While some markets hibernate for winter, Century City is doing the opposite. The Century City Winter Night Market returns to Intaka Island for four Friday evenings across the cooler months, starting 29 May 2026. The dates are set: 29 May, 26 June, 31 July and 28 August, running from 4 pm to 9:30 pm each time. Entry is free, parking is secure, and the format is straightforward: food trucks, artisanal stalls, live music, and heaters under Bedouin tents along the canals.
For those keeping track, this is the market that started in 2001 and has run on the last Friday of winter months ever since. It’s located at the Intaka Island Eco Centre in Century City, where the setting combines wetlands, bird sanctuary paths, and canal-side seating with the practicalities of street food and craft vendors.
What’s on Offer
The vendor list this year covers most bases. On the food truck side, Chiptastix, Wing!t, The Local Fix and Halibi Treats will be set up in the dedicated truck area. The main truck zone includes Rib Republic, Amigo Foods and Coconuts for Africa.
Over in the train area, expect Creation Novelties, Sampson’s Biltong, Lin Family Eats, Inno’s Artisan Pizza and Wrap It Up. The parking lot becomes an extension of the market, hosting a wine bar, Crush, Saffron Eatery, Queen of Oysters, Zie Zems and Shwarma Zone.
The conference hall section adds Empanadas, Paella, S&J Dim Sum, Chocolat du Coeur, Krumble, Lily’s Fudge and Corrado’s. At the entrance, there is another Crush station, Gorgeous Nuts, Vic’s Fragrance, a second wine bar, Sushi Lover and Malika. Outside Intaka Island itself, Loutaya and Yan Coffee’n’Smoothies set up, while The Cube area brings in CM Stylist, Luna Wolf Collective, Pili Pili Sauvage and Koco and Design.
The range is wide enough that most dietary preferences are covered, and the craft side offers clothing, jewellery, home goods and seasonal items. This is not a boutique market. It is large, covers multiple zones, and leans into variety rather than curation.
Music Lineup
Live music runs across the evening in two shifts. Grace de la Hunt opens from 4pm to 6:30pm. The Cape Town based singer-songwriter and guitarist was a semi-finalist on South Africa’s Got Talent in 2015, later collaborated with electro duo Audio Engine on the single ‘When I’m With You’, and opened for Mariah Carey at Green Point Stadium. Her sets mix originals with covers spanning the 1950s to present day, performed with acoustic guitar and a vocal style that blends indie, pop and rock influences.
Seldon de st Pern takes over from 6:30pm to 9pm. Originally from KwaZulu-Natal, he was a contestant on season two of The Voice South Africa and has been a fixture on the Cape Town live music circuit. His repertoire leans towards covers with occasional originals, and his performances are known for their energy and audience engagement.
Both artists are regulars at Cape Town venues, which means the music fits the market rather than trying to dominate it. The sound becomes part of the background without requiring full attention, allowing people to eat, browse and talk without competing with the stage.
Atmosphere and Setup
The Century City Winter Night Market operates under large Bedouin tents erected by Dimension Tents, with gas heaters positioned throughout the seating areas. Winter in Cape Town means cold evenings, and the organisers have responded with multiple heated zones, glühwein stations, red wine options, draught beer, cider and bubbles.
The location on Intaka Island adds a layer that other markets cannot replicate. The wetland reserve, normally open during daylight hours for birdwatching and eco-education programmes, becomes the backdrop for an evening market. Canals run alongside the seating areas, and the pathways that visitors use during the day to explore the sanctuary become part of the market circulation.
Previous years have drawn over 1,400 people per market night, which means this is not an intimate gathering. The expansion of the venue space in recent years was a response to crowds that filled the original footprint. The organisers now spread vendors and seating across multiple zones to avoid bottlenecks.
Getting There Safely
Intaka Island is located at Park Lane in Century City, with secure on-site parking. Directions depend on where you are coming from, and winter evening travel in Cape Town requires planning.
From Cape Town CBD via the N1: Take the Sable Road off-ramp and turn left at the top. Follow the road around the bend into Ratanga Road. At the third set of traffic lights, turn right into Century Boulevard. Pass one speed bump, then navigate the traffic circle, exiting at 3 o’clock into Century Way (follow Intaka Island signs). Take the first left into Park Lane.
From the Northern Suburbs: The N1 southbound route is the most direct, following the same Sable Road exit. Alternatively, Koeberg Road connects to Century Boulevard from the west, which avoids highway driving but adds time depending on traffic.
From the Southern Suburbs: The M5 to N1 northbound is the fastest option, with the same Sable Road exit. For those avoiding the highway, the M5 to Koeberg Road via Parow provides a slower but more predictable route.
From the Atlantic Seaboard and City Bowl: The N1 via the city centre is standard, but the coastal route via Koeberg Road through Milnerton is an alternative during peak traffic. This route is longer but avoids highway congestion.
Parking at Intaka Island is secure and monitored, which matters for an event that runs until 9:30 pm. The site is well-lit, and security is present throughout the evening. For those using ride-sharing services, the Park Lane address is straightforward for drivers to locate.
Winter driving in Cape Town means earlier sunsets, and visibility drops by 6pm. Leave extra time, particularly on the first visit, as the Century City precinct has multiple entry points and signage can be confusing after dark.
What Makes It Work
The Century City Winter Night Market has been running long enough that it no longer needs to prove itself. What started as a modest winter event in 2001 has become a fixture, drawing people who return year after year alongside first-time visitors who heard about it through word of mouth or social media.
The formula is simple: good food, outdoor seating, live music, and enough heating to make winter evenings tolerable. The setting on Intaka Island differentiates it from markets held in parking lots or town squares, and the fact that it only happens four times a year keeps it from becoming routine.
For families, the Intaka Island location means children can move around the pathways and explore the sanctuary edges during daylight hours before the market fills up. For those finishing work in the northern suburbs or Century City itself, the 4pm start time allows for an early arrival without the need to go home first.
The free entry removes a barrier that ticketed events create, and the pay-as-you-go structure for food and drink means people can budget their evening as they go rather than committing upfront.
Century City Winter Night Market Event Details
Dates: 29 May, 26 June, 31 July, 28 August 2026 (last Friday of each month)
Location: Intaka Island Eco Centre, Park Lane, Century City
Time: 4 pm to 9:30 pm
Parking: Secure on-site parking available
Contact: 021 531 2173 or [email protected]
