Here’s how to spend Christmas in Cape ...
From lunches and carols to markets and meeting Santa
The Galileo Open Air Cinema, Cape Town’s beloved outdoor experience
New venues, vendors and blockbuster films
Latest update: Monday, 13 November 2023
The magical Galileo is open from 10 November with some special additions like Bollywood and a dog-friendly show. Now in its 12th year, it's where parents bond with their kids, friends celebrate unforgettable special days and where locals like to impress their visitors.
People have the best time when they come at least an hour early for the sunset, snacks and meals (including halaal friendly, gluten free and vegan) before they cosy up with popcorn and a movie.
Enjoy a movie night under the stars. Image: Galileo Open Air Cinema
SEE CLASSICS OR NEW BLOCKBUSTERS
There’s over 100 movies screening over the next 5 months, from summer into spring, including Bollywood, musicals, rom-coms, action, Westerns, and animations.
The organisers are excited about classics like Grease, The Holiday, Back To The Future, The Godfather, City Slickers, Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, Grease, Notting Hill and The Shawshank Redemption.
Plus new blockbusters like Oppenheimer, Barbie, Elvis, The Whale, The Little Mermaid , Elemental, Where The Crawdads Sing, Ticket to Paradise, Magic Mike’s Last Dance and Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3.
Watch an old favourite or something new. Image: Galileo Open Air Cinema
FURRY FRIENDS NOW WELCOME
Galileo has always been a kid’s playground, and now your pets are also allowed (for a special show). The proceeds of VID (Very Important Dog) tickets go to local dog heroes Oscar’s Arc.
These will be a picnic-style show screening of Marley and Me (screening 24 November at Central Park, Century City). Dogs must be well behaved to enter, and calm and quiet during the movie.
Bring your four-legged companions along. Image: Galileo Open Air Cinema
NEW VENUES FOR A NEW SEASON
As per usual, the weekday slots for the open air cinema will be Kirstenbosch Garden, with the occasional Friday at Central Park, Century City. Saturdays are at alternating Winelands locations.
There are new Winelands locations like Morgenhof Wine Estate, Zevenwacht Wine Estate in Kuilsriver and Muratie Canvas (the stunning 360° glasshouse overlooking views of Muratie Wine Estate). They will also be the first venue to do a section of beanbags for seating in addition to the backrests.
Arrive early to make the most of the lawn games and food vendors. You’ll see kids playing Naughts & Crosses and giant Jenga, parents and friends guessing movie trivia or couples bonding over bubbly and popcorn.
Arrive early and play lawn games. Image: Galileo Open Air Cinema
PACK A PICNIC OR BUY FROM LOCAL VENDORS
While you can bring your own food and drinks into certain venues, there’s lots to buy. This season at Kirstenbosch there will be Butler’s Pizza, a fan-favourite with popular items like the Funky Fabb and The Rotherham.
There's also 2 Kitchens, who makes nachos, chicken and beef shawarmas, as well as falafel and healthy platters. Zukule’s Eatery offers chicken beef and vegan burgers. Both of these vendors cater to halaal customers, and all vendors have vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free items.
For wine and champagne by the glass or bottle, there's the Tipsy Gypsy (with non alcoholic options too).
Food and drinks can be brought into all venues except Blaauwklippen Wine Estate and Laborie Estate, and alcohol is not allowed at Central Park and all Winelands locations.
Pair your movie with the perfect snack. Image: Galileo Open Air Cinema
CELEBRATE THE SPECIAL DAYS
The Galileo gifts a free ticket during your birthday week (includes backrest and blanket). Plus, even if the screening of that day is sold out, room is made available.
There are also special shows with themed decor and snacks to bring extra magic to this bucket list activity. This season there are four special shows, plus two fun-themed nights.
-
Christmas Eve: 24 December 2023 at Kirstenbosch Garden. Home Alone Special Christmas Eve Show. R275 per ticket which includes movie entry, Christmas hat, backrest, blanket, popcorn and a candy cane. Earlier in the week, enjoy a screening of Last Christmas.
