December Starts Here: The Top Things To Do in Joburg This Weekend

The first weekend of December always feels like Joburg finally flips the switch from survival mode to festive mode. Office Secret Santas are being drawn, school concerts are wrapping up, and suddenly every WhatsApp group is asking the same question: where are we going this weekend?

If you are keen to end the year with a proper flourish, this weekend, from Friday, 5 December, to Sunday, 7 December, is packed. Think gaming marathons on a mall rooftop, candlelit carols, ballet at Montecasino, Christmas villages, markets, picnics, and a few very cool reasons to hop over to Pretoria.

Here is your curated guide to the standout experiences worth leaving the couch for.

For gamers, geeks, and cosplay kids: rAge Expo at Fourways Mall

If your idea of a good time involves controllers, custom builds, or anime, then your weekend probably centres on rAge. South Africa’s biggest gaming and geek culture festival returns to Fourways Mall from Friday to Sunday with a full schedule of esports tournaments, cosplay showcases, game demos, and shopping that will tempt even the most disciplined budget.

The expo takes over the rooftop level and includes a massive bring-your-own-computer or console LAN for those who want to settle in for the long haul. Expect queues at the most hyped stands, plenty of new local indie titles on show, and a lot of social media flexing from cosplayers and streamers.

Tickets start from the low two hundred per person for a single-day ticket, with weekend and family options available.

For art lovers and the quietly curious: Newwork25 at Wits Art Museum

If you need a breather from malls and traffic, duck into the Wits Art Museum in Braamfontein for Newwork25, a graduate exhibition from final-year fine art students at Wits.

The show brings together work by more than fifty emerging artists who have spent the year experimenting with painting, sculpture, digital media, and installation. There is a strong emphasis on personal and political histories, identity and belonging, and how young South Africans are making sense of a difficult world.

The exhibition opens on Thursday evening and then runs during normal museum hours from Tuesday to Saturday. Entry to WAM is free.

Night markets, vintage treasures, and festive shopping

December in Joburg has quietly become the season of markets, and this weekend is a good one if you love a browse.

• Design Quarter Vintage Decor and Gifting Show, Fourways:
  The Pretoria Vintage Decor and Gift Show pops up at Design Quarter with a Christmas-themed edition. Expect porcelain dinner sets, crystal glassware, table linen, candles, flowers, deli treats, bakes, stocking fillers, and more. Entry is free.

• Town Square at Newmarket Night Market, Alberton:
  On Friday evening, Alberton’s Town Square lights up with hundreds of fairy lights, over one hundred stalls, live music, DJs, street food, and enough festive energy to keep kids entertained for hours.

• Antique fairs in Rosebank and Brooklyn:
  Antique lovers can explore The Firs Christmas Antique Fair in Rosebank or the Brooklyn Mall Antique Fair in Pretoria, both featuring unique vintage pieces and rare decor finds.

Cosmic journeys, popcorn nights, and museum experiences

• Cosmic Collisions at the Wits Digital Dome:
  This spectacular full-dome show explores dramatic impacts in space and how they shaped life on Earth. Narrated by Robert Redford, it is a brilliant pick for teens and adults.

• Origins Centre: Grond Stories workshop:
  A reflective Saturday morning experience that blends tai chi, qigong, meditative drawing, clay work, and a short writing session inspired by the day’s creative process.

• Not Without Hope in cinemas:
  The new survival drama, based on a true story, opens this weekend nationwide. It follows four friends whose boating trip turns into a fight for life.

Christmas lights, Santa photos, and a full fantasy village

• Christmas Village at Emperors Palace:
  A massive festive wonderland with themed zones, lights, games, traders, and Santa. One of the biggest seasonal attractions in Gauteng.

• Photos with Santa at Eastgate:
  Families can book photography packages with Santa from Friday through Christmas Eve.

• Words That Heal pop up at Sandton City:
  A collaboration with the Riky Rick Foundation featuring limited-edition merchandise designed to support youth mental health initiatives.

Picnics, yoga, and cake for the soft life crew

• Sunday Society Picnics at The Maslow:
  A chic garden picnic experience with live music, Graham Beck bubbly, and gourmet baskets. The dress code for this weekend is festive gold, emerald green, and crimson.

• Release and Flow: Yoga by the River:
  A half-day yoga retreat in Vanderbijlpark that includes a light breakfast and a guided session centred on connection and reflection.

• O, Koek cake picnic in Fourways:
  Fully booked, but worth noting for future dates. Guests bring a cake to contribute to one long table and then enjoy a communal morning of tasting.

Big stage magic: ballet, circus, and theatre

• The Nutcracker at Montecasino’s Teatro:
  Cape Ballet Africa brings the classic Christmas ballet to life with dazzling sets, iconic music, and a polished cast. It runs throughout December.

• Gatsby, A Cirque Extravaganza at The Cirk:
  A roaring twenties-inspired mix of acrobatics, contortion, and dance at Cresta Shopping Centre.

• Afropocalypse at the Market Theatre:
  A post-apocalyptic South African story told through fables, movement, and sharp social commentary. This is its final weekend.

• The Jingle Belles at Theatre on the Square:
  A sixties-themed festive musical packed with classic Christmas songs, charm, and humour.

Pretoria outings worth the drive

• SPAR Carols by Candlelight at SunBet Arena:
  A beloved annual carols concert featuring South African artists and a strong community spirit. Proceeds support the Santa Shoebox initiative.

• The Picnic Club at Voortrekker Monument:
  A mellow Sunday picnic with live music, food stalls, and relaxed summer energy.

• Mayibuye iAfrika at the State Theatre:
  A four-hour musical celebration curated by Billy Monama, featuring top SA artists and a full orchestra.

How to choose your perfect weekend

With so many options, commit to a theme. Do rAge on Saturday and art or stargazing on Sunday. Pair a morning market with a Christmas Village wander in the evening. Or go festive in Pretoria with carols followed by a lazy Joburg picnic the next day.

Whichever route you take, book early where required and double-check event details before heading out. December is here, and Joburg is wide awake.

Also read: Pulse Jozi 2025 ignites The Dome with pure Amapiano and Hip-Hop energy

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Source: What’s On In Joburg

Featured Image: Geekhub