Kaapse Klopse annual contest kicks off ahead of Cape Town street parade

The Kaapse Klopse annual competition kicked off at Athlone Stadium yesterday, Wednesday January 1, with teams bringing their A-game on Day 1.

Typically, the festivities for the iconic street parade follow the Cape Town Street Parade on 2de Nuwe Jaar, but this year the schedule was adjusted due to a religious observance.

Participants competed in the Grand March Pass, Senior and Juvenile Drum Major, Best Dress and Klopse Jol events, marking the start of the competition.

Capetonians can look forward to a vibrant showcase on Saturday January 4 when all the teams will parade through the streets of Cape Town.

All 20 troupes will march along the full route, starting on Darling Street, passing through the Hollywoodbets Purple Mile, and continuing into Adderley Street. The parade will then make its way up Wale Street, past the Company’s Garden, and cross Buitengracht Street before entering the historic Bo-Kaap neighbourhood (Schotsche Kloof). The route will end on Rose Street.

Street parade road closures

Several roads will be closed from 6am until midnight on Saturday January 4. These include:

● Buitenkant, Lower Plein, Adderley, Castle, Hout, Shortmarket, Church, Wale, Longmarket, and Burg Streets

● Loop, Bree, Van Der Meulen, Rose, Heiliger Lane/Street, and Chiapinni Street