South African Navy Festival Simons Town

Mzansi’s men and women in white put on a grand show in this historic coastal town

Landlubbers and nautical adventurers fall in line! The 2016 South African Navy Festival anchors down in Simon’s Town from Thursday, 21 to Sunday, 24 April with its usual fleet of family-friendly fun, and you’d be a dry fish to miss it.  

The holy grail to fans of maritime exploration, this False Bay seaside village fiesta offers a rare glimpse of South Africa’s Navy and provides insight into the training that helps keep our nation’s waters safe and secure.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE 2016 SA NAVY FESTIVAL IN SIMON’S TOWN

The annual festival hosts a range of kid- and family-friendly activities and gives fans of maritime history and seafaring combat the chance to experience a real naval base first-hand.

Those who relish in aquatic warfare can explore some of Mzansi’s largest and most impressive warships and submarines and witness the disciplined perfection of a Navy precision drill. Alternatively, the less combative (or those with junior sailors) can simply hop on one of the tug boats for a sail around the harbour.

Revellers of all ages can also look forward to impressive displays from the SA Navy base and the diving squad, as well as the popular night gunnery shoot, an exhibition during which a flare is discharged into the night sky and snipers try to hit it with blank bullets (the SA Navy’s answer to fireworks). Not to mention, as a pre-event treat festival-goers can check out this the musical stylings of the talented SA Navy band tootin’ their horns at the dry dock.

The festival gets into the swing of things with a family-friendly community parade happening on Saturday, 23 April at 9am. Those wanting to attend should be sure to don some comfy shoes and bring all the gees to this fun-filled event. If the idea of seeing military weaponry in action sounds like fun then be sure to attend the Night Shoot happening on the same day at the Lower North Battery.

Hungry and thirsty patrons can rejoice as the festival also hosts a wide variety of food and drink stalls kitted out to satisfy any appetite, and the little ones will have ample time and space to expend their energy at the kiddies’ play area. 

LINE-UP OF EVENTS FOR THE 2016 SA NAVY FESTIVAL IN SIMON’S TOWN

• SA Navy ships and submarines open for public viewing
• Tug boat rides
• Flea market
• Kiddies’ corner and activities
• Navy band performance
• German navy ships and submarines open to the public
• Anti-piracy display
• Air, sea, search and rescue display
• Navy, Air Force and Army exhibitions
• Night gunnery shoot
• And more!

TICKETS FOR THE 2016 SA NAVY FESTIVAL IN SIMON’S TOWN

Admission to the festival is absolutely FREE! The festivities can start at 10am and run until 10pm depending on the day. Visit the website for more information. 

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Have a squiz at our guide to annual March events to find out about more hot happenings taking place during the month.
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