Comic Con Cape Town 2025: The ultimate family day

Looking for an unforgettable family day out this mid-term break? Cue heroic music – Comic Con Cape Town is swooping in to save the day! From 1 to 4 May at CTICC 2, the festival promises fun, fandom and full-on excitement for fans of all ages – especially the little ones.

The KidsCon Zone, brought to you by Toys R Us, is the place to be if you’ve got younger fans in tow. Located on the ground floor of the festival, it’s packed with activities designed to keep kids happy, curious, and possibly convinced they’ve stepped straight into their favourite show or game.

“Comic Con is for everyone,” says Show Director Carla Massmann. “It’s always so wonderful to see families come out to the show as a unit, all dressed up. You can see the glimmer in the children’s eyes, being able to cosplay with their parent, parents or guardians. The KidsCon Zone is here for our little fans to learn, play and strut their cosplays!”

So, what’s in store for your mini cosplayers and pint-sized pop culture buffs? Let’s break it down…

Character meet & greets

Get those phones ready! Beloved characters will be making appearances throughout the con – from Mario & Luigi, The Smurfs, and Geoffrey the Giraffe (yep, the Toys R Us giraffe), to YouTube favourites Noodle & Bun. Perfect for hugs, high-fives and adorable photo ops!

Shopping spree? yes, please!

Toys R Us is setting up a shopping haven filled with all the latest and greatest for kids. Think LEGO, Funko, Marvel, Barbie, Hot Wheels and more. Kids can pick up the toys they’ve just tried out or spotted at the festival, and there’ll be loads of exclusive merch to snag too.

Daily kids cosplay competitions

Is your child secretly a Jedi, a superhero, or a magical fairy? Time to let their alter-ego shine! The daily Kids Casual Cosplay Competition takes place on the Comic Con Main Stage and yes, prizes are involved! All kinds of costumes are welcome, from home-made to store-bought. There are two competitions daily, and registration happens on the day.

Freak Marbles Racing Championship

Enter the world of Freak Marbles – a fresh take on classic marbles that’s collectible, tradable, and totally raceable. Kids can enter the Freak Marbles Racing Championship, compete multiple times, and track their scores on a live leaderboard. Fastest marble takes the crown (and some pretty epic prizes).

Pokémon power at the Scarlet & Violet Academy

Whether your kid is a budding Trainer or new to the Pokémon universe, they’ll love the Scarlet & Violet Academy. Pokémon Professors will be on hand to teach the ropes of the trading card game in a fun, friendly space – perfect for curious minds (and competitive ones too!).

Star Wars Day: May the fourth be with you!

Sunday 4 May is officially Star Wars Day, and Comic Con Cape Town is going all out. Expect a galaxy of themed activities, exclusive merch at Toys R Us, and a special Star Wars edition of the Kids Cosplay Competition. Come dressed as your favourite rebel, Jedi, or Sith Lord and celebrate with fellow fans, big and small!

Minecraft x Lush – A scent-sational collab

Gamers meet glow-up! Minecraft and Lush have teamed up to create a range of bath and body products inspired by the blocky brilliance of Minecraft’s Overworld. These limited-edition goodies will be available only at Comic Con Cape Town – and they’re bound to be a hit with parents and kids alike.

Bonus fun: Slush Puppie bar & more!

Fancy a brain freeze? The Slush Puppie Bar is making a colourful return – plus, the first-ever at-home Slush Puppie machine will be launching at the festival. Talk about taking the party home with you!

Comic Con Cape Town 2025 is shaping up to be the ultimate family day out – a wild mix of learning, playing, shopping and full-on fandom. But fair warning: Saturday is already sold out, and other tickets are flying fast.

Grab your tickets (starting from R220) via Howler and get ready to make some mid-term memories your kids won’t stop talking about.

Cape Town, we hope your cosplays are ready – the countdown is on!