Oyster shucking, whisky tasting and forest marathons…
The 26th Knysna Oyster Festival takes place in South Africa from July 3-12, 2009, and is expected to draw a crowd of 65,000 food and sport enthusiasts to slurp their way through 200,000 oysters whilst enjoying a programme of food, entertainment, sea and sport.
The Knysna Oyster Festival is held in the Garden Route town of Knysna, in South Africa’s Western Cape, twice voted South Africa’s favourite town. The 10-day festival encompasses more than 100 exciting events ranging from sports races and adventure challenges to wine and whisky tastings and gala evenings.
Living up to its name, the festival will open with the annual oyster-shucking competition and includes the annual Oyster & Wine Mardi Gras, a fabulous evening of oysters and wine tasting, where visitors have managed to eat a record 15,500 plus oysters in just three hours.
Located in ‘Oyster Hotspots’ throughout the town, 29 participating restaurants will sell oysters in a variety flavours at give-away prices (e.g. six naked cultivated oysters teased with a Bloody Mary gazpacho shot for ZAR 50 (equivalent to £3.60) at Cruise Café). Wine and whisky also form a big part this year’s celebrations, with the Wade Bales Wine Festival and the Knysna Whisky and Jazz Festival coinciding with the event.
The festival offers plenty of opportunities for visitors to work up an appetite, whatever their ability. Over 500 sports enthusiasts will take part in the Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and South Africa’s biggest mountain bike event, the Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour. Less energetic visitors have the opportunity to explore the Western Cape’s idyllic landscape with a full programme of adventure and soft sports, including golf, bowls, football, night biking, paragliding, mountain biking and angling.
Lebohang Mokhesi, UK Country Manager at South African Tourism comments: “The Knysna Oyster Festival is a celebration of food, sport and the good life. Visitors to Knysna in July will experience a unique combination of South Africa’s best seafood, hospitality and outdoor adventures. As well as providing the setting for an unforgettable holiday, South Africa also offers exceptional value for money.”
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