Johannesburg is giving residents plenty of reasons to leave the house this weekend. From a major hip-hop festival celebrating two decades of culture to an outdoor festival built around music, food, family and sustainability, the weekend offers something for almost every mood.
There is live jazz, underground electronic music, comedy, classical music, food and even the chance to explore the city’s history on foot.
Here are eight ways to spend the weekend
Back to the City celebrates 20 years of hip-hop
When: Saturday, 10 October
Where: Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown
Back to the City returns to Newtown for its 20th edition, bringing together generations of hip-hop culture. International hip-hop legends Slum Village are among the performers, alongside a line-up of South African artists.
The festival goes beyond the main stage, with streetwear, graffiti, food, skating, basketball and other elements of street culture forming part of the experience. For anyone wanting to immerse themselves in Johannesburg’s hip-hop culture, this is the weekend’s major music gathering.
Why go: Hip-hop, street culture, fashion, food and a festival atmosphere.
Rooted Fest offers an escape into nature
When: Saturday, 10 October
Time: 10am–6pm
Where: Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, R550, Heidelberg
If the city feels like too much, Rooted Fest offers a different kind of Saturday. The outdoor festival brings together music, food, family, culture and sustainability at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in Heidelberg. The organisers describe the event as a day-long celebration centred on music, good food, family-friendly experiences, culture and the outdoors. It is also a reminder that a weekend outing does not have to revolve around a nightclub or traditional concert venue.
Why go: For an outdoor experience combining music, food, culture, family and nature.
TOFY Records brings underground sounds to Bad Manors
When: Saturday, 10 October
Where: Bad Manors, Johannesburg
Time: From 1pm
For those who prefer their Saturday soundtrack underground, the TOFY Records label showcase runs from the afternoon into the night.
Aero Manyelo and the TOFY Records collective feature on a programme centred on electronic music, deep house and underground dance culture.
Why go: For electronic music and a more intimate dance-floor experience.
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Miriam Altman presents The Butterfly Project
When: Saturday, 10 October
Time: 7pm
Where: Wits Theatre Complex
Singer-songwriter and jazz musician Miriam Altman presents The Butterfly Project in Johannesburg. The contemporary music project draws on jazz, soul, African rhythmic influences and poetry, offering a more intimate alternative to the weekend’s larger festivals.
Why go: For live musicianship, contemporary jazz and a more reflective Saturday-night experience.
Make a night of it at Norwood Night Market
When: Saturday evening
Where: Norwood
For something less structured, the Norwood Night Market provides a casual Saturday-night option. Expect street food, drinks, shopping and local entertainment in a setting suited to meeting friends and wandering between stalls.
Why go: For food, shopping and a relaxed social evening.
Laugh your way into Sunday with Riaad Moosa
When: Sunday, 11 October
Where: Qurtuba Convention Centre, Sandton
Sunday gets a comedy option as Riaad Moosa brings his stand-up to Sandton. For those who would rather spend the final day of the weekend laughing than navigating another crowded dance floor, it offers an easy Sunday outing.
Why go: For live stand-up and a lighter Sunday experience.
Slow down with classical music
When: Sunday, 11 October
Time: 3pm
Where: Linder Auditorium, Parktown
The Odeion String Quartet joins pianist Jean-Philippe Sylvestre for a Sunday afternoon performance at Linder Auditorium. It offers a distinctly different pace from Saturday’s festivals and nightlife, making it a good option for classical-music lovers or anyone looking for a quieter cultural experience.
Why go: For an elegant Sunday afternoon of chamber music.
See Johannesburg differently
When: Sunday, 11 October
Time: 10am
Where: Newtown
There is also an opportunity to explore Johannesburg beyond its restaurants, clubs and concert venues with a guided walk through Newtown. The experience focuses on the stories and history embedded in one of the city’s significant cultural areas.
For Johannesburg residents who often pass through the inner city without stopping to understand its history, it offers a chance to see familiar surroundings differently.
Why go: For history, culture and a slower Sunday morning.
So, what kind of weekend are you having?
The appeal of this weekend’s calendar is its variety. Want the big festival experience? Back to the City has the hip-hop and street-culture offering. Want music, nature and an outdoor atmosphere? Rooted Fest offers a different kind of festival day.
Looking for underground sounds? TOFY Records has the dance floor covered. Want live jazz? Miriam Altman’s Butterfly Project offers a more intimate Saturday-night experience. Prefer comedy? Riaad Moosa has your Sunday.
Want something slower? The Odeion String Quartet offers a cultured Sunday afternoon. And if you would rather spend the weekend learning more about the city you live in, Newtown offers a chance to do exactly that.
Whatever your idea of a good weekend looks like, Johannesburg and its surrounds have plenty on the calendar and you do not necessarily have to spend Saturday night in a club to have a good time.
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- The "Back to the City" hip-hop festival celebrating 20 years takes place on Saturday, 10 October at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.
- Rooted Fest, an outdoor celebration of music, food, family, culture, and sustainability, is held on Saturday, 10 October at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, Heidelberg.
- TOFY Records presents an underground electronic music showcase on Saturday, 10 October from 1pm at Bad Manors, Johannesburg.
- Jazz musician Miriam Altman performs The Butterfly Project on Saturday, 10 October at 7pm at Wits Theatre Complex.
- Riaad Moosa’s stand-up comedy show is scheduled for Sunday, 11 October at Qurtuba Convention Centre, Sandton.
