Killarney turns into Cape Town’s carnival playground

Tickets for kids from R10! And you can bring your own food

Last updated: Monday, 8 December 2025

With tickets starting from just R10 for kids, this jam-packed carnival is Killarney's highlight of the year.

Fun fair rides (like a human space gyro, swing carousel, and bungee trampolines), magic performances, snake shows, and endurance races will keep kids entertained the entire day. And families can even bring their own food and braai on the spectator banks.

The Cape International Motorsport Festival, powered by the City of Cape Town in association with Smile 90.4FM and Webtickets, takes over Killarney International Raceway on Saturday 14 December 2025.

The festival is Killarney’s flagship event. Image: Killarney

FAMILY CARNIVAL & FUN FAIR

It’s impossible to walk far without seeing some kind of performance at the festival.

Aerialists twist above a 5-metre free-standing rig, a perch-pole artist defies gravity by performing balancing acts high above the ground and a 45-minute magic show leaves kids wide-eyed.

There’ll also be a 45-minute snake show where an expert handler introduces a lineup of reptiles, including a python that wraps itself calmly around his arm.

There’s so much to see and do. Image: Killarney

BUNGEE, CAROUSEL, WIPEOUT CHALLENGE, CONCERT

The fun fair adds even more excitement with carnival rides like bungee trampolines, rocket parachute simulators, a human space gyro, swing carousel, inflatable obstacle courses, and the WipeOut sweeper challenge. Tickets vary between R20 and R30 per ride.

And you don’t want to miss the open-air concert with a live performance from Robin Auld, the singer and songwriter whose guitar-playing influences include Jimmy Hendrix, Santana and Ry Cooder.

Every corner of the festival is buzzing with activity, ensuring a full day of entertainment for children and adults alike. Image: Killarney

YOU CAN BRAAI AT KILLARNEY (OR BUY FOOD)

One of the great joys of the Motorsport Festival is how affordable the day out is. Families love that they can bring their own food and braai on the spectator banks using the free built-in brick braais, or set up a skottelbraai in designated areas.

Killarney also has every kind of food option you can think of. The Clubhouse Tuckshop serves burgers, hot dogs, fries and grilled chicken salads, while the Clubhouse Balcony offers snacks and drinks with some of the best track views in the venue: Turn 3 (Damp’s Dip) and Turn 4 (Sarel’s Sweep).

The Clubhouse lawns will host multiple vendors, including Chip n Dip, Steers and coffee shops, with halaal options too, like Hoosain’s Fast Food, whose specialities are koeksisters, samoosas and rotis.

There’ll be food and drink vendors scattered across the venue, ensuring there’s always something to nibble on as the races continue. Image: Killarney

EVENTS YOU CAN’T MISS

While the carnival keeps the kids busy, the circuit delivers non-stop racing for spectators.

One of the major attractions is the Cape International Six-Hour Endurance Race. It features global motorsport stars like Le Mans (an annual 24-hour endurance car race in France) winners Jan Lammers and Emanuele Pirro, multiple sportscar champion Jeroen Bleekemolen, and former IMSA (North America’s premier racing series) champion Juan-Manuel Fangio.

Alongside it is the Three-Hour Challenge, a standalone endurance race where cars push for the longest distance over time rather than the fastest single lap.

On the adjacent 1km kart circuit, the Killarney Eight-Hour Motorcycle Enduro showcases lightweight motorcycles racing, crashing, and being patched up again in a spectacle of speed, skill, and ingenuity from 10am onwards.

All of these events are a test of stamina for both drivers and machines, with teams managing fuel, tyres, and strategy as much as speed. Image: Killarney

RACING THAT RUNS ALL DAY

There’s no quiet moment at the festival. As soon as one race ends, another fires up somewhere on the circuit.

The sprint races are short, fast races between Laude Classics, Kaltron Formula Supercars and Fine Cars. You can expect everything from iconic classics like E30 BMWs, Escorts, and Alfa GTVs to road-based fine cars such as 190Es and RX-7s, and finally the loud, purpose-built Formula Supercars like Cobra replicas and lightweight track specials.

Across the grounds, the festival’s bespoke spin pitch hosts the spinkhana, where drivers need to balance speed and accuracy. They need to keep their rear wheels spinning without hitting any obstacles on the course or exceeding time limits due to tyre blowouts.

Throughout the day, club car parades, live demos and skidpan passenger rides give spectators constant entertainment. Families can watch hairpin drifts, top-speed straights, and close-up racing with plenty of vantage points for the little ones to experience the thrill safely.

It’s an adrenaline-fuelled playground. Image: Killarney

PREMIUM ELEVATED EXPERIENCE

For those wanting a more comfortable base for the day, the Premium Motorsport Hospitality Boma offers an exclusive experience with an elevated view.

Guests will receive access to the circuit, dedicated parking, complimentary breakfast and lunch, access to a full bar, live streaming and live timing of races, and a kids’ jungle gym.

It costs R850 per adult and R100 per child under 12 years old.

No matter where you sit, there’ll be a great view. Image: Killarney

TICKETS FROM R10!

Tickets to the Cape Motorsport Festival can be bought at the gate and via Webtickets.

Gates open at 6.30am, and the racing runs from 9am to 6.30pm. Kids under 12 enter for free, kids under 16 enter for R10 when you buy tickets online and R20 for tickets at the gate.

For adults, tickets cost R95 online and R130 at the gate.

Whether you come for the carnival, concert or cars, the Cape Motorsport Festival is one of the most affordable full-day family festivals in Cape Town.

There’s something for everyone. Image: Killarney

BUY TICKETS TO CAPE MOTORSPORT FESTIVAL 2025

Cape Motorsport Festival is open: 6.30am to 6.30pm
Find it: Killarney International Raceway | 6 Potsdam Road | Table View
Book: Via Webtickets
Contact on: 021 557 1639 or email events@wpmc.co.za

By Khadeeja Adams 

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MORE FAMILY FUN

Find out more about Killarney International Raceway. 

Here are more cheap things to do with kids.   

There’s always 7+ things to do this week(end).

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