"We know that Knysna is comprised of mainly tourism-dependent businesses that have been badly impacted in the past few months due to the COVID-19 lockdown," say the team at the festival. 

"We see Knysna and its immediate surrounding areas as the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras and Arts Festival's home base; [we] want to demonstrate our solidarity with these businesses," adds the team.

The festival has been held for 20 years at the end of April and beginning of May each year in Knysna. The event celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and aims to demonstrate hospitality, diversity, fanfare and festive spirit.

"We invite and encourage everyone to get 'Tickled Pink' too. Our common aim is to bring visitors to Knysna so that they have a great time so much so that they'll come back again and again," says the team.

According to the festival, the initiative aims to remind people that even though they may not have the means to travel now, they can still book accommodation for the months of September to December and beyond for their next holiday.

"We will publish all our accommodation partners on our website, with direct links to their websites, so that people can book accommodation directly with the establishments with ease from the comfort of their armchairs," the team says.

"When people visit Knysna, they will spend money in local restaurants, businesses and tourist attractions, thus assisting these businesses. Through Tour De'Queer (PTY) Ltd, local destination travel is assisted and promoted, bringing the best South Africa has to offer especially on a shoestring budget," says the team.

"We will embark on bucket-list road trips, with the LGBTQ+ community at heart, exploring areas often forgotten en-route to the picturesque Garden Route and Knysna," the team concludes.



For more information, visit www.pinkloerie.co.za or contact [email protected] or [email protected]