Oyster Festival almost here

The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is more than a week of sporting highlights and culinary indulgences – to the surrounding Knysna community it is a much- needed annual cash injection.

For the festival organizer, sponsors and event managers a fundamental part of the festival is the benefit the local communities of Knysna derive from thousands of visitors flocking to their town during winter each year.

In 2010 more than R1, 1 million was raised and this year with over 65 000 visitors expected to attend the festival organizers are anticipating an even bigger contribution for local charities.

The Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour raised the largest sum with over R500 000, followed by the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon and half Marathon with R217 000. The Pick n Pay Oyster and Wine Mardi Gras raised R37 000.

The money raised by each event is distributed to a charity or organization of their choice. Charities include the CX Education Trust, Animal Welfare, Knysna Canoe Club Sport Development, Disabled Golf, Hospice, Sandy Shires Feeding the Hungry scheme, KAWS, Sinethemba Youth Development Centre and the Knysna Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centre.

Over and above financial remuneration, skills training and community involvement in the festival are also benefits the local community reaps from the festival. In conjunction with Knysna Tourism, the festival has a Local Loeries Programme in which community members participate in events at discounted rates and receive training and mentorship.

Another initiative driven by the organizers of the Salomon Featherbed Trail Run presented by PETZL is the TSiBA Eden & Magnetic South Community Project. Here TSiBA students are taught the skills and background of putting together and selecting routes, marking and running of a trail event.

“The Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival goes a long way in alleviating need in communities in the greater Knysna area, and what is most heartening is the incredible support the Festival receives, as well as the fact that the amount we are able to raise increases with each passing year. Our sincerest thanks goes to all those who work so hard to make the festival such an enormous success,” says Bronwen Rohland, Pick n Pay’s Marketing and Sustainability Director

The 28th Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival takes place from 1 -10 July 2011 in the picturesque Garden Route town of Knysna. Attracting more than 65 000 sporting enthusiasts, families, food and wine lovers, and adrenalin junkies the festival offers something for everyone from running, cycling, golfing, bowling and adventure racing to wine and whiskey tastings, cooking competitions, food and wine pairings, gala evenings, live music, a specialized children’s programme and of course not to forgot the oysters!