Take a break from the frenetic rushing around this festive season and soak up the summer sun, enjoy some hot music and great family entertainment at the picturesque BAT Centre in the Small Craft harbour between Christmas and the New Year at the Christmas Festival, culminating with a New Year's Eve BAT Bash.

The BAT Centre is hosting a four-day summer Christmas Festival from December 28 to 31. There will be a music line up in the BAT Hall every evening from 19h30. On December 28, BAT will rock with a selection of hot rock acts including Steve and Tara Fataar; Squeal; Butternut and Dan Kapuejah.

On December 29, it is the turn of the women with top female performers: Imbokodo; Senzeni and Connie and Fasimba.

December 30 focuses on Afrofusion with Durban's own Madala Kunene; Mandla Masuku and Inqwelo Afrika.

For New Year's Eve - there will be a six band line up featuring Sipho Gumede; KwaMashu super-band Stax; Vusi Ximba; Vusi Mkhize; Iva; Sakhula and Lalela.

During the day on Saturday and Sunday (December 29 and 30), there will be children's activities, a craft exhibition and a food fair. "We want to ensure that the festival is child-friendly," says BAT's Nise Malange. "We invite families to spend the day with us and bring their children along. We want there to be sufficient activities to be able to entertain the little ones while older family members can browse and enjoy the crafts and food.

As it is Christmas - the time of caring - children from homes and orphanages in the area will be treated to an outing with the compliments of BAT and Durban. A rainbow of speciality food stalls will be available for browsers to enjoy and sample and there will be an extensive craft market of locally-made artwork and craft pieces.

The BAT Christmas Festival is sponsored by Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Economic Development and Tourism; KZN Tourism; Durban Africa and eThekweni Municipality.