KNYSNA NEWS - The annual Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is one of South Africa’s most popular festivals, with huge appeal for sports lovers, families, foodies and those in search of the best 10 days of their winter.
Despite the fires that ravaged the region, the festival is going ahead and aims to assist with the relief efforts in the area through various platforms.
The festival is known to stimulate the Knysna winter economy and is also instrumental in raising meaningful funding for local charities (over R3-million in 2016) and for developing and growing local suppliers. These are good reasons for the festival to take place and an even better reason to invite everyone to Knysna this year.
To illustrate the positive economic impact that the event brings to Knysna, last year festivalgoers spent close to R110-million over the 10 days of the festival, excluding event tickets, and a total of 2 392 job opportunities were created.
• The Momentum Knysna Cycle Tour (Saturday, July 8 for the MTB and Sunday, July 9 for road race events and the Forest Family Dam Ride) and the Momentum Knysna.
• Forest Marathon and Half Marathon (Saturday, July 15) are always big draw-cards for sporting enthusiasts and this year will be no different.
• The BIG5 Challenge (July 8 to 15) will be switching things up this year with a new MTB X race added to the list which is sure to have spectators on the edge of their seats as the elite and amateur athletes fight it out over the five courses.
• Pezula hosts the Europcar Knysna Classic (July 14) golf tournament, which is always a popular event, book your four-ball now to secure your spot.
FOOD OFFERINGS
• The exceptionally popular Pick n Pay Seafood Wednesday is back! (July 12) Top notch restaurants will showcase their best seafood dishes, and once the sun starts to sink towards the horizon the Pick n Pay Fish Braai, Oyster Shucking and Eating Competitions, and the Pick n Pay Flavours of Knysna all get underway. Make sure you don’t miss the heated battle for the "Best Fish Braaier in Knysna", the competition is hot.
• From Lemonade Day to fun children’s cooking activities and over 60 food and wine vendors foodies are sure to be delighted.
FOR THE KIDS
• If your kid is the active type then why not enter them in the BIG5 Junior Challenge (July 8 to 15), the Simola Little Phantom Kids Adventure Run (July 8), or the Spur Rotary Knysna Children’s Cycle Tour (July 9).
• The Fun Fair is open for the duration of the festival and offers thrills for young and hold. The festival Grounds also have several inflatable fun activities and games taking place throughout the period.
THE KNYNSA PLETT YOUNG OYSTERS COMMUNITY LIBRARY PROGRAMME
The Community Library programme has great value in the local Knysna community. The program provides educational and fun activities to disadvantaged children in our local communities. We use the program as a vehicle to create awareness about the festival, as most of the educational activities have a nautical and an oyster theme as well as an Oyster Festival colouring competition.The program also features activities that involves recycling and upcycling and the event caters for more than 1500 children.
ENTERTAINMENT
From the House of Entertainment Band to the Hornlee Oyster Festival Reggae Night and the Whiskey and Live Jazz Cruise there is a wide variety of live entertainment and music offerings to entertain festival goers throughout the week.
Check out the programme here: www.pnpoysterfestival.co.za ONE PIC OF MUSIC IN THE TENT
PICK N PAY SEAFOOD WEDNESDAY ON JULY 13
The Pick n Pay Seafood Wednesday brings together the best Knysna has to offer in one venue. Enjoy Festival favourites such as the Pick n Pay Fish Braai competition, and the ever-popular oyster eating and shucking competitions. The Pick n Pay Flavours of Knysna event will once again be taking place on the Festival grounds, this popular night sees some of the top restaurants in Knysna, Sedgefield and surrounds compete for the titles of “Best dressed oyster and stand”, with a tantalising show of oyster preparations judged by festival goers..
Tickets sell out FAST so get yours now: www.webtickets.co.za
COMEDY SHUCKLE ON WEDNESDAY JULY 13
Join us for an evening of side-splitting comedy with famous comedians Kagiso Mokgadi and Nik Rabinowitz, be entertained as these two comedic heavy weights keep the laughs coming! Tickets available at www.webtickets.co.za
OYSTER RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT SATURDAY JULY 15
Fancy yourself to be a chess fundi? The Oyster Rapid Chess Tournament taking place at the Knysna Primary School is sure to test your abilities where a sic round Swiss event tournament gets to be played. Each players gets 25 minutes to complete the game the event is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat! For more information contact Terry Quirk on 083 276 3872.
THE BEST WALK OF THE FEST SUNDAY JULY 16
Get your walking shoes out and sign up for a 5km walk for Knysna. This initiative is dedicated to the brave firefighters and generous men and women who all they could to help the people and animals of Knysna, funds raised will go towards rebuilding the town and supporting affected families.
Along the walk we will celebrate every new burst of life we see, the green shoots, bud and returning birds as well as the town’s incredible spirit of togetherness. For more information contact Luke Walk on 021 426 5755.
• Take a tour through the Knysna Heads – guided by expert sailors this is an adventure you don’t want to miss, with the swirling waters below you and majestic Knysna Heads around you, it’s a sight to behold.
• Knysna is situated in the heart of the Garden Route National Park, surrounding thus visitors with Indigenous Afromontane forest, and providing great opportunities to explore the area via the beautiful cycling and hiking trails.
• For a different experience get down to Thesen's Wharf and explore a South African Navy ship, the ship is open for tours between 10:00 and 17:00 each day.
With so much going on this year make sure you don’t miss out on any of the activities. Visit www.oysterfestival.co.za for the full programme of events.
