Adventure At Your Fingertips

Joburg's New Digital Dome Will Blow Your Kids' Minds

The Wits Anglo American Digital Dome opens at the University of the Witwatersrand in Braamfontein, and it may be the most genuinely exciting thing Johannesburg has added to its cultural calendar in years. This is the kind of outing that sells itself, and then overdelivers.What the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome Actually IsPicture this: you're lying back in a reclining seat, your kids are completely silent for once, and the entire ceiling above you erupts into a swirling, full-scale simulation of the solar system. No screen. No border. Just 360 degrees of pure wonder. That's what the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome brings to Johannesburg, and it's the kind of thing that genuinely earns the word "wow."The Anglo American Digital Dome at the University of the Witwatersrand opened in early 2025, making it one of the most significant new cultural and scientific attractions the city has seen in years. Situated on the Wits campus in Braamfontein, the dome sits at the heart of one of Johannesburg's most energetic urban neighbourhoods.So what exactly is a digital dome? Think of it as a planetarium, but far more powerful. Fulldome technology uses multiple high-resolution projectors arranged to cover every centimetre of a hemispherical screen. The result is a fully immersive visual environment that wraps around you completely. It's not 3D glasses and a flat screen. It's your whole field of vision, filled.Why Families Should Put the Wits Digital Dome on the ListFor families, this is the kind of outing that actually teaches kids something while they're too busy being amazed to notice. The Wits digital planetarium is designed to support STEM education in South Africa, giving schools and curious young minds access to visualisation tools that most of the world's top universities would be proud to house.That's the thing about fulldome experiences that sets them apart from your standard school excursion to a nature reserve. The content is curated to be curriculum-relevant without feeling like homework. A child who fidgets through a geography lesson can sit absolutely transfixed while watching tectonic plates shift across the dome above them, or a star being born in real-time simulation. The technology does the heavy lifting, and the kids do the wondering.Parents of primary-school-age children will find this particularly useful during school holidays, when the usual circuit of shopping-centre play areas and movie theatres can start to feel tired. The dome offers something that holds attention for the right reasons, and the kind of questions kids ask on the drive home are the sort you're happy to field. What's a light year? How hot is the sun? Why does the moon look bigger sometimes? If your household has been through a space phase, this is the outing that cements it.It's also worth noting that the dome isn't exclusively aimed at children. Young professionals with a curiosity about science, architecture, or immersive media will find plenty to appreciate in the technology itself. The Wits Anglo American Digital Dome signals a broader shift in how Johannesburg engages with science as a public experience, not just an academic one.The Bigger Picture: Anglo American, Braamfontein, and Joburg's IdentityAnglo American's sponsorship of the dome reflects a broader investment in science education and innovation in South Africa, backing the kind of facility that puts Johannesburg on the map as a serious science and culture destination. Corporate sponsorship of public cultural infrastructure can often feel token, but this one lands differently. A world-class immersive dome at a major research university, open to the public, in Braamfontein, is exactly the kind of investment that changes what a city feels like from the inside.For young professionals curious about the city's evolving identity, this is Braamfontein doing what it does best: mixing brains with energy. The neighbourhood has long drawn creative industries, tech startups, and the arts community, and the dome adds a scientific dimension to that mix. It positions Wits University not just as an academic institution but as a cultural anchor for the inner city.If you're already planning a day out in the area, outdoor fun for kids in Johannesburg is worth a look to round out the day with something physical after the dome experience. The inner city also has Constitution Hill nearby, and Constitution Hill, a journey through South Africa's past, present and future, pairs surprisingly well as a cultural double bill. For more ideas on what to do with the family across the city, Joburg kids activities parents actually love covers the broader landscape.Plan your visit to the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome by checking the University of the Witwatersrand's official website for current show times, public booking details, and group or school rates. This is one attraction worth calling ahead for, especially during school holidays when demand is higher.Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome?The Wits Anglo American Digital Dome is a fulldome immersive projection facility at the University of the Witwatersrand in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. It uses multiple high-resolution projectors to fill a hemispherical screen, creating a 360-degree visual environment for science education and public programming.When did the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome open?The Anglo American Digital Dome at Wits opened in early 2025. It is one of the most significant new scientific and cultural attractions Johannesburg has seen in recent years.Where is the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome located?The dome is situated on the Wits University campus in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Braamfontein is a central, walkable urban neighbourhood with good public transport access and a range of nearby cafes and cultural spots.How do I book tickets for the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome?Booking details, show schedules, and ticket prices are managed through the University of the Witwatersrand. It's best to visit the official Wits website or contact the dome directly for current public session times and group booking options, particularly during school holidays.Is the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome suitable for children?The dome is specifically designed to support STEM education and is well suited to school-age children and curious younger visitors. The immersive fulldome format tends to hold children's attention in ways that more traditional classroom-style science presentations don't, making it a practical and genuinely enjoyable family outing in Johannesburg.