-
Christmas Day: 25 December 2023 at Kirstenbosch Garden. The Grinch Special Christmas Day Show. R275 per ticket which includes movie entry, Christmas hat, backrest, blanket, popcorn and a candy cane.
Celebrate with a movie under the stars. Image: Galileo Open Air Cinema
-
Valentines Day: 14 February 2024 at Nooitgedacht Estate. The Proposal – Special Valentine’s Day Show. R290 per ticket which includes movie entry, entertainment, backrest, blanket, welcome drink and a chocolate. Get into the romantic mood early with a February 10 screening of Notting Hill.
-
Easter Friday: 29 March 2024 at Central Park, Century City. Peter Rabbit Special Easter Show. R175 per ticket which includes movie entry, entertainment, backrest, blanket and an easter egg.
There will also be two themed nights. Catch Magic Mike’s Last Dance for International Women’s Day on March 8 and The Lorax on 21 March to celebrate Earth Day.
Please note: Birthdays, pensioners and student discounts do not apply on special shows.
Enjoy the themed, special shows. Image: Galileo Open Air Cinema
BUY YOUR TICKETS
There are a range of tickets based on the type of experience you’re wanting. Pensioners 60 and get discounted tickets at R130 per person, which include movie entry, a backrest and blanket. All tickets are purchased online through the Galileo website.
Standard: R140 per person. Includes movie entry
Comfy: R155 per person. Includes movie entry and a backrest.
Warm & Comfy: R160 per person. Includes movie entry, backrest, blanket, reserved premium seating, drink, chocolate and popcorn.
Double Delight: R390 for two. Includes movie entry, backrest, blanket, front row seating, 2 popcorns, 2 Astros and 2 Fruit Pastilles.
VIP: R230 per person. Includes movie entry, reserved prime seating, blanket, backrest, popcorn, beverage & chocolate.
VIP+: R800 for two. Includes movie entry, plush reclining backrest and pillows, blankets, 2 popcorns, 2 Whispers and 2 Fruit Pastilles.
Get your tickets early to avoid disappointment. Image: Galileo Open Air Cinema
PICK MOVIES FROM THE FULL SCHEDULE
|
Date |
Movies |
Cinema Type |
Venue |
Doors Open |
Book |
FPB Rating |
|
Thursday 16 Nov |
Maybe I Do |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 L |
|
|
Friday 17 Nov |
Finding Nemo |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
A |
|
|
Saturday 18 Nov |
Pretty Woman |
Winelands |
Muratie Canvas |
17:00 |
13 |
|
|
Wednesday 22 Nov |
Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
10 V |
|
|
Thursday 23 Nov |
Father Of The Bride (2022) |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
10-12 PG LP |
|
|
Friday 24 Nov |
Marley and Me (Dog Friendly Show) |
Picnic |
Central Park, Century City |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Saturday 25 Nov |
A Good Year |
Winelands |
Glenelly Estate |
17:00 |
10 |
|
|
Tuesday 28 Nov |
500 Days of Summer |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 PG L |
|
|
Wednesday 29 Nov |
City Slickers |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
10 L |
|
|
Thursday 30 Nov |
Love Actually |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Saturday 02 Dec |
Grease |
Winelands |
Plaisir Wine Estate |
17:00 |
PG |
|
|
Wednesday 6 Dec |
The Whale |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
16 D L P S |
|
|
Thursday 7 Dec |
Bridesmaids |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
16 LS |
|
|
Friday 8 Dec |
Pitch Perfect |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
10 L |
|
|
Saturday 9 Dec |
Dirty Dancing |
Winelands |
Blaauwklippen Wine Estate |
17:00 |
13 PG |
|
|
Monday 11 Dec |
Couples Retreat |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 LS |
|
|
Tuesday 12 Dec |
Grease |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Wednesday 13 Dec |
The Greatest Showman |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
10-12 PG PV |
|
|
Saturday 16 Dec |
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again |
