Think of the city's calendar as an easygoing playlist: casual drinks and social markets in the V&A Waterfront and Sea Point segue into intellectual talks and indie screenings in the City Bowl and at The Labia Theatre. Outdoor concerts at The Galileo - Kirstenbosch Garden and mainstage shows at Artscape Theatre Centre draw a mixed crowd—locals, professionals, tourists and families—so you'll find artsy, family-friendly and late-night social vibes in pockets from Woodstock to Green Point. Most nights are ticketed, but there’s a healthy handful of free community happenings. Street life peaks in March when the Cape Town Carnival returns on 21 March for its 16th year, a free parade that packs the Green Point Fan Walk with nearly 50,000 spectators and over 1,500 performers. From intimate film nights to big outdoor spectacles, the program keeps refreshing—pick a neighborhood and dive in; the city’s always turning up something new.