Get Your Creep On: Joburg's 2026 Halloween Events

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, which gives Joburg two full nights of spooky plans to choose from. Joburg.co.za has picked out the events worth putting in your diary, from family trick-or-treat trails to all-night costume parties. Book early, because the best tickets go fast!Edenvale Halloween Night MarketDate: Friday, 30 October 2026, from 18:00 to 23:00The annual Edenvale Halloween Night Market takes over the Edenvale German Club, 8 to 10 Plantation Road, for a family night of spooky stalls, food, drinks, and trick-or-treating at every stall. A best-dressed competition with prizes keeps the costumes front and centre, while live music keeps the dance floor busy. Admission is just R30 per person at the gate.Rebels Night Market: Halloween EditionDate: Friday, 30 October 2026, from 17:00 to 22:00The Rebels Night Market moves to Rusty Hook, 22 Wilge Road, Honeydew, for its Halloween edition. Expect kids’ trick-or-treat options at the stalls, a best-dressed contest, spooky photo ops, alternative and craft vendors, and surprise giveaways. The first 50 people through the gate also get a free goodie bag. Entry is R30 per person at the gate.Secret Sunrise JHB HalloweenDate: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 08:30 to 09:30Start Halloween early with a guided silent disco at Sandton Gate, 25 Minerva Avenue, Glenadrienne. Put on your headsets for bone-shaking beats, playful breathwork, and a spooky energy reset. Capes, tutus, glow sticks, and quirky hats are all welcome, and surprise treats await the most spooktacular dancer. Tickets start at R100 per person. Get your tickets now!Haunted House: 4YouthDate: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 12:00 to 23:00The 4Youth Haunted House is a festival built for young people, by young people, and it now takes over Sass The Venue, 12 Concorde Road West, Bedfordview. Four experience zones cover entertainment, play, enjoy, and chill, and DJ Kent headlines. Earn XP through online challenges before the day, then spend it on games, giveaways, and competitions at the event. Tickets range from R200 to R600 per person.Frankenstein’s Laboratory of CuriositiesDate: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 12:00Darrenwood Sports Club hosts a different kind of Halloween event, packed with weird and wonderful creatures, haunted chairs, and strange sounds that go bump in the dark. Step into Dr Frankenstein’s laboratory to meet the monster in the making. The full experience adds live music, dinner, and a comedy horror movie with free popcorn later in the evening. No children under 8 are admitted, and no alcohol is allowed on site. Tickets range from R100 to R320. Get your tickets now!The Haunted Forest® 10 Year AnniversaryDate: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 15:00 to 23:00The Haunted Forest® celebrates its 10th anniversary at a new venue, Prison Break Market, 10 MacMillan Road, Glenferness AH. Walk through a foggy forest of life-size scenes and scare actors, watch films on the big screen, and make your way around the bar, picnic area, and food village. Younger visitors can trick-or-treat in the forest before the forest walk, and prizes go to the Most Horrific Family and the Freakiest Couple. Adult tickets range from R150 to R300, and toddlers enter free. Get your tickets now!SAPRA Halloween WalkaboutDate: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 16:00 to 18:00Saxonwold and Parkwood residents turn their streets into a trick-or-treat route with Halloween stands along Blandford and Wells Roads. The walk starts and ends at Fearnhead Park, 25 Blandford Road, Parkwood, and every rand raised goes towards improving the park. The