Gimme, Gimme, Gimme a Night Out: Dancing Queen Returns to Benguela Cove

Looking for live music in Hermanus, an ABBA tribute near Cape Town, or simply something different to do on a Saturday night?

Put Dancing Queen: The Ultimate ABBA Experience on the list.

After last year's show sold out, Mike & The Harmonix return to Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate for two nights of live ABBA, costumes, staging, wine, food and dancing under the stars.

The shows take place on Saturday, 7 November 2026 and Saturday, 30 January 2027. Doors open at 16:30, with dancing continuing into the evening.

The setting is Benguela Cove's courtyard, overlooking the lagoon and the Walker Bay landscape. The live show brings the ABBA soundtrack. Then, when the band finishes, the disco starts.

Yes, you can keep dancing.

See the Dancing Queen dates and book your tickets

Where can you hear live music in Hermanus?

If you're looking for live music in and near Hermanus, Benguela Cove offers something slightly different from a conventional concert venue.

It is a lagoon-front wine estate with restaurants, wine experiences, accommodation and outdoor event spaces, around 15 km from Hermanus.

For Dancing Queen, those elements come together in one evening. You can have lunch overlooking the water, arrive for the live show, eat from a gourmet picnic, drink Benguela Cove wine and carry on dancing after the performance.

You do not need to move between venues to make a night of it.

That is part of the appeal.

What is Dancing Queen: The Ultimate ABBA Experience?

Dancing Queen: The Ultimate ABBA Experience is a live ABBA tribute at Benguela Cove, performed by Mike & The Harmonix with full costume and staging, followed by a disco under the stars. Dressing up encouraged.

It is not a playlist, a DJ set or a tribute band playing in the background while dinner happens.

The band takes centre stage.

Expect the songs you know, the outfits, the big choruses and the inevitable moment when everyone in the courtyard realises they know every word.

And because ABBA does not really do quiet background music, the atmosphere tends to take care of itself.  

Why does an ABBA night work so well?

Because the songs already belong to everyone.

You might arrive with your friends, family or partner. You might know every ABBA album or only the hits. It makes little difference once the first familiar song starts.

The best live music creates a shared experience rather than asking an audience simply to watch.

ABBA is particularly good at that.

You sing along.

You dance.

Someone who insisted they were "just coming for one drink" ends up staying for the disco.

That is the kind of evening Benguela Cove is setting out to create.

What makes Dancing Queen different from a concert?

The music is only part of the night.

The event takes place outdoors at Benguela Cove, where the courtyard becomes the setting for the performance. The estate sits beside the Bot River Lagoon, with vineyards and the Overberg landscape around it.

Then comes the second half of the evening.

When the live ABBA show finishes, the disco starts under the stars.

That means the evening does not end when the band leaves the stage.

It changes gear.

For anyone searching for concerts near Hermanus, live entertainment near Hermanus or a live band in Hermanus, that extra hour or two can make the difference between attending a show and having a proper night out.

What can you do at Benguela Cove before the show?

You have several options, depending on how you want to spend the afternoon.

Wine Tasting and Pairing Experiences

Benguela Cove is more than a vineyard, it’s a destination for experiences to share. Whether it’s a wine tasting, cheese and wine pairing, a scenic boat trip, the sculpture park or even a nature walk, our world-class attractions make every visit special. Explore what’s on offer and start planning your day at the estate.

Have lunch at Moody Lagoon

Start with lunch at Moody Lagoon Restaurant, where you can sit overlooking the lagoon and the Overberg mountains before making your way to the courtyard.

It gives you plenty of time to settle into the estate before the music starts.

Bring a picnic

Prefer something more relaxed?

Pre-order a gourmet picnic basket 24-hours in advance via info@benguelacove.co.za and collect it when you arrive.

Find a spot on the lawns or in the courtyard, open the basket, pour a glass of wine and watch the light change across Walker Bay.

There is also a wine pairing basket featuring a bottle from the Lighthouse Collection.

Arrive ready to dance

Or skip the long lunch and picnic.

Come for the music.

There is no correct way to do Dancing Queen.

What are the best things to do in Hermanus at the weekend?

Hermanus has built a reputation around its coastline, food, wine, nature and outdoor experiences, so a good weekend here does not need much planning.

The trick is knowing what you want from it.

If your idea of a good Saturday involves wine, live music, good food and being outside, Dancing Queen brings those things together at Benguela Cove.

And if you are coming from Cape Town, it gives you a reason to turn an evening out into a weekend in Walker Bay.

There is lunch.

There is wine.

There is the concert.

There is the disco.

And there is somewhere to sleep.

Can you stay at Benguela Cove after the concert?

Yes.

Benguela Cove has 13 waterfront villas, sleeping between six and 20 guests, each with a private hot tub, pool and braai.

For a group, this changes the night completely.

Book a villa, bring your friends, have dinner, see the show, dance until late and walk back to your accommodation afterwards.

Then wake up beside the lagoon rather than getting straight onto the road.

Explore Benguela Cove's Villa Availability and Booking Perks

The villas also make Dancing Queen an easy option for a group weekend, particularly if you are travelling from outside Hermanus.

Is Dancing Queen suitable for families?

Yes. Children aged 5 and over can attend, and a family ticket is available for two adults and two children under 17.

That makes the event suitable for families who want to turn a concert into an evening out rather than a late-night club experience.

Of course, the dancing can still get enthusiastic.

Where is Benguela Cove?

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is on the R43 in Walker Bay, approximately 15 km from Hermanus. Get directions.

Its location is one of the reasons the estate works particularly well for outdoor events.

You get the convenience of being close to Hermanus, but the setting feels removed from the town, with vineyards, the lagoon, mountains and open sky around you.

For visitors searching for events near Hermanus, it is an easy addition to a weekend itinerary.

What else happens at Benguela Cove?

Dancing Queen is part of a wider programme of events at the estate, which includes live music, food and wine events and seasonal experiences.

The setting also has a quieter side.

Benguela Cove is a WWF Conservation Champion, reflecting its focus on conservation and responsible land management. The estate's position beside the Bot River Lagoon also puts the natural environment firmly into the visitor experience.

So while Dancing Queen brings the glitter, music and dancing, the setting remains unmistakably Benguela Cove.

Vines.

Water.

Mountains.

And, for one night, a healthy amount of ABBA.

What should you expect on the night?

If you're wondering whether this is the right event for your Saturday, here's the short version:

• Mike & The Harmonix live on stage
• A full ABBA tribute, with costumes and staging
• An outdoor courtyard at Benguela Cove
• Lagoon and Walker Bay views
• Food and wine available on the estate
• Gourmet picnic option
• Moody Lagoon Restaurant for lunch
• Disco under the stars after the live show
• Waterfront villas if you want to stay overnight
• Family-friendly, with great value ticket concessions

And there are two dates to choose from:

Saturday, 7 November 2026

Saturday, 30 January 2027

Choose your date and book Dancing Queen

Planning a night out in Hermanus?

If you are searching for things to do in Hermanus, a live music event gives you an easy starting point.

Dancing Queen gives you a little more to work with.

Make it lunch and a concert.

Make it a picnic and a disco.

Make it a family night.

Or book a villa and make it a weekend.

The important thing is to decide before the tickets disappear.

Last year's show sold out.

This time there are two chances to catch it.

The songs are ready.

The courtyard is waiting.

And once the live show finishes, the disco starts.

Gimme, gimme, gimme a night at Benguela Cove.

Book Dancing Queen: The Ultimate ABBA Experience