Over 5,000 spectators are expected at this year’s Ultimate X festival. The action is set to take place at the Gateway Canal at the V&A Waterfront (opposite the Audi dealership), where some of the largest ride structures ever seen in South Africa will be built. Well known extreme sports athletes like Nick de Wit, Alastair Sayer and Dallan Goldman (FMX), Greg Illingworth, Colin and Stuart Louden (BMX), Moses Adams, Dlamini Dlamini and Justus Kotze (skate) and Devon Nassif and Nick Burton-Moore (wake boarding), will be taking part and competing for the top prizes.

In addition to the sporting action, there will be lifestyle stalls featuring brands like DC and Fox, a live radio broadcast, a full bar service, top SA bands and DJs, Xbox 360 gaming, plus a tented area where you can relax on day-beds, bean bags and sofas.

Gates open at 11h00 and the action is expected to finish by 19h00. Zula Lounge in Long Street will host the official after-party with bands and DJs providing the live entertainment.

You can buy Ultimate X tickets in advance from Computicket for R90 each. Alternatively, you can get your tickets at the gate on the day for R100 each. For children of four to six years old, the cost is R40. For more information on the event, check out www.ultimatex.co.za.

Veuve Clicquot is well known for sponsoring several big polo events around the world. Last year’s Veuve Clicquot Masters was the first event that the prestigious champagne house had organised in Africa. The event proved to be a resounding success, with many polo fans and celebrities attending and soaking up the vibe.

The 2012 Veuve Clicquot Masters is all set to be bigger than before, with stylish crowds expected for the day. Guests can enjoy the VIP hospitality at Val de Vie’s luxurious club house facilities, where ‘before polo tea’, gourmet canapés and champagne will be served. The polo is set to be action-packed, with Val de Vie having world-class polo facilities in one of the most beautiful locations in the Cape.

Tickets are available from WebTickets for R400 each and the event kicks off at 14h30. You’ll find the Val de Vie Estate on the R301/Jan van Riebeeck Drive in Paarl, just over 3km from the N1.

It looks like the Veuve Clicquot Masters is here to stay!

Every year, Moonstruck raises much needed funds for the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), whose members risk their lives to protect those out at sea in need of assistance. The event is family friendly as well, with entertainment on hand to keep the little ones entertained. It’s now twelve years on and Moonstruck is as popular as ever.

The music starts at 18h30 but it’s advisable to get there early to find a spot, as there’s always a big crowd. Just remember that alcohol is prohibited on the beach but the music rocks, so you’ll be entertained through the night. Enjoy!

Fashion is big at the J&B Met, with the Most Elegant Couple competition being a favourite with the crowds. With the 2012 theme, fashion lovers are encouraged to be different and wear something unusual – something that you wouldn’t usually see at the event. Pre-judging of the fashion happens at 13h45, with the finals taking place at 14h55. As usual, there’ll be awesome prizes up for grabs for the winners and runners-up.

The day features ten races, with the feature race – the Grade 1 2000m J&B Met – taking place at 16h30. Some of the country’s finest thoroughbreds will be running and competing for one of the most prized titles in South African horse racing.

Tickets are available online at WebTickets and they’ll also be available at selected TabGold, Betting World and Cock ‘n Bull outlets from 23 January 2012. General entrance tickets cost R175 each. There’ll be the usual after-party to look forward to as well, where headline DJs will get the crowds going on the dance floor. VIP after-party tickets are available at WebTickets for R350 each.

It’s always a massive day out, so enjoy!

If you’re looking for something to do, check out my list for New Year’s Eve in Cape Town 2011/2012 and see what you can find. My top pick would still be Kirstenbosch, for value for money and quality entertainment. And of course, the venue is one of the most spectacular in the Cape. For something else chilled, the Nederburg concert is also great value for money and the venue is one of my favourites. I’ll try and add some more options in the next week or so.

Whatever you’re up to on New Year’s Eve, enjoy it and remember to take care, especially on the roads.

The set for the fashion show was cleverly built around the existing showers at Camps Bay beach to create the perfect beach look, with an amazing Atlantic seaboard sunset as the backdrop.

The evening kicked off in style with a performance from Chiano Sky which included her new single ‘Sick, Sick’. A little later, GUESS fashion took centre stage with 20 top local and international models showcasing summer’s hottest themes: Denim, Brights, Pastels, Animal prints and Glitz & Glam. To close the show, local pop/rock band Dance You’re On Fire took to the stage where their hit single ‘Boxes of Tigers’ went down extremely well. Special mention must go to Brandnew Marketing for organising a top quality event.