Walkabout costs R150 per person, a personalised Halloween bucket is R80, and face painting is R60. Get your tickets now!The Halloween Experience at Johannesburg ZooDate: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 17:00Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo brings back its annual Halloween night, with themed zones, trick-or-treat activities, costume contests, and live entertainment. The 2025 edition drew more than 5 000 visitors, almost double the year before, so expect a crowd. Tickets range from R81 to R135. Get your tickets now!BollyweenDate: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 17:00 to 03:00Bollyween celebrates its fourth year at Maracanà, 58 Wierda Road East, Wierda Valley, Sandton. South Africa’s largest Bollywood EDM festival goes full dark mode, with a festival stage, BollyRave™ DJs, live acts, and Bollywood anthems meeting rave culture. Tickets start at R80, and VIP seating starts at R1 000. Get your tickets now!Gold Reef City Halloween Movie NightDate: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 18:00The Town Square at Gold Reef City becomes an open-air cinema under the stars. Your ticket covers selected rides, a gourmet picnic basket dinner for two, and a screening of the 2010 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street, which starts at 20:00. The price is R1 200 per couple. Get your tickets now!Prime: Halloween EditionDate: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 20:00 to 05:00Residency, 34 Webber Street, Selby, gets themed lighting and a costumed crowd for an all-night city-centre party. Local DJs mix amapiano, hip hop, house, and chart-topping dance tracks for a genre-fluid evening. Tickets start at R100. Get your tickets now!Halloween Rave 2026Date: Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 21:00Teknotribe, Science Frikshun, Psyology, and The Temple team up at AND Night Club and CARFAX in Newtown for a supernatural urban rave. The theme is “Embrace the darkness within”, so come as an ancient witch, a restless spirit, a seductive vampire, or your darkest take on a classic monster. Tickets range from R200 to R300. Get your tickets now!Keen on winning one of these best-dressed contests, but still don’t know what you’re wearing? Check out our favourite places to snag winning Halloween costumes!Frequently asked questionsWhen and where is The Haunted Forest in 2026?The Haunted Forest® 10 Year Anniversary runs on Saturday, 31 October 2026, from 15:00 to 23:00 at Prison Break Market, 10 MacMillan Road, Glenferness AH. Adult tickets range from R150 to R300, and toddlers enter free.How much are the Halloween night markets in Johannesburg?Entry to the Edenvale Halloween Night Market and the Rebels Night Market is R30 per person at the gate. Both take place on Friday, 30 October 2026, with Edenvale running from 18:00 to 23:00 and Rebels from 17:00 to 22:00.What is included in Halloween at Johannesburg Zoo in 2026?The Halloween Experience at Johannesburg Zoo starts at 17:00 on Saturday, 31 October 2026. It features themed zones, trick-or-treat activities, costume contests, and live entertainment. Tickets range from R81 to R135 on Webtickets.Which Halloween events in Johannesburg suit young children?The Haunted Forest® offers trick-or-treating and free entry for toddlers. The Zoo, the SAPRA Halloween Walkabout, and both Friday night markets also welcome families. Frankenstein’s Laboratory of Curiosities does not admit children under 8.Where can I find a Halloween party in Johannesburg for adults?Saturday, 31 October 2026 has three late-night options: Prime: Halloween Edition at Residency in Selby, Halloween Rave 2026 in Newtown, and Bollyween at Maracanà in Sandton, which runs until 03:00.

