8 things not to miss at the 2016 Knysna Oyster Festival

There are over 100 activities at this year’s Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival and the 10-day programme (1-10 July 2016) is jam-packed with things to do. From oysters (of course!) to family hikes, night runs to kayaking and live bands to wine tasting, here are eight not-to-be-missed activities.

View and download the full programme here.

1. Mountain bike trails, marathons and fun runs

Those who like to have a more competitive lifestyle have plenty of options to choose from:

• Cyclists can take part in the Momentum Weekend Argus Knysna Cycle Tour or take the family on the Forest Family Dam Ride.
• Golfers can enjoy a family golf day at Pezula or the Festival of Golf at Pezula.
• 12-18 year old soccer fans can try out for the 5-a-Side Street Soccer.
• The SIMOLA Phantom Night Run guarantees to stimulate all your senses! Not only will you run on a dark New Moon lit night (with the illumination of your Ledlenser Headlamp), you will also hear the “voices of the Forest” which will be performed by local Opera Singers scattered in the forest, singing arias and songs from different operas and composers.
• Adventurous runners can do The Bushpig Free Range Trailrun in the Goukamma Nature Reserve, through Milkwoods and fynbos.
• For the not-so-fit, there’s the Knysna Marathon Club 5km Fun Run, while those up for a bit of an adventure can do the Houtkapper Trail Run through the Knysna Forest (watch out for those elephants!)
• For family fun, enter The Great Cardboard Race where you slide down a hill with a custom made cardboard box.
• Water-lovers can take part in the Featherbed Lagoon Mile Swim, while families can enjoy exploring the Knysna Estuary in a kayak.
• Rugby fans can play in the Oyster Festival Rugby Tournament.
• Ladies can do a 5km walk to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer at the Pick n’ Pay Women’s Walk.
• Yogi’s can get their yoga on for a good cause at the Oyster Festival Yoga Flow.
• Card-playing folk can enter the three-day Oyster Festival Bridge Tournament.
• Or just do it all and enter the BIG5 Sport Challenge, a prestigious multisport event that includes the Momentum Weekend Argus Knysna Cycle Tour MTB Race, the Momentum Cape Times Knysna Forest Half Marathon, The Featherbed Trail Run, Knysna Dragoon’s Lagoon Mile Swim and the Momentum Health OatWell DualX. Registration takes place on 1 July.

2. FNB Family Forest Hike in the Harkerville Forest

4, 6 and 8 July

Choose between a 3km, 6km or 10km trail and take the whole family on a hike through the Harkerville Forest. Kids will love searching for gnomes and fairies in the trees and under ferns and you may be lucky enough to see a loerie or the timid blue duiker. The ticket price includes a goodie bag, breakfast for you set out and snacks when you get back.

FNB pull out all the stops to make this a fun family affair, with a fantastic array of breakfast options (from fruit to cereal to yoghurt, served with coffee, juice or hot chocolate) and a wide variety of snacks after the hike (sausage rolls, mini hamburgers, rolls with cold meat selection, chicken wings). Kids can raid the cookie jars filled with sweets, biltong and marshmallows while parents can enjoy a pint of Mitchell’s beer (beer not included in the ticket price). There is ample seating on couches and beanbags and the trails are well marked so no-one gets lost.

Cost: R375 per adult (includes a hiking top worth R375), R150 per child 12yrs & younger (includes a gift)

3. See local bands

There will be live entertainment everyday at the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival at various locations. Some bands include Robin Auld, Wendy Oldfield, Kaapse Klopse, Perpetual Blues Band, Heather Walters and Francois du Plessis.

4. Wine Festival and Night Market

6 and 7 July

With approximately 50 wine estates under one tent, there are plenty of wines, cheeses and oysters to get through in just over three hours. Your ticket includes a wine glass for tastings, which you can keep as a memento.

There’s something for everyone’s taste and budget at the Night Market with wide array of food choices, from sushi to samosas, hamburgers to bobotie and shwarmas to boerie rolls. Save some money for local crafts, jewellery and clothing.

5. Local Design and Food Market

7 July

See talented designers and foodies from the Garden Route showcasing their goods in a beautifully styled and  buzzing environment. The focus of this market is on locally produced decor, fashion accessories, clothing and art, as well as freshly and creatively prepared food, while live music and a bar add to the festivities. Entrance is free.

6. Activities for children

Littlies are kept well entertained at the Knysna Oyster Festival with daily programmes available. The Pick n Pay Young Oyster Festival has various activities every day at the Festival Pavilion, and there are loads of other fun sporting events for kids as well as craft and culinary workshops. You can pick up a separate programme for children at various outlets in Knysna, including the Information Centre.

7. Seafood Wednesday

6 July

Restaurants in and around town will be showcasing their best seafood dishes throughout the day, from 11:00 – 17:00 (unless otherwise stated). Some restaurants taking place in Seafood Wednesday include Tapas & Oysters (Mussels tossed in a cream, garlic and herb sauce served Tapas style with Rosemary & Rock-salt Baguette for dipping – R26), Chaplins (fish & chips with a free glass of wine – R59), Drydock (crumbed calamari rings served with savoury rice or chips and Tartare sauce – R49), Sirocco (mussels, calamari and fresh linefish on a thin base pizza with homemade tomato sauce and herbs, smothered with mozzarella cheese – R62), O’Pescador (freshly caught linefish of the day, grilled and served with a Mediterranean Salsa and prawns – R89) and Easthead Cafe (Cape Malay Seafood Curry – selection of sustainable seafood served with roasted coconut pickle, yoghurt, coriander & basmati rice – R135).

After 17:00 head to The Festival Pavilion, which will be a hive of activity, with the SASSI Fish Braai, Oyster Shucking and Eating Competitions, as well as the famous Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival Flavours of Knysna.

8. Eat oysters!

It is an oyster festival so there’s no end to places to have oysters and the prices and styles vary from place to place. You could have oysters with Tabasco, oysters with tequila, oysters in vodka and oysters with champagne.

This year there are 11 places listed as hotspots and the offerings range from 3 cocktail coastal oysters with a splash of Olmeca Extra Matured Tequila for R25 at Tapas & Oysters, 8 cocktail coastal oysters( al natural) for R34 at 34 South, 3 large cultivated oysters infused with passion fruit Skyy Vodka for R49 at Drydock, or experience on the Swartvlei Lake on a pontoon cruise with 6 large cultivated oysters and wine tasting for R250 per person, to name a few.

If you prefer all your oysters under one roof, then the Pick n’ Pay Knysna Oyster Festival Flavours of Knysna is the place to go where restaurants from Knysna compete for the “best dressed oyster” and you get to taste them. Tickets cost R175 per person and include a voucher booklet for oyster and wine tastings. They also have some options for non-oyster lovers.