Of course, the night was not complete without a bit of an after-party at Café Caprice. Looks like summer has finally arrived!

Fashion is big at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and like previous years, the colour theme is strictly ‘blue and white’. Ladies are encouraged to wear hats, while gentlemen must wear a suit or jacket. The dress code is smart, so no casual wear is allowed. Prizes will be awarded to the best dressed and the best hat on the day and the judges you need to impress are Samantha Walker (PopYaCollar), Tammy Tinker (British Vogue), Emily Bell (Marie Claire) and Kerry from The Little Hattery.

This year marks the 151st running of the Queen’s Plate, which has been sponsored by L’Ormarins Wine Estate since 2005. The winning prize money for the race is a cool R1 million.

In addition to the race and all the fashion, the event will also showcase the best in Antonij Rupert Wines, plus a collection of classic cars from the Franschhoek Motor Museum and a special gallery of photos from the L’Ormarins Moments Competition.

Gates open at 11h00 for the event and the day will see a number of races leading up to the feature race, which starts at 16h40. The best dressed and best hat presentations will take place at 16h05. At 18h00, the Style Lounge Concert kicks off with live entertainment from some of South Africa’s best acts. I’ll post details of who’s performing as soon as I know. UPDATE: Confirmed artists include Tumi & The Volume, Spoek Mathambo and Kongos.

Tickets for the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate are available online from WebTickets. Prices range from R250 through to R800 each. For more information, visit http://www.lqp.co.za.

It’s a fantastic day out at the races, especially if you’re looking for something more exclusive than the J&B Met. Post a comment if you’re going and let us know what you like about the event. Enjoy!

Photo by Irene McCullagh, SAAF Museum.

The show will feature over 40 aerial displays from aircraft like the Silver Falcons and helicopters like the Super Lynx 300 Mk64. Visitors can look forward to exciting formations and displays in the air from all types of SAAF and civilian aircraft.

The car show will feature classics like the Ford Model T1 911 and Auburn 1936, as well as new luxury cars, super cars and motorcycles.

Tickets will be on sale at the gates for R50 (adults) and R30 (pensioners and kids under 12 years old). The SAAF Museum will be selling tickets in advance if you’d like to avoid queuing for tickets on the days of the air show.

There are a couple of entrances with parking at the show. Choose from either the main gate entrance from Koeberg Road or the Koeberg Road/William Mason Road entrance, both with public parking inside the air base. Alternatively, try the parking at Ratanga Junction which is a short walk to the North Eastern side of the air base. There will also be shuttle buses in operation.

If you’d like more information on the 2011 Ysterplaat Air Show, then pop over to http://www.wingsandwheels.co.za.

2010 SPCA Horse Show Victor Lodorum winner Roxanne Joubert of Table View on Money Mover.

The event is the largest charity horse show in the Western Cape and is open to riders of all ages. You can look forward to showing classes and a gymkhana from 09h00 on Saturday 10 December 2011 and show-jumping classes from 08h00 on Sunday 11 December 2011. In addition, there will be a Christmas market and food stalls, as well as pony rides and entertainment for the little ones on both the Saturday and Sunday.

The SPCA Charity Horse Show raises much needed funds for the SPCA Horse Care Unit and is fully endorsed by the Western Province Horse Society. The event is generously co-sponsored by Abax Investments and Mr and Mrs Jack Mitchell and family.

Entrance for spectators is free and there will be parking available at R30 per car. You can find the Constantia Valley Riding Club in Brommersvlei Road, Constantia. For more information on the show, get in touch with Juan August on 021 700 4180/41 or events@spca-ct.co.za, or visit www.spca-ct.co.za.

The event is organised annually by the Rotary Club of Kirstenbosch, along with sponsors Pick n Pay. Carols by Candelight is always very popular and raises much needed funds for many charities across Cape Town. As per last year, the Cape Town Concert Brass and the Cape Town Male Voice Choir will be leading the programme of traditional Christmas carols on the ampitheatre stage.

Tickets will be on sale at Pick n Pay stores in the Western Cape and here are the prices (includes a candle and song-sheet):

• 15 December 2011: Adults: R50 each, children and teenagers (6 – 18 years): R30 each, children (2 – 6 years): R5 each
• 16, 17, 18 December 2011: Adults: R60 each, children and teenagers (6 – 18 years): R40 each, children (2 – 6 years): R10 each

The carols start at 20h00 and finish at 22h00 but get there a couple of hours earlier to find a spot and enjoy the beautiful scenery at Kirstenbosch. And be sure to look out for the famous ‘Kirstenbosch Wave’ – it’s always a highlight of the evening.