Cape Town comes alive: games, adventure and inclusive creativity
Playtopia celebrates its 5th anniversary edition this December.
Image: Picture: Facebook
Playtopia
Cape Town’s ultimate playground of imagination is back, and it promises to be bigger and bolder than ever.
Last year, festival-goers were treated to crazy interactive installations, wild cooperative games in the Super Friendship Arcade, and sneak peeks of local indie gems.
At the heart of this year's event is Arcadia, a fantasy library dreamt up by décor pro Natasha Davidson.
Imagine towering books, glowing potions, mysterious portals and crystal curiosities that make you feel like you’ve walked straight into a storybook world. Inside, more than 100 games await, including standout picks from Japan’s BitSummit, Spain’s BCN Games Fest, Germany’s A.Maze and Australia’s Freeplay.
The highlight for 2025 is the world premiere of new levels of Team Lazerbeam’s Shroom and Gloom, giving visitors first access to its quirky 3D underworld before the global launch next year.
Where: The Homecoming Centre.
When: Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6, at 9am.
The Battle Beach Series
The Battle Beach Series is a weekly survival-themed experience at Camps Bay Beach, packed with high-energy challenges, live entertainment, food stalls, and merchandise.
Each event welcomes up to 200 participants who dive into exciting worlds like Zombie Apocalypse, Viking Wars, Renaissance Escape, Pirates of the Cape and Wild West Outlaws.
Where: Camps Bay Beach.
When: Saturday, December 6, at 8pm.
Fashionability - Able Alta Du Toit Fashion Show
This Disability Rights Week, fashion takes an inclusive turn with a runway show celebrating ability, creativity, and diversity.
Models from the Alta du Toit Centre and Innovation of the Blind showcase designs by the Elizabeth Calloway Academy of Fashion and Devilliers Royal Couture, proving that talent and style come in all shapes, sizes and abilities.
The show also supports Disability Awareness and Care, turning fashion into a platform for empowerment and inclusion.
Where: The Chandelier Foyer at the Artscape Theatre Centre.
When: Saturday, December 6, at 2pm.