KNYSNA NEWS - This year’s Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival (29 June to 8 July) will have an exciting new format aimed at spreading the festival events throughout the town to iconic venues including Thesen Harbour Town, Woodmill Lane, the Knysna Waterfront, Loerie Park, the Knysna Yacht Club, Mitchell’s Brewery and a number of top local restaurants.
Decentralised event
The festival will be decentralised and various venues will host an array of activities, including a Momentum Kiddies Zone at the Knysna Waterfront. At Loerie Park there will be entertainment for children as well as sporting activities such as Athletics SWD, and Oyster Festival rugby, soccer and netball tournaments.
A slightly different approach to the offering for foodies this year will see local restaurants hosting Flavours of Knysna on Wednesday 4 July, turning the event into a culinary journey to some of the best restaurants in Knysna and Sedgefield.
Guests will be able to explore and taste their way through Knysna, starting at the Knysna Yacht Club, where they will plan their own route on the hop-on hop-off shuttles.
Voucher book
Each guest will receive a voucher book for tasters – either a "once off" bespoke flavour taster, or a taste of the restaurant’s bestselling or flagship menu item. Participants will then have the opportunity to vote for their favourite taster using ballot cards in their voucher books, which will also give them an automatic entry into a fantastic lucky draw prize.
The Knysna Wine Festival on Monday and Tuesday, 2 and 3 July, will also have a new venue on Thesen Harbour Town, while the Comedy Shuckle on Thursday 5 July will deliver its usual hilarity at Mitchell’s Brewery.
Cruise Café will be the home of the Big5 Challenge with sporting events either starting or finishing there, including the Knysna Lagoon Mile Swim, the Featherbed Trail Run, and the Health MTB-X.
A slightly different approach to the offering for foodies this year will see local restaurants hosting Flavours of Knysna on Wednesday 4 July.
The Knysna Cycle Tour on Saturday 30 June and Sunday 1 July and the Knysna Forest Marathon on Saturday 7 July will remain at the Knysna High School sports fields in Waterfront Drive, which will be a hive of activity for participants and spectators, with a Kiddies Zone on both weekends.
'More accessible for everyone'
Knysna Tourism chair Elmay Bouwer says she is delighted with the new format, which will change the festival from being field-based to being a part of the town. “This new plan will bring the festival back to the community and make it more accessible for everyone,” she says.
Knysna Tourism has also listened to members who wanted an afterparty on the day of the forest marathon, she says. “Historically the marathon afterparty was hugely popular and we are excited to confirm there will be a party on Saturday hosted by Whet restaurant on Thesen Harbour Town.”
Bouwer says the festival, 35 years old this year, is estimated to attract over 60 000 visitors.
"Its importance to the economy of the area cannot be overestimated. An event impact assessment done by the Knysna Municipality in 2016 shows that visitors to the region spent almost R110-million over the 10-day period on accommodation, food and beverages, transport, leisure and retail activities. This resulted in the creation of 2 392 employment opportunities.
“It’s one of the biggest sport and lifestyle festivals in the country and it’s not just because of the fantastic line-up of events.
"It’s because Knysna offers a wonderful winter holiday destination for families and sport and nature lovers, and there is so much to do when you are here. We are looking forward to another great festival.”
Find out more
For more information and the full festival programme visit www.oysterfestival.co.za. To book your accommodation visit www.visitknysna.co.za.
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
