Knysna is a town of immense picturesque beauty and is full of exciting adventures, sights and happenings. For 2 weeks annually, the Knysna Oyster Festival showcases food, wine, sport and good times. Each year expands in both numbers of visitors to the town as well as with events and experiences on offer. The 2006 Oyster Festival proved to be the most successful ever and of course, 2007's aim is to be even better!

Annual events, especially the Oyster Festival, which is now in its 24th year, allow for diversity and change from one year to the next, improving on existing events and adding new and more exciting ones to the programme.

A new and very exciting addition to the programme for the little festival festino's is the Young Oyster Festival including collaboration with a youth company from Stellenbosch University. Events will include puppet shows, a Mask and Movement workshop, teen cabaret and a cooking course. The Oyster Hot Spots will be featuring en masse once again during the festival with more than 20 restaurants, the Knysna Tourism office and the Loerie Park festival hub again playing host to these delectable creatures.

The Oyster Festival plays an integral role for the local community, ensuring maximum exposure for charitable organizations and more importantly the distribution of funds to these charities.  The big events of the Festival, namely the Pick ‘n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour (R430 000 raised in 2006, donated to charities and used for bursaries for tertiary education) and the Pick ‘n Pay Cape Times Forest Marathon (R225 000 raised in 2006, also donated to various charities and used for local athletics development) are definitely the serious crowd pullers, with almost 6000 entrants for each weekends events.

Once again, the SA Navy will make their awe inspiring entrance through the Knysna Heads, giving locals and visitors the opportunity to board one of three minesweepers anchored at Thesen Islands. And of course, don't miss the annual Navy street parade or the SA Navy Band in Concert at the Waterfront.

The "Local Loerie Project" was initiated 2006 and aims at providing a chance for the local disadvantaged community to get involved in the Oyster Festival by removing entry barriers such as high participation costs and by providing training and mentorship to participants in various events. The Project is aimed at promoting a spirit of togetherness and participation, ensuring that local communities benefit economically, as well as the growth and development of sport talent in our local communities and the growth of Sustainable Tourism small medium micro entrepreneurs such as catering businesses, Home stays, Event Management Businesses; Cleaning Companies, Informal vendors and transport services.

It is initiatives like these that make the Festival such an integral part of Knysna life, ensuring that each and every person can become a part, enjoy and ultimately benefit from the festivities.
 
So, with so many exciting events on offer to tantalize the oldies, boldies, foodies and kiddies, Knysna is definitely the place to be from the 6th to the 15th of July 2007.

Knysna Oyster Festival 2007
Where: Knysna
When: 6-15 July 2007
More Info: Call +27 (0)44 382 5510


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