Cape Town hosts the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, also called Tweede Nuwe Jaar, after New Year's Day.
Tweede Nuwe Jaar means “Second New Year” in Afrikaans. The carnival traditionally takes place on January 2, when minstrel troupes parade through Cape Town in colorful costumes, perform music, and compete in singing and marching. The event is especially associated with the city's historically Coloured communities.
Its history is connected to Cape Town's nineteenth-century New Year celebrations and the social world of enslaved and formerly enslaved people. Over time, the parade developed into an organized carnival featuring banjos, brass instruments, elaborate uniforms, and distinctive marching styles.
The event is not simply a second midnight countdown. It is a daytime cultural procession held after the calendar has changed, although its name and traditions remain closely tied to New Year. The modern carnival includes multiple troupes and performances, and its organization has changed in response to public safety, politics, and cultural debates.