Get eating

The highlight of the festival, of course, is getting your hands on as many of these slippery specimens as possible and shlurping them down. Oysters abound in Knysna, but for something a little special you should head for one of the official Tabasco Oyster Hotspots which are scattered between more than 20 restaurants, the Knysna Tourism office and the Loerie Park festival hub. The talented chef at each Hotspot has gone all out to turn the simple into the sublime, with toppings and pairings ranging from salty single malt whisky to Japanese nori and hollandaise sauce.

Want some music with your molluscs? The brand new Oyster Rockspots will ensure “that there are at least two live music choices for all music tastes each and every day of the Festival,” says festival co-ordinator Nicci Rousseau.

Oh shucks, it’s a competition

So you think you can shlurp with the best of them, right? Could you eat 24 oysters in one minute 21 seconds? That’s the record set by local oyster-lover Didier Orlando at the 2006 festival, and will be the time to beat (three seconds per oyster, by the way) at the Longbarn Tavern on 12 July if you want a crack at the Guinness World Record for Oyster Eating.

With over 200 000 oysters set to be consumed at this year’s Fest, it’s no surprise that the organisers have come up with some ingenious ways to help get the stubborn suckers out of their shells. If you want to do your bit and grab a chance at glory, the 2007 Knysna Oyster Co. Oyster Opening Championships presented by Tabasco will be held at the Oyster Tavern on 12 July at 7pm. But remember, if you want to compete you have to register at the tavern by 10am.

Get sporty

To make up for all that indulgence your best bet is to hop on two wheels. The mountain bike routes on Saturday 7 July are always popular, but the real drawcard of each year’s festival is the Pick ‘n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour. Cyclists race either a 100km or 46km route, starting at Loerie Park and heading past Plettenberg Bay, turning off at the Wittedrift turn to make a challenging loop before cycling up the Keurbooms Hill and returning to Knysna.

The Pick ‘n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and Half Marathon are also popular, taking runners along stunning forest roads before heading back to town along the banks of the famous lagoon. The marathon is one of SA’s toughest, while the half is just a great way to work off those oysters.

The real tough guys will also be down at the Knysna Quays to show their mettle in the Land Rover G4 Waterfront Rush. Navigating an obstacle course, kayaking and even hydro-bronking (think ‘giant floating hamster wheel’) the competitors are all fiercely fit athletes who’ll battle it out for their share of the R10 000 prize money.

Water babies can also get a close-up view of the famous seahorses by taking part in the Lightleys Holiday Houseboats Lagoon Mile. “This will be the Festival’s first ever open water swim,” says organiser Grant Ferguson, and with cash prizes up for grabs there’s certain to be a good turnout at Crab’s Creek on Thursday 12 July. Because it’s winter, open water wetsuits will be allowed.

Wine & Whisky

From water in the lagoon, to the ‘water of life’, the Knysna Whisky and Jazz Festival (R250 a ticket) will scare away any winter chills on Saturday 7 July. Taking place in Pledge Square, off Knysna’s Main Road, punters will get a chance to taste their way through Scotland, Ireland and American whiskeys and whiskies. Topped off with fine food from Zest and smooth jazz tunes, it’s a classy evening where you’ll need to don a jacket to match the upmarket fare on offer.

On the other side of the lagoon over at Pezula, the Wade Bales Wine Festival is also set to be a popular feature of the Oyster Fest. For just R120 (including snacks, a tasting glass and goodie bag) you can sniff and gurgle (save the shlurping for the oysters) your way through 40 different wine estates, while mingling and chatting with the winemakers themselves. The wine festival takes place on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 July from 6pm.

And there’s more…

In addition to all of that, a new addition to the Oyster Festival this year is the Pick ‘n Pay Young Oyster Festival which will keep kids entertained with puppet shows, a Mask and Movement workshop, teen cabaret and a cooking course.

Also make sure you get to the Knysna Heads at 7.30am on Friday 6 July, when the SA Navy will make their annual breathtaking entrance through the treacherous Knysna Heads. Once (not if!) they make it safely through the narrow stretch of waters, locals and visitors will be able to board one of the three minesweepers anchored at Thesen Islands, as well as check out the men in whites during the annual Navy street parade.

Where to stay

After all that excitement you’re going to need a place to lay your weary head. One of the best things about Knysna is that it offers such a wide range of accommodation. From five-star guest lodges to golf estates to self-catering chalets to a friendly family-run B&B there’s something to cater for everyone.

Once you know what you’re looking for you can choose to be in the thick of the action in town, on the peaceful Leisure Isle, hanging with half of Joburg in über-trendy Thesen Island or taking in the million-rand views from the eastern Head. To book accommodation in Knysna, visit the Knysna Tourism website. iafrica.com stayed at African Breeze B&B on Leisure Isle, which comes highly recommended.

For full information on the dozens of events planned for the festival, visit www.oysterfestival.co.za, or email festivals@knysna-info.co.za.