Winelands |
Nederburg Wine Farm |
17:00 |
10-12 PG |
|
|
Wednesday 20 Dec |
Last Christmas |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 LP |
|
|
Sunday 24 Dec |
Home Alone Special Christmas Eve Show |
Special Show |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
A |
|
|
Monday 25 Dec |
The Grinch Special Christmas Day Show |
Special Show |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG V |
|
|
Wednesday 27 Dec |
Spiderman: Across The Spider- Verse |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 LV |
|
|
Thursday 28 Dec |
Notting Hill |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG L |
|
|
Friday 29 Dec |
E.T. The Extra- Terrestrial |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Saturday 30 Dec |
Top Gun: Maverick |
Winelands |
Lourensford Wine Estate |
17:00 |
13 L V |
|
|
Wednesday 3 Jan |
The Bad Guys |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG V |
|
|
Thursday 4 Jan |
Mrs Harris Goes To Paris |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
7-9 PG |
|
|
Friday 5 Jan |
Dirty Dancing |
Picnic |
Central Park, Century City |
18:00 |
13 P |
|
|
Saturday 6 Jan |
The Vow |
Winelands |
Knorhoek Wine Farm |
17:00 |
13 PG |
|
|
Wednesday 10 Jan |
13 Going on 30 |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Thursday 11 Jan |
The Shawshank Redemption |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
16 LV |
|
|
Friday 12 Jan |
Elemental |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Saturday 13 Jan |
How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days |
Winelands |
Morgenhof Wine Estate |
17:00 |
10 |
|
|
Tuesday 16 Jan |
The Meddler |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
10-12 PG |
|
|
Wednesday 17 Jan |
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of The Desert |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 |
|
|
Thursday 18 Jan |
Book Club: The Next Chapter |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 LS |
|
|
Saturday 20 Jan |
The Notebook |
Winelands |
Backsberg Family Wines, Franschhoek |
17:00 |
16 S |
|
|
Wednesday 24 Jan |
She Said |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Thursday 25 Jan |
Everything Everywhere All At Once |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
16 L N V |
|
|
Friday 26 Jan |
The Super Mario Bros. Movie |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
7-9 PG |
|
|
Saturday 27 Jan |
Crazy Stupid Love |
Winelands |
Zevenwacht Wine Estate |
17:00 |
13 L |
|
|
Wednesday 31 Jan |
The Lost King |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
10-12 PG L V |
|
|
Thursday 1 Feb |
The Pursuit of Happyness |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
A |
|
|
Friday 2 Feb |
Top Gun: Maverick |
Picnic |
Central Park, Century City |
18:00 |
13 L V |
|
|
Saturday 3 Feb |
Me Before You |
Winelands |
Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards |
17:00 |
7-9 PG |
|
|
Wednesday 7 Feb |
A Man Called Otto |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
16 L V |
|
|
Thursday 8 Feb |
Back To The Future |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG V |
|
|
Friday 9 Feb |
The Little Mermaid (2022) |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG V |
|
|
Saturday 10 Feb |
Notting Hill |
Winelands |
Rhebokskloof Wine Estate |
17:00 |
PG L |
|
|
Wednesday 14 Feb |
The Proposal – Special Valentine’s Day Show |
Special Show |
Nooitgedacht Estate |
17:00 |
13 PG L |
|
|
Thursday 15 Feb |
The Wedding Singer |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
A |
|
|
Friday 16 Feb |
Gnomeo And Juliet |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG V |
|
|
Saturday 17 Feb |
Romeo And Juliet |
Winelands |
Lourensford Wine Estate |
17:00 |
PG V |
|
|
Tuesday 20 Feb |
As Good As It Gets |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 L P V |
|
|
Wednesday 21 Feb |
TBC |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
Book |
|
|
Friday 23 Feb |
