Castle all set for Cape Town Military Tattoo

The City of Cape Town is once again a partner for the seventh annual Cape Town Military Tattoo, to be held from 31 October to 3 November 2012 at the Castle of Good Hope.

As in previous years, the Tattoo will be produced by a dedicated team of regular and reserve members of the South African National Defence Force.

The following groups will participate in the Tattoo:

·         SA Army Band (Western Cape and Kroonstad bands)

·         Botswana Army Band

·         Cape Field Artillery Pipes and Drums

·         Cape Town Highlanders Pipes and Drums

·         1 Medical Battalion Group Pipes and Drums

·         Historical acts

·         Drum majorettes

·         Celtic dancers

·         Het Historisch Tamboerkorps van der Koninklijke Marechaussee – a Dutch volunteer reserve band

The programme will consist of displays by various Cape Town youth groups, the closing of the Castle Gates, firing of a half-pounder gun, band performances, a mortar run, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 overture, the final muster and a lone piper.

The theme for the Tattoo this year is ‘A tribute to the Military Musicians’. Homage will be paid to the men and women of the military support services who provide combat support.

“The Cape Town Military Tattoo is the only Tattoo held in the Western Cape and is the largest Military Tattoo in the country and the only Tattoo in South Africa to be held in a real fort.

“The event provides an unrivalled evening of spectacle and entertainment that goes to the heart of our country’s rich military heritage. I want to encourage each and every resident to bring along their families and experience an important part of our city’s heritage,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Marketing, Councillor Grant Pascoe.

The City is pursuing an events strategy that builds on Cape Town’s natural and cultural assets. As such, the event will be held at The Castle, which forms an ideal setting and draws on the strengths of this key tourism icon.

Although highly entertaining, the greater purpose of the Tattoo is to promote the South African National Defence Force; to develop a better relationship between the armed forces and the community; and to involve the youth of Cape Town in this historical parade.

The initiative extends beyond Cape Town’s borders and will engage the attention and respect of neighbouring countries – South Africa’s partners in the transformation of Africa. Members from the Botswana Army Band have accepted an invitation to participate as well as the Het Historisch Tamboerkorps van der Koninklijke Marechaussee from the Netherlands.

Tickets for the Tattoo are available through Computicket and range between R100,00 and R120,00 for adults, depending on the location of the seats, and R50,00 for children under 12 years of age. Booking is advised in order to avoid disappointment. In previous years, the event has been fully booked well in advance.