For the past 40 years, the festive lights switch-on has attracted thousand of people to the Grand Parade and the city centre at the start of the holiday season.
“This event has drawn crowds in excess of 100 000, and this year is expected to be no different. We look forward to bringing in the festive season in true Cape Town style,” said Ms De Lille.
Artists who joined the mayor at the test run included DJ Ready D, Heavenly Quartez, and members of The Rockets who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.
The event will be hosted by Joe Barber and Boeta Gamat from 4pm. The event will also feature other local artists such as Craig Lucas, winner of The Voice South Africa 2017; Soul Kulture; Freshlyground; Jimmy Nevis; Vicky Sampson; Baby Boy, South African Idols winner Paxton Fielies and Koos Kombuis. The Grand Parade and surrounding streets will play host to various music acts ahead of the switch-on at 8.30pm.
The concert will end with a video-mapping display.
As is tradition, the first crossing in Adderley Street will carry a new light attraction.
This year’s one will introduce the theme “Cape Town Celebrates Summer”.
Ms De Lille said the annual switch-on was a “wonderful family occasion for young and old to enjoy” and attracted both locals and visitors to the city.
The slot at the end of the line-up will be reserved for the winners of the City’s Festive Lights Challenge music video competition, now in its second year.
Chosen by Capetonians through an online public voting system on Indi.com, the winning up-and-coming artist or band will perform at the festival and also receive a
R10 000 cash prize. Entrants need to upload a performance video to the indi.com mobile app and share it to their social channels.
The more votes the entrant gets, the higher their standing on the “buzz meter”. The artist with the most “buzz points” will be crowned the winner. The Festive Lights Challenge will run until Tuesday November 28.
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