Enchanted |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Saturday 24 Feb |
While You Were Sleeping |
Winelands |
Laborie Estate |
17:00 |
PG |
|
|
Wednesday 28 Feb |
Where The Crawdads Sing |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 L P S SV V |
|
|
Thursday 29 Feb |
Leap Year |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Friday 1 Mar |
Wavescape Film Festival 2024 |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Saturday 2 Mar |
Four Weddings And A Funeral |
Winelands |
Glenelly Estate |
17:00 |
10 L |
|
|
Wednesday 6 Mar |
Chicago |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 L |
|
|
Thursday 7 March |
Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 V |
|
|
Friday 8 Mar |
Magic Mike’s Last Dance - International Women’s Day |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 S |
|
|
Saturday 9 Mar |
Elvis |
Winelands |
Plaisir Wine Estate |
17:00 |
16 DLP V PPS |
|
|
Wednesday 13 Mar |
Coco Before Chanel |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
10-12 PG |
|
|
Thursday 14 Mar |
The Godfather |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
16 V |
|
|
Friday 15 Mar |
Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3 |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 L V |
|
|
Saturday 16 Mar |
The Holiday |
Winelands |
Backsberg Family Wines, Franschhoek |
17:00 |
PG L |
|
|
Wednesday 20 Mar |
TBC |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
Book |
|
|
Thursday 21 Mar |
The Lorax |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
A |
|
|
Friday 22 Mar |
TBC |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
Book |
|
|
Saturday 23 Mar |
50 First Dates |
Winelands |
Zevenwacht Wine Estate |
17:00 |
PG L |
|
|
Wednesday 27 Mar |
The Addams Family (1991) |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
10 V |
|
|
Thursday 28 Mar |
Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Friday 29 Mar |
Peter Rabbit Special Easter Show |
Special Show |
Central Park, Century City |
17:00 |
PG V |
|
|
Saturday 30 Mar |
Ticket to Paradise |
Winelands |
Blaauwklippen Wine Estate |
17:00 |
13 D L |
|
|
Wednesday 3 Apr |
TBC |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
Book |
|
|
Thursday 4 Apr |
The Horse Whisperer |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
A |
|
|
Friday 5 Apr |
Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
16 LPV |
|
|
Saturday 6 Apr |
The Greatest Showman |
Winelands |
Stellenbosch Waldorf School |
17:00 |
10-12 PG PV |
|
|
Wednesday 10 Apr |
Shotgun Wedding |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
16 L V |
|
|
Thursday 11 Apr |
Avatar: The Way of Water |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 L V |
|
|
Friday 12 Apr |
Aladdin (2019) |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
7-9 PG P V |
|
|
Saturday 13 Apr |
The Great Gatsby |
Winelands |
Morgenhof Wine Estate |
17:00 |
10-12 PG V |
|
|
Wednesday 17 Apr |
Bride & Prejudice |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Thursday 18 Apr |
Barbie |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 L P V |
|
|
Friday 19 Apr |
Penguins |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Saturday 20 Apr |
Dirty Dancing |
Winelands |
Nederburg Wine Farm |
17:00 |
13 PG |
|
|
Wednesday 24 Apr |
Oppenheimer |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
13 VL |
|
|
Thursday 25 Apr |
Jumanji (1995) |
Picnic |
Kirstenbosch Garden |
18:00 |
PG |
|
|
Friday 26 Apr |
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again |
Picnic |
Central Park, Century City |
18:00 |
10-12 PG |
|
|
Saturday 27 Apr |
Grease |
Winelands |
Lourensford Wine Estate |
17:00 |
PG |
HAVE A STARLIT MOVIE NIGHT
The Galileo is open: 8 November 2023 to 27 April 2024
Find it: Various venues
Book: via The Galileo's website
Contact on: 071 471 8728, hello@thegalileo.co.za, @thegalileo
By Sarah Williams
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