Conferences and expos

Knysna Oyster Festival warms up winter

2 July 2009

The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, a celebration of sport and the good life, has established itself as one of the most popular annual events in the Western Cape. It is into its 26th year and was officially opened on Wednesday evening by the Executive Mayor of Knysna, Eleanore Bouw-Spies.

The festival activities kick into action on Thursday evening with the holding of Miss Pearl Pageant. It runs until 12 July.

According to the organisers, the number of oysters consumed during the festival will number an astonishing 200 000. There will be more than 100 events taking place and an attendance of about 65 000 is expected.

Sporting drawcards

The festival's two main sporting events, the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and the Pick 'n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour, will give participants the unique opportunity to run and cycle through the ancient indigenous forests that have made Knysna famous.

The first Oyster Festival took place in 1983 and was the brainchild of the late Dick Ginsberg, a local businessman. He and Rose Smith, from the then Knysna Publicity Office, organised the Knysna Winter Festival, which featured a marathon, rugby, golf, squash, and bowls.

The purpose of the festival was to attract people to Knysna during the quiet winter period.

The South African Navy

The Navy was involved almost from the start and in 1984 the Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral A P Putter visited Knysna, together with a navy minesweeper and a number of crew. In 1988, the Freedom of Entry into the municipality of Knysna was conferred on the Navy.

In 2008, the 25th anniversary of the festival included a visit by the Navy, headed by the Chief Director of Maritime Strategy Rear Admiral B Teuteberg and two minesweepers.

The minesweepers will again enter through the famous Knysna Heads in 2009 to honour a long-standing tradition of participation in the Oyster Festival. In addition, the Navy's internationally acclaimed 40-odd-piece band will entertain festival-goers during the street parade and live concert at the Waterfront.

Cycling

In 1985, cycling races were added to the festival's programme. Since that time they have grown into the Pick 'n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Cycle Tour, featuring a two-day programme of mountain and road bike events - the biggest of its kind in South Africa.

On Friday, 3 July, thousands of cyclists will pour into Knysna to register for the Cycle Tour's full weekend of events.

The next weekend, Saturday, 11 July, the Pick 'n Pay Cape Times Forest Marathon or Half Marathon take place. They are both popular drawcards for runners from all over South Africa.

The Due South Xterra, a duathlon format run-bike-run event, with the start and finish at the spectacular Field of Dreams at the Pezula Private Estates, happens on Thursday, 9 July.

There will be a full or lite version of both events. The full version will comprise a three-kilometre trail run, followed by 25 kilometres by mountain bike, and another three-kilometre run. The breakdown of the lite version will be 3-12-3.

For those inclined towards less strenuous sports than marathon events, there's a full programme of adventure and soft sports for the whole family to participate in, including paddling, golf, bowls, soccer, night biking and angling.

Oysters

Oysters are, of course, a huge component of the festival and the Knysna Oyster Company, which opened in Knysna in 1949, has been involved in the festival for many years as a major participant and sponsor.

Oysters will be available at excellent prices throughout the festival, served hot or cold, garnished or naked, at 30 different Tabasco Oyster Hot Spots in Knysna.

Other traditional favourites of the festival include the Oyster Mardi Gras (previously the Oyster Cooking Competition), the Oyster Eating Competition, the Waitron Race and the Bowls Tournament.

Opening

Wednesday evening's well-attended function in the Heineken Pavilion at Loerie Park brought together sponsors, municipal officials, Knysna Tourism board members, media and events managers to celebrate the start of one of South Africa's most popular and enduring festivals, which has been called "the Best 10 Days of your Winter".

Welcoming the guests, Knysna Tourism CEO Shaun van Eck said that he was thankful to the naming sponsors, Pick 'n Pay, for renewing their sponsorship agreement with the festival and to all the other sponsors who had come on board to make the event a success.

"The town is extremely grateful for the continued support of Pick 'n Pay in these difficult economic times. Generally, in a recession festivals and major sporting events suffer because sponsorships are withdrawn, so we are delighted that Pick 'n Pay has been unfailing in its support for the Oyster Festival."

Mayor Bouw-Spies said: "The growth of the festival over the last 26 years has been extraordinary and on behalf of Knysna I want to convey my thanks to all the people who have been involved in making it happen. You will be part of Knysna's history."

A wide variety of events

Among the many events on offer are the very popular oyster-eating competition and the Pick 'n Pay Oyster & Wine Mardi Gras – a fabulous evening of oysters and wine tasting.

Wine and whisky form a big part of the celebrations and both will flow at the Wade Bales Wine Festival and the Knysna Whisky and Jazz Festival.

Children are also well catered for. The Pick n Pay Young Oyster Festival children’s programme includes youth theatre, puppet shows, creative art workshops and a children's cooking course, while the Knysna Sports Fair will give kids the opportunity to try their hand at a variety of sports, free of charge.

About Knysna

Knysna is one of the Garden Route's best known travel destinations and offers wonderful natural beauty, including beaches, lakes, and forests.

It received international recognition in 2008 when it was named as one of the Top 100 Destinations in the World and one of the Top 25 in Africa by the Trip Advisor, 2008 Travellers' Choice Destinations Awards.

SAinfo reporter