You could be one of three winning teams who bring the moves to this year’s Festive Lights Switch-On in Cape Town!
Cape Town, South Africa (02 October 2025) – If you live in Cape Town and love Christmas, you’ll know how much joy the annual Festive Lights Switch-On brings.
It’s been running for over 50 years now, where over 80,000 Capetonians gather to see the first twinkle of festive liggies in Adderley Street, as the mayor flicks the switch.
It’s also a free public event that brings live music and entertainment to the Grand Parade in front of City Hall. It’s as ‘Christmassy’ as Cape Town gets, and it’s a special memory for families who celebrate the festive season.
This year, the city is working to make the event even more special.
There’s a Mayor’s Festive-Wear Challenge, where designers (anybody can enter!) stand a shot at creating the outfit the mayor will wear at the big event. We’re holding thumbs someone thinks of entering in with a Grinch cozzie, just for the lols.
There’s also a pretty serious dance competition in the works, with cash prizes and the opportunity to perform at the event up for grabs!
It’s called the Move With Melody Dance Competition and it will run under this year’s Switch-On theme, ‘United in Hope.’
The competition kicked off on 01 October, and is open to amateur dancers who are agile enough to bust out their best moves. Entries are open until midnight on 9 November 2025.
The rule is that you need to be in a group of two dancers at minimum or 10 at maximum per entry, and entrants must be based in Cape Town or the greater metropole.
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If you’ve got the moves, enter in by filming a one-minute routine. Any style is welcome. Amapiano. Hip-hop. Breakdance. Gwara-gwara. Just make sure it’s family friendly and ties in with the theme. Then upload it to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, or even WhatsApp it through to 076 179 7047.
If it’s on social media, you must tag @CTFestiveLights, and use the hashtag #FLSODance2025.
A judging panel that includes award-winning dancers, teachers and choreographers like Danny Jones and Jodie Jackson along with entertainer Lunga Tshuka will then work through each entry and whittle it down to a top 10.
They’ll be looking for creativity, technical skill, stage presence, and a connection to this year’s theme.
The 10 finalists will be invited to a dance-off, live, at the V&A Waterfront amphitheatre on Saturday, 15 November 2025. Everyone is invited to come and cheer them on, and get the gees going.
That final battle will decide the top three winners, who will each receive cash prizes, and the opportunity to perform on the main stage at the Festive Lights Switch-On on 30 November where thousands will be watching!
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