All events will go ahead as planned, although slight route changes may be necessary. The region remains unscathed, and activities at the festival grounds have not been affected as it promises to include activities, food, and drink for the full 10 days.

Below are 10 reasons to attend the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival.

1. The Maserati BIG5 Challenge

Join elite and amateur athletes as they compete over five different disciplines during the course of the festival. Tour Knysna with a mountain bike, trail run, and half marathon accompanied by the new Momentum Health MTB X and a mile swim. A paddle or road cycle is offered as alternatives to the swim in the BIG5Lite.

The festival will include participants such as Bradley Weiss, Theo Blignaut, Davide del Fante, and Fienie Barnard looking for top honours at the Festival's challenge. 

2. Momentum Knysna Cycle Tour: Mountain Bike Race

The 2017 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival is the 30th anniversary of the Knysna Cycle Tour, which will be celebrated with new events and routes. The 80km, 50km, 30km, and 15km routes, as well as a brand new 30km E-bike race, will give riders options to see the local scenery on Saturday, 8 July.

3. Festival Food

There are many culinary options on offer at the local restaurants with special themed menus for the duration of the Festival, including international, fusion, and local flavours. Feast on the Festival’s namesake by eating oysters with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice a twist of black pepper.

4. The Momentum Knysna Cycle Tour: Road race

Two road races (115km and 50km) happening on Sunday, 9 July, will keep participants alert and challenged. For the first time, due to popular demand, there are MTB categories for the road race events for those who prefer riding with knobbly tyres.

5. Entertainment

From the House of Entertainment Band, to the Hornlee Oyster Festival Reggae Night, and the Whiskey and Live Jazz Cruise there is a wide variety of live entertainment and music offerings to entertain festival goers throughout the week.

6. Dragons Featherbed Lagoon Mile Swim

Take on the open-water one-mile swim on Sunday, 9 July in the Knysna Lagoon. For more information on how to enter this event, contact [email protected].

7. Take a Tour

Explore the indigenous forest walks in the Diepwalle area, the Knysna Heads, or visit some of the authentic local art galleries. Alternatively, experience local hospitality through a guided township tour.

8. Seafood Wednesday

The Pick n Pay Seafood Wednesday brings together all that Knysna has to offer in one venue on Wednesday, 12 July. Visitors will have the opportunity to partake in Festival competitions such as the Fish Braai competition, and the oyster eating and shucking competitions.

The Pick n Pay Flavours of Knysna event will be taking place on the Festival grounds, which sees some of the top restaurants in Knysna, Sedgefield, and surrounds compete for the titles of 'Best dressed oyster and stand', with a show of oyster preparations judged by festival goers.

9. Europcar Knysna Classic 

Visitors will have the chance to play on the Pezula Championship Golf Course on Friday, 14 July. The field is limited to 120 players so make participants will need to book well in advance. As a bonus, participants will be playing for charity as the proceeds from the day are donated to Hospice Knysna.

10. Momentum Knysna Forest Marathon & Half Marathon

Visitors will have the chance to join the Momentum Knysna Forest Marathon & Half Marathon on Saturday, 15 July. Whether competing in the half (21km) or the full (42km) marathon, runners will be able to look at the scenery, over the Knysna lagoon, towards the Knysna Heads.

You can view the full Festival line-up here.

For more information, visit www.oysterfestival.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.