Cape Town, 18 March 2023: Thousands of spectators lined the streets of Greenpoint, Cape Town, for the annual Cape Town Carnival Parade. The annual event was hosted without any Covid restrictions for the first since 2019. The carnival was held on a restricted basis last year due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Cape Town Mayor Eddie Andrews and Western Cape MEC for Arts and Culture Anroux Marais officially opened this year’s carnival. Andrews welcomed both local and international spectators at the carnival and encouraged visitors to extend their stay in the city.

Josephine Zimri from Belhar on the outskirts of Cape Town said the carnival brought back magic to the city after Covid. While Mishka a resident of the gang ridden township of Manenberg said she’s a first time spectator and attended the carnival on the advice of her husband and said she’ll definitely be back.

The carnival spectators started lining the streets from early on Saturday morning in order to secure prime locations along the route. The carnival is completely free of charge and boasts diverse professions from Harley- Davidson’s to belly dancers and performing firefighters and even flame throwers.