The Fan Walk, which connects the Cape Town Central City to the Cape Town Stadium, is based on an adaptation of the route followed by the Cape Minstrels or Kaapse Klopse every year for the traditional Tweede Nuwe Jaar (2nd January) carnival procession. In other words, it is a route familiar to generations of Capetonians who have made their way from Hanover Street in District Six through town to Green Point every year. The minstrel tradition has its roots in Emancipation Day (01 December 1834).
The route of the Fan Walk along Waterkant Street and Somerset Road has been upgraded to make is more pedestrian-friendly. On match-days, from about three hours before the match, there will be live entertainment along the Fan Walk, including circus acts and drummers (Exchange Place), music (Waterkant/ Long/ Loop), stilt walkers, drums and marimbas (Buitengracht), and a Vuvu Orchestra, the Cape Tenors, rap, reggae, Afro soul and diski dancing on a stage in St Andrew’s Square.
There will be circus acts, clowns, stilt walkers, diski dancing, minstrels, fire dancers, acrobats, music and drummers along the route in Green Point.
Appoximately two hours before every kick-off, a minstrel parade and giant puppets including a fire-breathing sjongololo will leave St Andrew’s Square and make their way along the Fan Walk to the stadium. No ticket? No problem! Everyone is welcome to come and walk the Fan Walk, regardless of whether you are going into the stadium to see a match or not.
Map of Fan Walk
A good place to start the Fan Walk is from Station Square alongside Adderley Street
Look out for the special World Cup lights in Adderley Street which will be illuminated from 10 June
New Cape Town Tourism wayfinders will help to guide you
An example of the Giant Flaming Vuvuzela that will light up the Fan Walk in Exchange Place
An artist's impression of the Flaming Vuvuzela
Many of the kiosks in St George's Mall and in Waterkant Street have been repainted for the occasion
Decorative lights on the back of a truck in the process of being installed along the Fan Walk. Six of the eight matches in Cape Town will be at night.
Workers putting the finishing touches to public infrastructure along the Fan Walk
The best calamari and chip roll in Cape Town! One of the traditional shops along the Fan Walk
The Fan Walk crosses the new pedestrian bridge over Buitengracht into St Andrew's Square near the Bo Kaap, which has recently been upgraded. The tracks in the paving mark the route of the old tram system that used to operate between town and Sea Point
Truth Cafe on St Andrew's Square is a great place to stop for coffee. The building also houses Prestwich Memorial, an information centre that explains Cape Town's colonial past and slave legacy and an ossuary (not open to the public) that contains the bones of many of the 'colonial underclass' - slaves, servants, sailors, indigenous Khoikhoi, African labourers, Muslims and free blacks - previously buried in unmarked graves in the area.
New public art works are currently being installed on St Andrew's Square
Public art on St Andrew's Square
Public art on St Andrew's Square
St Andrew's Square provides a great view of the city and the mountain. Around the corner you can see a colourful new mural being installed on the wall of the Dutch Consulate in Buitengracht
Recycling as art
Stalls for vendors are being set up along the Fan Walk in Green Point. They will operate on match days
Your final destination
More information: Prestwich Memorial
Just in time adding the final touches looking for to 11th of June.
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Took some images of Station Square, and glad to see the Adderley Street pedestrian crossing is now complete, with some finishing needed this week.
Station Square looks quite dead though, and hopefully there are funds for branding, entertainment, etc.
My images are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78015345@N00/