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Over 200 000 of these delectable molluscs are expected to be consumed.
Knysna in the Western Cape is gearing up for the 42nd Knysna Oyster Festival which takes place from 4 to 13 July.
As a popular event on the country’s social calendar, the media launch brought out Knysna’s best tourism products to highlight the event.
As usual, the festival’s sporting calendar is jam-packed with iconic favourites and new adventures that span forests, mountains, roads, waterways, and even wine farms.
The media launch was a preview of what’s expected to be an epic festival.
And the star of the show, the Knysna Oyster, understood the assignment.
It was presented in many different ways to suit everyone’s taste buds.
Over 200 000 of these delectable molluscs are expected to be consumed.
Knysna Oyster Festival will serve up a feast of flavour!
This July, foodies from all over South Africa will be heading to the Garden Route to indulge in a delectable array of food events 🦪 #comeoutofyourshell https://t.co/NrL8qZF3Z8@gotosouthafrica @visitknysna pic.twitter.com/V7XRXUDP8x— Knysna Oyster Festival (@oysterfestival) June 10, 2025
Every year, Knysna’s restaurants stock up tons of coastal and cultivated oysters for the throngs of visitors during the school holidays.
Margaretha Van Tonder manages one of the most popular restaurants in Knysna, which specialises in oysters.
“So, it’s obviously the wild Knysna oyster and then there’s the cultivated oyster which is the pacific farmed grown oyster. That is the one that was originally farmed here and now in Port Elizabeth and Saldanha. So, both will be offer and there’s variations of them. There are soups, there’s cooked, there’s raw, there’s dressed, but those are the two main oysters you will find here and obviously in all their various sizes from the look large ones down to the cocktail ones.”
Apart from the food, beverages and sight-seeing, the festival’s sporting events are a bucket list activity.
Events like the Knysna Forest Marathon attracts 9 000 runners.
Organisers have ensured that there’s something for everyone’s fancy.
Attending the media launch was media personality, Carly Fields: “This is absolutely the perfect setting for the festival. Let alone we have all the yummy food and activities thrown in it. However, Knysna is absolutely incredible. I absolutely love MCing, I love getting everybody excited for whatever they’re doing, whether it’s a 5km walk for cancer or a fun run or the shucking which is happening on the Tuesday night. Whatever it is, I just love getting people excited and have an amazing time.”
The spin-offs from the event positively impact the local economy and brings relief to hundreds of small businesses.
Elmay Bouwer is is the owner of a forest lodge accommodation.
She says they move from their normal offerings during the festival to encourages partnerships and collaborations with other businesses, to offer visitors the best experience:
“We have changed them to offer them all to the people coming to the oyster festival. I want to stress or put attention to, is that they are all little business owners that are functioning on the property so we collaborate and that is why we can have these real experiences for them. always true to nature we are part of a very sustainable environment.”
Originally initiated in 1983 and known as the Knysna Winter Festival, to boost the town’s revenue during the off season, the event has surpassed expectations – now attracting around 70 000 visitors during its 10-day run.
