A beacon of hope for The Mother City and all of South Africa
The calamities of 2020 affected every single one of us. The year was filled with fear, and while many are still trying to stabilize from the collective turbulence, the V&A Waterfront has dedicated the first six days of 2021 to consoling its immediate and extended communities.
At midnight on Thursday, 31 December 2020, 36 vertical searchlights were lit. Every night since, the Tribute of Light has illuminated the night sky for an hour at 9pm.
“We are using the symbolic warmth of light to draw us to a moment to connect, even though we are physically apart," David Green, CEO of the V&A Waterfront begins. "We hope everyone who sees it takes the time to contemplate on themes of compassion, solidarity, connection, inspiration, and the collaborations we have been able to demonstrate and experience during a very uncertain period," he explains.
The latest New Year's Eve marked the first in the waterfront's 30-year history where crowds of locals and tourists didn't gather to enjoy the elaborate firework display at midnight. However, under stringent Covid-19 regulations, visitors to the Waterfront over the holiday period can still look forward to the continuation of festive décor.
Though you might visit the V&A Waterfront for the seasonal spangle, it'll be the 123-hectare mixed-use destination that you stay for.
The V&A is a symbol of heritage and diversity, where people from all walks of life can play, live, shop, dine and work while immersed in the vibrant spirit and authentic local culture that exists in this bustling ecosystem. SUP the canals that weave through the precinct, catch the latest blockbusters at the new drive-in cinema, or visit the 2oceans Aquarium.
Gourmands have over 80 award-winning restaurants to choose from, as well as an unmissable food market boasting more than 40 local vendors. By prioritizing people, the V&A is an example of how working with communities, respecting the environment and operating with passion and integrity is a better, more productive and kinder way of doing business.
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Cape Town is a brag of leisure options, and the V&A Waterfront is its mecca. Explore the precinct with me in the coming weeks.