square with the bronze statues of Albert Luthuli, Desmond Tutu, FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela) and Alfred Square (the paved square by AAFRICAA, just past TimeOut Market). There is no seating and you can’t bring seating. 

There’ll be food trucks (like Seven Colours Eatery which offers amagwinya, stew, wors and more) scattered throughout the neighbourhood. You can’t bring in any cooler boxes, glass bottles and cans, so it's best to explore the many eateries at the V&A Waterfront. 

Lots of Capetonians love the V&A concert for its affordability. Image: V&A Waterfront

OR WATCH FROM A RESTAURANT

The area by the harbour (behind the Amphitheatre and by the Quay Four sign) will have amazing views. Restaurants that overlook the harbour, like Harbour House, Quay 4, Life Grand and Pier & Waterside, are ideal. 

There’ll be a partial view from restaurants in the Clock Tower (you get there by walking from the mall over the bridge and towards the Silo District). Think Kapstadt Brauhaus, Cape Town Fish Market and Quay 5.

If you want to watch the concert from a restaurant, book now, as reservations are already filling up.

IT’S BEST TO GET THERE EARLY   

A lot of people get there in the early afternoon to avoid traffic. The V&A recommends parking by 3pm latest, after that traffic starts picking up. 

There’s plenty to do in the V&A while you wait for the concert to begin. See our guide with 12 things to do at the Waterfront this festive season. 

And if you haven’t experienced the new location of the Cape Wheel yet, this is a must. It offers a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of Cape Town. It’s running until 10pm, so you’ll be able to overlook the concert festivities. 

After the live performances, the fireworks will go off at midnight. Image: V&A Waterfront

EASIEST SPOT TO PARK IS…    

The parking lot with the easiest exit is Dock Road parking, opposite the Apple iStore, Battery Park and Silo District, as it’s closest to the city and freeways.

To avoid too much traffic, you can also use public transport, taxis and e-hailing services. 

MyCiTi buses will be running their regular route with drop-off and pick-up points at the Cape Town Stadium and the Silo (next to the UpCycle bus stations). Currently, buses are scheduled to run until 12.45pm. 

E-hailing services like Uber will also be using the Cape Town Stadium area as their drop-off and pick-up point.

There’s lots of transport options to minimise sitting in traffic on the way home. Image: V&A Waterfront

SPEND NYE AT THE V&A 

NYE at the V&A is happening: 6pm - 1am
For more information: See the V&A Waterfront website
Contact them on: 021 408 7600, enquires@waterfront.co.za, @vandawaterfront

By Julia Rowley

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PARTY INTO 2025 

Find more New Year's Eve event ideas for 2024/25.  

Or see our lineup of things to do on 1 January 2025. 

Plan your holidays with 7+ Things to do this Weekend.

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