Discover CIRCA Gallery in Rosebank: A Contemporary Art Gem

CIRCA Gallery in Rosebank is one of Johannesburg's most recognisable buildings and one of its most rewarding art stops. Opened in 2009 as a sister space to Everard Read, the gallery pairs a sculptural, metal-clad building with a changing programme of contemporary art. Whether you collect art or simply want an inspiring outing, CIRCA gives you something to look at before you even step inside.A landmark of modern architectureCIRCA stands on the corner of Jellicoe and Jan Smuts Avenues, and its curved, spiral form stands out against Rosebank's urban landscape. Pierre Swanepoel of StudioMAS designed the building for Mark and Christine Read, who also own Everard Read across the road. The three-storey structure is wrapped in about 400 tall aluminium fins, an image that references a protective Zulu kraal.The building also works hard behind the scenes. Solar panels help power the gallery, and a rainwater harvesting system supports its day-to-day running. CIRCA is part of the Keyes Art Mile, one of the city's best-known creative precincts.A building that welcomes the streetMost Johannesburg buildings of this size sit behind walls and fences. CIRCA does the opposite. The architect described the idea as a building with "good manners", with no perimeter fencing, and sculptures spill onto the pavement. Curved stairways wind through the interior, and the metal facade gives passers-by glimpses of the art inside. Once you step in, the noise of Jan Smuts Avenue fades away.Showcasing contemporary artCIRCA presents contemporary African and international artists, and it is curated by Everard Read, the oldest commercial art gallery in Africa. Founded in 1913, Everard Read has shown many of the country's leading painters and sculptors, and it also supports young artists early in their careers. Exhibitions change regularly, so each visit offers something new, from bold paintings to sculpture and immersive installations.At the time of writing, the Everard Read and CIRCA programme in Rosebank includes Karel Nel's Translucent Worlds (until 19 November 2026) and Lucinda Mudge's Collectors (1 to 31 October 2026). Check the gallery's website before you go, because the line-up changes often.A space for thought-provoking exhibitionsArt at CIRCA is more than visual. It is an experience. The gallery's exhibitions often tackle social, political, and environmental themes, and the curators have also mixed art with technology and science installations. At the top of the building, the Darwin Room hosts workshops and lectures. Head up to the rooftop deck as well, where you get wide views over Rosebank and the leafy suburbs beyond.Plan your visit to CIRCACIRCA is open to the public and opens at the same times as Everard Read. Entry is generally free, which makes it an accessible way to enjoy world-class art. Keep an eye on their website or social media for updates on current and upcoming exhibitions.Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pmSaturday: 9am to 1pmSunday and public holidays: closedRosebank Gautrain Station is close by, so you can reach the gallery by train and a short onward trip. If you drive, plan to park on or near Jellicoe Avenue.Make a day of it in RosebankEverard Read sits directly across the road, so you can see two galleries in one visit. Goodman Gallery is a short drive away, and the wider Keyes Art Mile has more studios and galleries to explore. Pair your visit with lunch in Rosebank for an easy, art-filled afternoon.Experience the best of Johannesburg's art sceneFor anyone passionate about contemporary art, CIRCA is an essential stop. Its bold exhibitions, striking architecture, and rooftop views make it one of Johannesburg's premier cultural destinations. Next time you are in Rosebank, take a moment to explore this artistic gem.For more information about CIRCA and Everard ReadVisit www.everard-read.co.za.You can contact them by calling +27 (0)11 788 4805 or emailing gallery@everard.co.za.Don't forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news, art exhibitions and more.Address: 2 and 6 Jellicoe Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196Frequently asked questionsWhat is distinctive about CIRCA Gallery's building in Rosebank?StudioMAS designed the curved, spiral building, which is wrapped in about 400 tall aluminium fins. It has no perimeter fence, and it uses solar panels and rainwater harvesting.What kind of work does CIRCA Gallery exhibit?It focuses on contemporary African and international artists, with regularly changing shows by established and emerging talent. Exhibitions range from bold paintings to sculpture and immersive installations, and they often tackle social, political, and environmental themes.Is CIRCA open to the public and how do you stay updated?Yes. The gallery is open to the public and entry is generally free. Check www.everard-read.co.za or their social channels for current and upcoming exhibitions.What are the opening hours at CIRCA?CIRCA opens at the same times as Everard Read: Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturday from 9am to 1pm. The gallery is closed on public holidays.Where is CIRCA and how do you contact Everard Read?The address is 2 and 6 Jellicoe Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg. Call +27 (0)11 788 4805 or email gallery@everard.co.za.