5 Dec 2022 Parents will know that with the joy of the festive season (and time off work) comes a certain degree of apprehension – what will you do with your kids during the school holidays? Luckily, the V&A Waterfront has activities, treats and toys for as far as the eye can see to keep you and your little ones entertained over the holidays. There are a number of special holiday activations taking place around our neighbourhood (hint: Santa), while year-round favourites like the Rollercade and PlayDate SuperPark will still be bringing the fun! Whether it’s exploring giant books at the Waterfront Wonderland, attending baking classes for kids, meeting Puss in Boots or taking a train ride with Hamleys, there’s no chance of hearing ‘I’m bored’ with this line-up of fun. Holiday activities Joy from Africa to the World The Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre will turn into a Waterfront Wonderland between 7 and 24 December with various fantastical installations and experiences, including three two-metre-tall books that both children and adults can walk through to discover a magical Waterfront story. Keep an eye out for Santa’s arrival at the Centre Court on 15 December 2022 between 15h00 and 15h30! Your kids can have their photo taken with the jolly holiday icon until 24 December 2022. V&A Kids Market The V&A Kids Market is back! Head to the Waterfront to support these young entrepreneurial children, who turn their ideas into products that can earn them cash and hone their business skills. Date: 17 December 2022 Time: 10h00 – 15h00 Puss In Boots Meet And Greet His name is legendary, but not as legendary as his cuteness – come and meet Puss in Boots in anticipation of the screening of the latest movie to feature the feisty boot-wearing feline, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Date: 24 December 2022 Location: Amphitheatre Stage Summer Magic This summer, the College of Magic – South Africa’s only magical arts training organisation – demonstrates that “Everybody is Magic” with a spectacular family illusion show full of comedy, juggling and jaw-dropping magic. Come celebrate the joy of summer and discover the magic of the holidays! Dates: 20 – 24 December 2022 at 17h30 2 – 6 January 2023 at 17h00 Experi-Buddies Come and enjoy a collaboration between Experi-Buddies and the V&A Waterfront for the ultimate science experience. Experi-Buddies is an educational programme that uses experiments to show budding scientists the joy of science, with the introduction of scientific concepts through interactive projects, demonstrations and experiments. Dates: 8, 14, 21 & 29 January 2023 Times: 10h00 – 10h30, 10h45 –11h15, 11h30 – 12h00 and 13h30 – 14h00 Makers Landing Mini Makers Summer Food Programme Change your child’s perspective on food as they learn and play their way through an engaging curriculum at the Makers Landing Mini Makers Summer Food Programme. Do you have kids between the ages of 5 and 12? Drop them off at Makers Landing during the holidays for one of the 2-hour workshop sessions, where they will learn, make, eat, play and share in a fun and safe environment. Dates: 15 – 23 December 2022; 5 – 8 January 2023 Times: 10h00 – 12h00; 14h00 – 16h00 Cost: R225 per session Things to do with kids Rollercade Just keep rolling! Rollercade is Cape Town’s first indoor rollerskating park, providing a safe, fun and friendly environment for the entire family. There are dedicated areas for parties and functions, as well as relaxing spots where you can listen to tunes, play pool or test your skills on one of the arcade machines. Two Oceans Aquarium This Cape Town icon is one of the best places for a day visit with the whole family in tow. There’s something for everyone at the aquarium, especially kids, who will be entertained for hours at the I&J Children’s Play Centre. They can also enjoy adorable penguin experiences and will marvel at the shark exhibition. Artjamming Bring out that creative streak over the holidays with one of Artjamming’s Holiday Classes for kids ages five to 11, taking place between 12 and 23 December 2022. At R200 per person, the two-hour-long classes will cover everything from slime, drawing and painting to pop-up art and graffiti. PlayDate SuperPark PlayDate SuperPark, located next to the Watershed, is a world of adventure, fun and fitness for kids aged 0 to 12 years old. The indoor adventure park features a half pipe, 3D maze, climbing equipment, zip line, obstacles, giant Lego and a high-line rope course. HintHunt We’ve created an exclusive amazing race in collaboration with HintHunt. Sign up to explore our neighbourhood’s magical installation with your loved ones. The race is live from 10 December 2022 to 10 January 2023. Clocktower Playground Next to the historical Clocktower is a playground with views of the harbour just for kids. It’s filled with playing equipment like jungle gyms, slides, monkey bars and climbing walls. Hamleys Train Did you know that Hamleys has its very own train at the V&A Waterfront? Jump on and take a ride around the Waterfront on the Hamleys Express as it takes you on a wonderful journey between shops and restaurants. Battery Park – The Battery Park urban park that forms part of the V&A Waterfront’s Canal District is the playground of the neighbourhood! Come and explore the park and let your kids play in the family-friendly area that has a jungle gym, swings and rocking horses, as well as a scooter path, a skate and scooter park, basketball courts and soccer fields. Shopping for all Over and above the out-of-this-world kid-friendly activities on offer, the V&A Waterfront is also home to many retailers that specialise in clothes, toys and gifts for kids. A few popular kids’ clothing stores include Cotton On Kids, Earthchild, Keedo and Naartjie, while Pick n Pay, Woolworths, H&M, Guess and Zara also have children’s clothing sections. If you’re looking for local designs, Watershed stores like Granadilla, Sojo, Mu&Me, Providence and Sam & Seb all bring a unique flare to classic children’s clothing. When it comes to toys and other goodies, the V&A Waterfront has everything you could ever need! Hamleys (the iconic British toy store reminiscent of Willy Wonka’s whimsical chocolate factory) and Toy Kingdom are located in the Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, where stationery retailers Yokico, PNA and Typo can also be found. The Watershed is also home to a variety of local kiddies toy and gift brands, like Lovely Stuff, Mamita & Me, Pogoman and Shongololo Toys. If you didn’t already have ‘visit the V&A Waterfront’ under your school holiday to-do list as part of activities to do in Cape Town, we bet you do now!