This winter, ditch the cold, rainy days and head to South Africa’s Sunshine Coast — because Jeffreys Bay is about to heat up.
From July 11 to 20, the normally laid-back surf town will become the epicentre of sizzling surf action, music, comedy and family fun, with the return of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay and the J-Bay Surf Festival.
After a break in 2024, due to a clash with the surf contest at the Paris Olympics, the World Surf League (WSL) is back.
The return marks the 10th stop on the Championship Tour and will feature the sport’s most elite athletes carving up the iconic Supertubes.
All eyes will be on SA’s Jordy Smith, who currently sits at second in the WSL Men’s Rankings and is well-positioned to move up to first.
The line-up will also feature global greats such as Italo Ferreira, Filipe Toledo, Caitlin Simmers, Caroline Marks and others.
WSL Media Manager, Bianca van Aardt, said J-Bay offers so much more than a world-class wave and incredible surf action, making it the perfect family holiday destination.
“It’s so exciting to have the WSL Championship Tour back in J-Bay. The world’s best surfers are back at the world’s best right-hand point break, and this town comes alive during this time. There’s a feast of entertainment and activities to suit a range of interests. It really is the place to be this July,” said Van Aardt.
Once the surfing is done for the day, the action will get going for the party animals.
The ParkOFF Music Festival this year features electrifying performances by top local and international artists, including:
• Zakes Bantwini (Grammy-winning Afro-house maestro)
• Dino Moran (African house and techno pioneer)
• Dean Fuel and Niskerone (crowd-favourite electronic DJs)
• Italy’s Tribal Need and other top local acts
If music isn’t enough, Comedy Night will deliver big laughs with South Africa’s sharpest comedic talent.
If you or your grom are hoping for a selfie with your hero, the Surf Festival Fan Park will host athlete meet-and-greets, as well as offering a space to explore a variety of food trucks, merch stalls, and live surfing broadcasts.
It’s not only about the action on the water. Sports enthusiasts and adventure junkies alike are sure to love the other activities on offer:
• Mountain biking and trail running races for all levels (10–60 km routes for MTB, 5–10 km for trail runs)
• A high-stakes Jiu-Jitsu tournament featuring the biggest prize pool in SA history
• The popular J-Bay Skins Fishing Competition with prizes and bragging rights up for grabs
This year’s event conveniently spans two weekends of the school holidays, making it easier than ever for families and festivalgoers to make the trip.
With up to 70 000 visitors expected, locking in your travel plans now is key.
Organiser Ari Kraak said, “We’re expecting the biggest crowd yet.
“The energy, the entertainment, it’s all dialled up this year. If you’re after a beach holiday with top-class entertainment, then Jeffreys Bay is where you need to be. The ParkOFF Music Festival will see the likes of Zakes Bantwini and Italy’s Tribal Need amongst other top local acts, keeping everyone dancing late into the night.”
To stay up to date on the tickets, make sure you follow the ParkOFF Music Festival on Instagram. Updates on the event line-up for the J-Bay Surf Festival can be found on the Surf Festival’s Instagram.
Jeffreys Bay Tourism is excited to welcome visitors to the town and can be contacted for any accommodation enquiries or more information about the area.
Contact Jeffreys Bay Tourism via WhatsApp on 064 966 9933 or email info@jeffreysbaytourism.org.
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