Traditional Cape Minstrels performed at the dress rehearsal for the Festive Lights Switch on Wednesday evening in Cape Town.
Cape Town’s festive season is getting closer, with the city’s Adderley Street light displays tested ahead of the annual switch-on on 29 November.
The displays were put through their paces on 11 November under this year’s theme, “Beacon of Hope”, giving residents and visitors a preview of the lights and entertainment planned for the event.
Mayor-elect Geordin Hill-Lewis joined local and international performers for the test drive, including musician Ricki Vani Frontline, Khayelitsha rapper Dee Koala, singer Vernon White, the West London All Stars, Neon Pulse Drummers, DJ Dre and Festive Lights co-host Tyrone Paulsen.
The annual Festive Lights Switch-On is a longstanding feature of Cape Town’s festive season, with Adderley Street at the centre of the celebrations.
PARTY TIME: Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis testing the Adderley Street Festive "liggies"
Mayor-elect receives winning crochet design
As part of the City’s festive programme, Hill-Lewis received a special gift: a sleeveless crochet vest selected as the winning design in the City’s Wear the Hope Design and Make Challenge.
The garment was created by Inez Shaw from Kenilworth, who heads up the Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion Design.
Shaw told IOL Media: “It has been such an unexpected joy. I never imagined that something as ordinary and personal as my crochet hobby would become part of a Cape Town event, let alone something the Mayor-elect would wear.”
She said she was surprised to win and initially nervous about taking on the responsibility of making the garment.
“I'm usually much more comfortable supporting other people's creative work than putting my own forward.”
“Seeing Mayor-elect Geordin Hill-Lewis wearing the finished jersey, surrounded by some of the people who helped make it, was quite something. Particularly after our rather frantic last-minute alterations to get it to fit!”
The 57th annual Festive Lights Switch-On will take place on Sunday, November 29, 2026, at the Grand Parade and along Adderley Street in the Cape Town CBD. Running from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM.,
Designer shares message of encouragement
Asked what message she wanted to share with Cape Town residents, Shaw said: “Masikhuthazane, meaning ‘Let us encourage one another’. That is the message I would like to share.”
She said she hoped Cape Town would continue creating opportunities for people to share their skills, learn from one another and contribute to their communities.
Shaw said people did not have to be the same or agree on everything to work together and make a positive difference.