Don’t miss these epic Sardine Run events taking place on the KZN South Coast!
With mild, sunny days, Blue Flag beaches, world-class dive sites, friendly locals, and the Sardine Run action - now’s the time to visit the KZN South Coast.
The aloes are in bloom and the winter chill is in the air, which means the scene is set for the annual Sardine Run, an ocean spectacle taking place along the KZN South Coast. In honour of this epic annual migration and to ensure visitors are kept busy this winter, there are a number of ocean-focused events taking place in the next few weeks that simply cannot be missed.
“With our mild, sunny days, Blue Flag beaches, world-class dive sites, friendly locals, and the Sardine Run action – now’s the time to visit the KZN South Coast. This natural phenomenon is one of our biggest tourism attractions, and to ensure our visitors will get even more this year, with a variety of seaside events planned. We encourage visitors to book early so as not to miss out,” noted Dr Vusumuzi Sibiya, CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE).
Image credit: Justin Klusener
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Sardine Run events on KZN South Coast
Ocean Festival
- Dates: June 5 to 8, 2025
- Venue: Scottburgh Main Beach
- Website: www.oceanfestival.co.za
To celebrate World Ocean Day, the highly anticipated Ocean Festival will be returning to Scottburgh with a great programme of clean-ups, talks, live music, sports and entertainment. This year’s event is fully embracing the World Ocean Day theme of Catalyzing Action for Our Ocean and Climate with an action-packed line-up of events for this year’s Ocean Festival.
Run4Ramsgate
- Date: June 14, 2025
- Venue: Ramsgate Tidal Pool
- Support: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/run4ramsgate-sa~2
This is a great citizen fundraiser calling on people to compete in the 5km run or walk to raise funds for the upgrade of Ramsgate Main Village Street. Organisers hope to raise R100, 000 for the upgrade, with visitors and even global supporters taking part.
Coastal Seafood Flavours Festival
- Dates: July 26, 2025
- Venue: St Michael’s Beach, KZN South Coast
- Contact: Phindile Zulu on 083-722-7317. Visit www.coastalseafoodfest.co.za
The festival celebrates the deep-rooted fishing heritage of this region in support of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s ‘Fishing for Freedom’ campaign. Designed to immerse visitors in South Africa’s vibrant marine culinary culture while promoting regional seafood excellence at St Michael’s Beach, this inaugural edition in the KZN South Coast is one of two such festivals taking place – the other being Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape. The festival celebrates the deep-rooted fishing heritage of this region in support of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s ‘Fishing for Freedom’ campaign. Visitors can look forward to a number of festival activities.
The Sardine Festival
- Dates: June 27 to July 20, 2025
- Time: 10am to 2pm
- Venue: Ray Nkonyeni Beaches – Ramsgate, St Michaels, Hibberdene, Marina, Uvongo, and Margate main beaches
- Contact: [email protected]
This family-friendly festival is free to the public, with everyone invited to attend the daily programme of activities. These will include beach volleyball, soccer and touch rugby. There will also be several competitions from musical freeze and musical chairs to cone diving, balloon blow up and treasure hunts – all with sponsored prizes.
Offramp Experience in Partnership with Ugu Jazz Festival
This year’s Ugu Jazz Festival will include a number of offshoot events in partnership with Offramp Experience – including the Offramp Fishing Competition as part of the Sardine Run events. From fishing and football to jazz and worship, this is not to be missed!
Offramp Fishing Competition
- Date: June 22, 2025 (entries close on June 22, 2025)
- Venue: Margate Fishing Pier
- Contact: [email protected]
MPA Day
- Date: August 1, 2025
- Website: www.mpaday.org
This now global celebration honours South Africa’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), also known as the ‘nature reserves of the sea’. Themed Making Connections, this year’s activities will include shared stories, talks, competitions, and ocean-based activities. MPA Day aims to connect people to the ocean and bring conservation awareness to even more people around the world, with Aliwal Shoal, Protea Banks, and Trafalgar three MPAs that will be celebrated on the KZN South Coast.
Now’s the Time: Visit, Invest, Thrive in KZN South Coast! Find out more about these and other upcoming events by visiting the KZN South Coast website at www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za.
