Christmas Carols are a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit and are also a great way to spend some quality time with family and friends during the festive season. So pack your picnic baskets with delicious food and drinks, shake out your blankets, buy or make your own candles, and get ready for some romantic carolling as the sun sets. Here are some great places to enjoy Christmas Carols in the Cape Town surrounds:

Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concert

The annual Carols by Candlelight concert is held in the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens as part of the Summer Sunset Concert programme. Here you can truly get into the spirit of Christmas beneath the stars at the foot of Table Mountain. Spread out your blanket and sing along to traditional carols accompanied by the Cape Town Concert Brass and the Cape Town Male Voice Choir. Gates open at 5pm, so make sure you arrive early to secure a spot on the grassy bank. The concert acts as a fundraiser for many worthy charities in Cape Town so bring along your friends and family and enjoy an evening of festive cheer for a good cause. Tickets are available from Pick ‘n Pay stores and include a glow-stick and a song sheet per person. For more information, contact 021 799 8783 or email carols@kirstenboschrotary.co.za.

Date:  13 to 16 December 2012
Time:  20:00
Cost: The entry fee on 13 Dec is R65 for adults, R45 for children (6 – 18 years), and R10 for children (2 – 5 years). On 14 Dec, the entry fee is R75 for adults, R55 for children (6-18 years), and R15 for children (2 – 5 years). Available from Pick ‘n Pay
Where: Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Rhodes Drive, Newlands

Carols by Candlelight at Durbanville Hills Wines

Enjoy some festive fun at the Carols by Candelight concert held at Durbanville Hills Wines. This event of Christmas cheer will be led by Andriette Norman, one of the top 3 Idols of 2007 who will be performing traditional and contemporary Christmas favourites. Bring along a blanket (no chairs allowed) and a picnic basket or pre-order one from The Eatery at R295 per couple which includes a bottle of Durbanville Hills Merlot Rose. Christmas gifts and wine will be on sale, as well as burgers, boerewors rolls, and beverages. The event raises funds for the Môresterretjies Crèche, a community care centre that looks after the children of farm workers in the Durbanville area. Tickets are available from Webtickets and will be sold at the gate on the evening. For more information, contact Simone Brown on 021 558 1300 or email info@durbanvillehills.co.za.

Date:  7 December 2012
Time:  Gates open at 18:00. Carols start at 19:30
Venue:  Durbanville Hills Wines, Tygerberg Road (M13)
Cost:  R80 via Webtickets or R90 at the gate. Entry is free for children under 12

Carols by Candlelight at Laborie Wine Farm

Celebrate the start of the Christmas season at Laborie Wine Farm for their annual Carols by Candlelight concert. Situated in the centre of Paarl and surrounded by vineyards and magnificent mountains, this night promises to be one to remember. Father Christmas will be in attendance to entertain the little ones and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree will add to the festive spirit. Pack a picnic basket or order a pre-booked hamper through Harvest Restaurant for R250 per couple and R75 for children. No alcohol will be permitted on the property, but you will be able to purchase Laborie wines at cellar door prices. Booking is essential as seating is limited. For bookings or hamper enquiries, please contact 021 807 3390 or email info@laboriewines.co.za.

Date:  7 December 2012
Time:  Gates open at 17:00. Carols start at 18:30
Venue:  Laborie Wine Farm, Paarl
Cost:  R50 for adults, R20 for children over 12

Oude Libertas Christmas Carols and Starlight

The Christmas Carols and Starlight concert is part of the Oude Libertas Summer Season Festival and offers a traditional festive get-together for friends and family at the Oude Libertas amphitheatre in Stellenbosch. Enjoy an atmospheric picnic under the stars as Richard Cock and the Cape Town Festival Orchestra and Community Choir sing favourite Christmas carols from around the world.

Date:  22 and 23 December 2012
Time:  19:00
Venue:  Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch
Cost:  R130 – R150

Carols at St. Stephens’s Church

Join the Cape Town Gospel Choir for a memorable service of Carols by Candlelight in the peaceful surroundings of St. Stephen’s Church in Claremont.

Date: 23 December 2012
Time: 19:00
Venue: 86 Belvedere Road, Claremont
Cost: Free

Vergelegen Carol Concert

Pack a picnic and rope your family in to enjoy some hearty carols on the Vergelegen Great Lawn, surrounded by the majestic mountains and vineyards of Somerset West. As the sun sets, you can enjoy Christmas music and communal carol singing under the starry sky. The event is held in aid of the Helderberg Hospice so bring along friends and family to share in a good cause. Tickets are available at the gate. For more information, contact 021 852 4608.

Date: 14 December 2012
Time: Gates open 5pm. Carols start at 19:45
Venue: Vergelegen Estate, Lourensford Road, Somerset West
Cost: R30 for adults, R15 for children – available at the gate

Christmas Carols at Burgundy Estate

Enjoy cheery Carols by Candlelight at Burgundy Estate with friends and family. Bring along a picnic supper and sing carols while the sun sets over Table Mountain. Carols will be accompanied by local band K, Ray and the Bird. Kids will be entertained by pony rides, jumping castles, and a Christmas story. Food and drinks will be on sale, but please be aware that alcohol will not be permitted on the premises.

Date: 9 December 2012
Time: 19:30 to 21:30
Venue: Viridian Street, Burgundy Estate, Plattekloof
Cost: R10 for adults, R5 for children under 12 years

Tip: Safe home-made candles can be created by cutting the bottom off a 2l cool-drink bottle. Wax the candle to the lid of the bottle or fill it with sand to hold the candle in place. The lid section forms as a handle which is easy to hold and the bottle will protect the candle from the wind and your hands from the wax, as well as acting as a safety measure with young children.

How do you plan to celebrate the festive season this year? Here are some more Carols by Candlelight in Gauteng.

Main Image 1 by isafmedia (Flickr)