Hansa Powerade Dusi Canoe Marathon: The Hansa Powerade Dusi is a prestigious annual canoeing event attracting thousands of entrants. Starting on the Umsiduzi River in Pietermaritzburg, the kamikaze canoeists cover an enormous 115km into Durban. This is an essential event for all canoeists and water sport enthusiasts.

Valentine's Day: This international day of love, February 14, is celebrated throughout South Africa. Red roses, gift cards and candlelit dinners are the traditional ways to express affection, but a walk on the beach can be just as memorable.

Human Rights Day: 21 March is Human Rights Day and a public holiday. On this day in 1996, the South African Human Rights Commission was established to promote respect for human rights, along with protection, development and attainment of human rights. The organisation also monitors and assesses the observance of human rights in South Africa.

Freedom Day: This public holiday takes place on 27 April to commemorate the first democratic elections held in South Africa in 1994.

Draupadi: In April/May, Durbanite South African Hindus celebrate the dramatic life of goddess Draupadi, wife of the five Pandava brothers and one of the protagonists of the Indian Mahabharata epic, with an 18-day festival culminating in a fire walking ceremony.

Workers Day: This international public holiday is celebrated on May 1 to honour all workers.

The Sardine Run: A chance to witness the spectacular annual migration of vast shoals of sardines, as well as their 'followers', including dolphins, sharks and whales. The phenomenon can happen anytime from the end of May to the beginning of July.

Youth Day: This public holiday is observed on 16 June and was previously known as Soweto Day. On this date in 1976, around 20 thousand students from Soweto began a protest march for equal rights and civil liberties.

ASP World Qualifying Series - The Mr Price Pro: The world's leading surfers competing at Durban's New Pier for the Mr Price Pro. Durban surfers are fanatical, so the turn-out for the event is sure to be big, and there is also a cool festival right on the beach. This is one of the top events on the World Qualifying Series Men's schedule of the ASP World Tour.

Nelson Mandela's Birthday: The birthday of South Africa’s most famous citizen, 18 July, is regarded as important for the entire country and is celebrated with parties or quiet social gatherings.

Vodacom Durban July: Held since 1897, the Vodacom Durban July at Greyville Racecourse is the most popular social gathering among South African racing fans. With over R1.5 million at stake, the race is the Blue Riband of the South African turf. The race takes place over 2.2km and is the main event on a packed card, the last four races of which are run under floodlights.

National Women’s Day: This public holiday on 9 August commemorates the time when women participated in a national march against pass laws. These laws were enforced to ensure African persons carried a document to ‘prove’ that they were allowed to enter a ‘white area’.

Durban International Film Festival: Held at the Centre for Creative Arts and six cinemas across the city, the Durban International Film Festival presents around 300 world-class films from 30 countries. Highlights from South African and African cinema balance the international offerings. Comedies, dramas, thrillers, children's films and documentaries are complemented by a range of seminars, workshops and other forums.

National Heritage Day: This relatively new public holiday on 24 September is a day of creative expression, tying into the nation’s history, language and traditional cuisine. The aim is to promote South African unity and heritage. The government determines a theme for each year’s celebrations.

Diwali Festival: Durban celebrates Diwali, the festival of lights, in style throughout the city. Dance, music, arts and crafts, fashion shows and a Bollywood-style street party are just some of the events to enjoy.

Nottingham Road Pink Festival: Two days of music, dance, theatre, food and drink, promoted by the gay community, but open to all.

Day of Reconciliation: This public holiday on 16 December commemorates the 1838 battle between troops under the command of Dambuza (Nzobo) and the Voortrekkers. In apartheid South Africa, the day was known as Day of the Vow, as the Voortrekkers took a Vow before God that they would build a church and all their descendants would observe the day if they won the battle. The holiday was later changed to promote reconciliation and national unity.

Carols by Candlelight: Various concerts are staged in the Durban Botanic Gardens as part of the city's festive December celebrations.