42 Christmas markets to enjoy around South Africa in 2025

Christmas markets originated in the late medieval times in and around the area we now know as Germany. Originally these were open air markets where people would stock up on meat and supplies for the cold winter months. During the 14th century these markets started to feature the wares of craftsmen such as toymakers.

My first encounter of a Christmas market was in December 1995, in Germany, whilst vacationing with the family for which I au paired. I fondly remember the glühwein, hand made wooden toys and tasty cookies. Not to mention the festive lights and the snow to round it all off.

Christmas markets to spread the joy

Jump ahead to 2025 and the enjoyment of a Christmas market under our sunny skies is not to be missed. Christmas markets are now a common feature in South Africa and can be found in big cities and even small towns.

It provides an opportunity to buy unique and hand made gifts, whilst supporting local talent. A visit to a Christmas market makes for a fun day out for the whole family. We gladly share details here of a number of Christmas markets you can visit around our country:

10 Cape Town Christmas markets

• Cape Gift Market (Sea Point): Held in the Sea Point Town Hall from 14 to 30 November 2025.

• TygerValley Festive Market (Tyger Valley): Held at the Tygervalley Centre from 15 November to 28 December 2025.

• Uitsig Kersmark (Belville): Held at Uitsig Kerk in Belville from 17 November to 6 December 2025.

• CapeGate Festive Market (Brackenfell): Held at the CapeGate Shopping Centre in Brackenfell from 21 November to 24 December 2025.

• Fish Hoek NG Kerk Kersmark: Held at the Fish Hoek NG Kerk from 27 November to 29 November 2025.

• Gordonsbaai Kersmark (Gordon’s Bay): Held at the Grodonsbaai Lofsentrum of the NG Kerk Gordonsbaai from 21 November to 6 December 2025.

• Pinelands Craft & Gift Fair (Pinelands): Held at Pinelands High School from 6 to 23 December 2025.

• Fab Ideas Christmas Gift Fair (Sun Valley): Held at Sun Valley Primary School from 13 to 18 December 2025.

• Simply Gifts Market (Newlands): Held at Sans Souci High School from 8 to 23 December 2025.

• South Market (Constantia): Held at Cape Academy, Firgrove Way, from 8 to 22 December 2025.

7 Christmas markets in towns around the Western Cape

• Paarl Feesmark (Paarl): Held at the Paarl Town Hall from 24 November to 6 December 2025.

• Skeppend Kersmark (Paarl): Held at Simonsvlei winery from 28 November to 21 December 2025.

• Disakloof Gift Market (Betty’s Bay): Held at the Disakloof Youth Campsite from 11 to 28 December 2025 (closed on Christmas Day).

• Let’s Love Local Gift Market (George): Held at the Redberry Farm from 15 December to 3 January 2026.

• Oakhill Christmas Market (Knysna): Held at the Oakhill School on 8 December from 10h00 to 15h00.

• Kreatief Christmas Market (Langebaan): Held at the Curro School from 16 December to 3 January 2026.

• The Gift Market (Hermanus): Held at Curro School in Hermanus from 12 to 28 December 2025.

12 Christmas markets in and around Gauteng

• The Pretoria Vintage, Décor & Gift Show (Sandton): Held at Design Quarter Shopping Centre on 6 and 7 December 2025.

• Bryanston Christmas Moonlight Markets (Sandton): Held at 40 Culross Road in Bryanston on 25 November and 2, 9, 16 and 20 December 2025.

• Town Square at Newmarket Night Market: Christmas Edition (Alberton, Johannesburg): Held at the Town Square at New Market in Alberton on 5 December 2025.

• Christmas Night Market (Roodepoort): Held at the Blueberry Hill Hotel on 20 December 2025.

• The Field Market Christmas Edition (Parkmore, Sandton): Held at the Field & Study Park in Parkmore, Sandton, on 13 December 2025.

• The Christmas Village at Emperor’s Palace (Kempton Park, Johannesburg): Held at the 5th level at Emperor’s Palace from 3 to 31 December 2025.

• The Firs Christmas Antique Fair (Rosebank): Held at the Firs in Rosebank on 7 December 2025.

• Ludwig’s Roses Christmas Market (Pretoria): Held at Ludwig’s Rose Farm next to the N1, north of Pretoria from 12 December to 21 December 2025.

• Nickel Christmas Market (Zwavelpoort, Pretoria): Held at Kungwini Welfare Organisation, Graham Road, Zwavelpoort from 26 November to 7 December 2025.

• Northern Family Market’s Christmas Market (Magalieskruin, Pretoria): Held at Magalieskruin Gemeente 23 to 29 November 2025.

• Christkindlmarket - traditional German Christmas market (Deutsche Internationale Schule, Pretoria): Held at Deutsche Internationale Schule in Pretoria on 29 December 2025.

• Pretoria Christmas Stoepmark (Villieria, Pretoria): Held at RR Bistro in Villieria on 29 November 2025.

2 Bloemfontein Christmas Markets

• Inibos Christmas Market (Langenhoven Park, Bloemfontein): Held at 23 Wim Botha Street on 12 December 2025.

• Klassieke Kersmark (Lochs Hoek farm): Held at Lochs Hoek Farm just outside Bloemfontein on 4 December 2025.

2 Kwa-Zulu Natal Christmas Markets

• The Grand Christmas Market (Pietermaritzburg): Held at the Royal Show Ground in Pietermaritzburg on 19 and 20 December 2025.

• Christmas Market (Margate): Held at the Old Town Market in Margate on 29 November 2025.

9 Eastern Cape Christmas Markets

• Christmas Craft Market 2025 (Gqeberha): Held at Old Grey Club in Glendinningvale from 27 to 29 November 2025.

• Cintsa Country Club Christmas Market (East London): Held at the Cintsa Country Club on 22 December 2025.

• Salt Christmas Market (East London): Held at Chamberlain Square on 3 December 2025.

• Christmas Community Market (East London): Held at the NG Kerk Bonza Bay Road in Beacon Bay on 29 November 2025.

• Christmas Market (East London): Held at St Andrews Lutheran Church on 24 November 2025.

• St James Church Christmas Craft Fair (Graaff-Reinet): Held at St James Church on 29 November 2025.

• Grahamstown Christmas Market (Makhanda): Held at PJ Olivier High School from 26 to 29 November 2025.

• Next Gen Christmas Market (St Francis Bay): Held at Brewery Mini Market on 28 November 2025.

• Festive Family Christmas Market (Plettenberg Bay): Held at St Thomas Methodist Church on 16 December 2025.

Enjoy the summer festive season to the fullest and keep checking in with our site for discounts tailored especially for pensioners.

All the best

Lirette

Co-founder, PensionersPayLess!

Lirette is a co-founder of PensionersPayLess! and the heart behind its mission to help South Africa's over-55s enjoy life to the fullest. Backed by a Doctorate of Law and two master’s degrees, she combines legal know-how with a passion for practical advice. Lirette writes about topics that she believes will appeal to a wide audience and which mostly relate back to her personal experiences, be it making plans for retirement with her parents, balancing a household budget or enjoying a good meal or holiday.