Whether you’re a fitness fanatic, adventure seeker, discerning gourmand, or are just looking for the perfect family breakaway, the 31st annual Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival will deliver with a diverse programme of over 100 events during the school holidays from 4 to 13 July 2014.
Entries for the Big5 Sport Challenge open on 17 February, including the first-ever Big5 Sport Challenge LITE, which offers an entry-level version of what has become South Africa’s best known multi-disciplinary competition, while entries to the Momentum Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour and Momentum Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and Half Marathon open on 17 February to all 2013 entrants, and to the general public on 4 March.
Festival Manager Nicci Rousseau-Schmidt says, “2014 will see the return of the ever popular events such as the Oyster Shucking and Oyster Eating competitions, the Knysna Wine Festival and Night Food Market, and the Pick n Pay Flavours of Knysna gourmet evening – but with a soon-to-be announced new twist.
“We are also looking forward to many fresh events – such as the Junior Golf Tournament, a new Triathlon and a Canoe Relay event – all aimed especially at teens. Adrenalin junkies can also look forward to a new mountain bike endurance event – the Trailmania Cycle Enduro – which times competitors’ pace only on the downhill sections. Naturally, it’s all about providing a programme that’s as varied as Knysna, Sedgefield, and surrounds.”
Besides the food, the fun, and the competitive games, each year the festival seeks to raise money for charity, with all events donating a portion of proceeds to designated Knysna non-profit charity organisations. This year it is expected that more than R1.5-million will be raised for charity.
Registration costs and ticket prices vary for each event. For more information, including updates to the Festival Programme, visit www.pnpoysterfestival.co.za or contact Knysna Tourism at 044 382 5510.
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The 2014 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival offers a full programme of more than 100 events from 4 June to 13 July. Not to be missed highlights include the Knysna Wine Festival on 7 & 8 July – where up to 50 of South Africa’s best wines will be on offer, the Pick n Pay Flavours of Knysna gourmet evening on 9 July – where Knysna Restaurants will compete for cash prizes with their best oyster recipes, and the Comedy Shuckle on 10 July where the Oyster Shucking & Eating Competitions will take place. Plus, the Pick n Pay Women’s Walk will take place on Sunday 13 July, a 5km fun walk to raise funds for the PinkDrive, an organisation that provides free breast cancer screening and health education.
