Words & Photo: Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival
One of South Africa’s most-loved festivals, the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival, is set to take place for the 31st time during the upcoming school holidays, from 4 to 13 July 2014. Festival Manager,
Nicci Rousseau-Schmidt, says one of the main reasons the festival is the destination of choice for winter breaks for families in particular, is not only the fact that the Festival’s diverse programme has more than 100 events on offer, but that it also caters for every age group.
“The Festival offers great-value entertainment, activities and heaps of fun for all ages,” said Rousseau-Schmidt. “For example, while mom and dad participate in our key sporting events, such as the BIG5 or BIG5 Lite Challenge, littlies aged two to nine can try the Spur Rotary Knysna Children’s Tour, while those aged six to 14 can flex their competitive muscles in the Totalsports XTERRA Kids Race.”
Even the tiniest tots have something to look forward to this year: The Young Oyster Festival will be in full swing entertaining children aged two to 12 with cooking lessons, arts and crafts, face-painting, movie-screenings, puppet shows, children's theatre, sport clinics and exciting competitions. Plus, the annual Kids’ Pavement Art event is always a hit, complete with entertainment and prizes.
According Rousseau-Schmidt, teens have also a lot more to get excited about this year, with an expanded programme in this age category, including: a Junior Golf Tournament, a Teens Triathlon and the Junior Sit-On Canoe Relay. And nothing is cooler than The Yard, a skate, BMX and scooter park, which offers parents a supervised, drop-off-and-go option, where teens get to hire scooters and skateboards and have fun with their friends. Parents won’t have to worry about their teens going hungry either as The Yard is fully equipped with a tuck-shop that will sell hot food and cold drinks – what could be better!
Also in the line-up are the FNB Knysna Forest Family Hikes which are a great way to get out there in nature, breathe in the fresh air and experience the magnificence of the Knysna Forest.
This year heralds the return of the Oyster Festival Fun Fair, located on George Rex Drive, as well as the Marketplace Stalls, which will be incorporated into the Knysna Grainmill Organic Market.
Knysna High School will host an Oyster Comedy Show on 5 July, featuring Mel Jones, as seen on SABC3′s Comedy Showcase.
The incredibly popular Oyster Shuckle will be back on 10 July where oyster the eating and shucking competitions will be emceed by everyone’s favourite comedians, Kurt Schoonraad and Stuart Taylor.
Note: On 13 July make sure you don’t miss out when we’ll be making a record for the largest ZumbAtomic® class for children under 16 at the festival grounds! Zumbatomic® is a specially designed class for children that allows them to learn dance moves while listening to the latest workout music – it’s sure to be a lot of fun!
“You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more family friendly or fun festival than the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival. With more than 100 sporting, lifestyle, foodie and kiddie’s events on offer – each of which benefits local communities and charities – this festival really is one of a kind.”
Festival travel packages, which include affordable family accommodation options, are available via the online booking system at www.pnptravel.co.za. Registration costs and ticket prices vary for each event, and many events are free of charge. For more information, including the Festival Programme, please visit www.pnpoysterfestival.co.za or contact Knysna Tourism at 044 382 5510.
