Celebrate the Good Life at the Knysna Oyster Festival

Knysna Oyster Festival

This year marks the 26th anniversary celebration of one of the most popular annual events in the Garden Route of the Western Cape. The Pick ‘n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival was conceptualised by the late local business man, Dick Ginsberg. Its purpose was to entice visitors to Knysna during winter and it has without a doubt achieved this.

The festival kicks off with the Miss Pearl Beauty Pageant on Thursday 2 July 2009 and runs until Sunday 12 July 2009. These ten days are jam packed with more than 100 events taking place, over 200 000 oysters being consumed and sport and entertainment for everyone. The main sporting events of the festival are the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and the Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour.

Knysna Oyster Festival

The Knysna Forest Marathon is always a great success and participants can take place in either the 42.2km full marathon or the 21.1km half-marathon. This is a favourite on the running calendar. And for the cycling enthusiast The Pick ‘n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour offers something for every cyclist, be it the full 85km marathon, the 42km half or the 15km fun ride.

For those of you who are sports spectators there are many events to keep you entertained. Live music and entertainment takes place on a daily basis, there are also art exhibitions, flea markets and the Night of 1 000 Pictures (two-night exhibition of photography, illustrations and paintings to raise funds for the Knysna Hospice by local artists).

Kiddies are also catered for with various sporting competitions, face painting, art and cooking classes and much more. Pick ‘n Pay is hosting a 3 day Pavement Art Competition for children (Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 July) where each child wins a prize for taking part and all children and teenagers under 17  are able to participate by creating a work of art in charcoal and chalk anywhere on the paved area of Woodmill Lane Shopping Centre.

Knysna Oyster Festival

To honour the long-standing tradition of their participation in the Oyster Festival, the South African Navy and their internationally acclaimed Band will entertain one and all during the street parade and their live concert at the Waterfront.

It wouldn’t be an Oyster Festival without oysters and this year is no different. And some of the most popular events are the oyster eating competition, the annual oyster-shucking (opening) competition and the Pick n Pay Oyster & Wine Mardi Gras - which is a fantastic evening of oysters and wine tasting.

Knysna Oyster Festival

The Tabasco Hotspots serve oysters naked, cooked or garnished throughout the festival. Some of the delicacies on offer are Firefly smoked oysters with savoury black sesame seed ice-cream, served with Tellicherry pepper biscuits from the Firefly Eating House. While Sirocco has whipped a variety of flavoursome salsa’s to spice up your oyster, with their Vodka Chutney a firm favourite.

If you haven’t already made plans to make your way to the 2009 Knysna Oyster Festival be sure to mark your calendar well in advance for next year’s festival. The memories will be treasured for years to come.

Useful Links:
Visit the official Knysa Oyster Festival Website for the full programme: http://www.oysterfestival.co.za/
Find destination information and resources for planning your stay in Knysna at:
Knysna Attractions
Knysna Accommodation
Knysna Hotels
Things to Do in Knysna