Update
KNYSNA NEWS - As excitement continues to build ahead of the 40th Knysna Oyster Festival, organisers last week held a special three-day 'media launch event'.
They welcomed media personnel from around the country to the town of Knysna and surrounds, showcasing what it will have on offer and display during the festival.
The three-day launch 'tour' began on Tuesday 13 June with an ode to the famous Knysna oyster at Drydock Food Co., where the group was given a brief and informative guide on how to identify, cultivate, source and eat the various oysters found in the region.
Thereafter, there was a walking tour in Brenton on Sea followed by an official launch event at The Bell, where media personnel, municipal delegates and organisers of the Oyster Festival mingled and networked.
The next day, Wednesday 14 June, there was a cosy and warm spice and tea tasting at The Spice and Tea House curated by tea somelier, Sanchia Hadlow.
The group then made their way over to Knysna Industrial to sample craft gin and beer at Red Bridge Brewery and to take a tour of the artisan design workshop. The day concluded with a visit to the Sedgefield Brewery.
The media group at the Seahorse mosaic statue in Sedgefield.
It ended with an interactive tour of the Sedgefield Mosaic Route, where they were able to admire the mosaic work made by members of the community, the mosaic art tour was led by Jacky Weaver, of Masithandane. The Sedgefield Mosaic Route consists of more than 65 mosaic pieces that are mapped around the Slow Town.
On Thursday 15 June, the three-day launch concluded on a high note, with a morning trip to the Knysna Elephant Park.
Thereafter the group was ushered over to Portland Manor for a historical tour of the manor house followed by a chef's table at The Cowshed, prepared by chef Desmond Morgan, co-owner of the restaurant and estate manager of Portland Manor.
"The idea was to bring national journalists to Knysna to give them a sneak peak of the festival and also to show them the kind of activities that festivalgoers could do outside of the festival programme," says Jeannine Orzechowski of JO Pr, who along with Sedgefield travel blogger Rose Greyling Bilbrough are responsible for the marketing of the Knysna Oyster Festival.
The media group experiencing the beauty of the Knysna Elephant Park.
"We were delighted to receive a fantastic response to our media invite and feedback from the journalists was that they had a great time in our beautiful town."
The Knysna Oyster Festival is organised and coordinated by Visit Knysna and will be held from 30 June to 9 July.
The winter festival promises to have a host of interactive and entertaining activities for everyone this season. You can have a look at the festival's programme online, at www.knysnaoysterfestival.com.
The Oyster Festival media launch group posing at the Fisherman's walk at Brenton on Sea.
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