From sport to food and wine to whisky, from dogs to airplanes and shucking to shocking…there is so much to do, and so much going on, that Knysna becomes the place to be for ”the 10 Best days of your winter” 1 – 10 July.

Because its school holidays, lots of the events continue after the 10^th July, making Knysna the perfect place to be for families looking for tons of fun entertainment.

So take a look at all there is to do at this year’s Knysna Oyster Festival –  I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.  Look below for links to each activity.

Sport: Paintball, MTB Race, 5km Fun Run, Soccer Tournament, Bridge, Bowls, Athletic Relays, Trail Run, Kids sport Fair, Biathlon, Golf, Extreme Sport, Rugby, Forest Marathon, Trolley Race and Lagoon Challenge.

Kids: Candle Making, Fun Fair, Cycle Tour, Pavement Art Competition

General Activities for Everyone: Flea Market, Dog Agility Championships, Blocarts, Harley Davidson Demos, Radio Controlled Airplanes, Chess Tournaments

Entertainment for Everyone: Dance, Oyster Shucking Competition, Waitron Race, Ladies Night

Food & Wine for Everyone: Champagne and Blues evening, Whiskey and Jazz Evening, Wine Festival, Oyster & Wine Mardi Gras, Wine Tasting, Oyster Eating competition, Oyster and Whiskey tasting, Murder Mystery Dinner, Gala Dinner.

SPORT

Paintball: 1 – 18 July – Head down to the Oyster Carnival Grounds on Waterfront Drive.

Pick n Pay Weekend Argus Rotary Knysna Cycle Tour (MTB Race):

1 July – Registration at Festival Pavillion, Loerie Park 13h00 – 20h00.

2 July – Start 85km, 50km, 30km & 15km Waterfront Drive – Finish Festival Pavillion Loerie Park.  Expo and Entertainment at Loerie Park from 08h00 – 18h00.

3 July – Start 100km & 46km Road Race – Pavillion Loerie Park 8h00 – 13h00 Expo and Entertainment at Loerie Park.

Hornlee Oyster Festival 5 km Fun Run/Walk:

2 July – Registration from 7h00 at Knysna Secondary School grounds.  8h00 – 20h00

Knysna Soccer Tournament:

2 – 10 July – 10h00 – 15h00 – Tournament for seniors, juniors and ladies.  Elimination matches at Hornlee and Dam-se-Bos stadium with finals at Loerie Park on Sunday the 10^th.

Bridge over the Knysna Lagoon:

4 July – 8h45 – 14h00 – Take the ferry to Featherbed whilst playing bridge in pairs.  R230.00 pp includes bridge, ferry ride morning / afternoon tea and lunch.

Scottish Leader Whisky Bowls Tournament:

4 July – 9h00 – 17h00:  Mens and Ladies Teams at Knysna Bowling Club

Disabled Fun Event:

4 July – 10h00 – 15h00:  at Festival Pavillion, Loerie Park.

KMC & Athletics SWD Relays:

4 July – Registration from 14h00 at Knysna Marathon Club:  4 Races from 15h00 – 19h00 for ages 11 – 13, 14 – 17, 18 – 19 and seniors.

The Salomon Featherbed Trail Run:

5 July:  11 & 15 km races: 7h00 – 20h00 – this cult event includes a ferry trip across the Knysna Lagoon to the Western Head.  Loaded with traverses through Milkwood forests and coastal fynbos.

Knysna Sport Fair for Kids:

5 July:  9h00 – 16h00 – A variety of fun sporting codes for kids at Festival Pavillion, Loerie Park.

Due South Xterra by REHIDRAT SPORT:

7 July:  8h00 – 17h00 – Full race – 3km trail run, 25km mountain bike and 7km trail run.  Lite race – 3km trail run, 12km mountain bike and 3 km trail run. At field of Dreams.

Knysna Oyster Festival Classic Golf Day:

7 – 8 July:  17h00 – 22h00 – Festival Pavilion, Loerie Park.

HANSA Waterfront Rush:

8 – 10 July:  10h00 – 13h00:  Fast paced action on steroids.  Great spectator value.  Knysna Waterfront.

Parmalat Knysna Oyster Festival Rugby Festival – Tag Rugby Tournament:

8 July:  10h00 – 15h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

9 July:  10h00 – 22h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

10 July: 10h00 – 15h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

Knysna Marathon Club 5km Fun Run:

9 July:  7h30 – 9h30

A shorter option for the not so fit

Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon & ½ Marathon:

9 July:  8h00 – 17h00 – Start: The Glebe in the Forest – end Festival Pavilion, Loerie Park.

Pomp Trolley Marathon:

9 July:  14h00 – 17h00 – Marvellous, crazy and inventive…timed over 600 metres.  At Knysna Station.

FHM Knysna Lagoon Challenge:

9 – 10 July:  9h00 – 17h00 – Starts at the Yacht Club and heads towards the Heads, loops through Thesen Island, the Waterfront and Knysna Quays. 3 Laps.

YOUNG OYSTER FESTIVAL

Candle Making For Kids:

1 – 9 July:  9h00 – 21h00 – At Oyster Carnival Grounds

Fun Fair:

1 – 18 July:  10h00 – 22h00 – At Oyster Carnival Grounds

Spur Rotary Knysna Children’s Cycle Tour:

Registration – Festival Pavillion, Loerie Park

1 July: 13h00 – 20h00, 2 July: 8h00 – 18h00 and Late Registration: 3 July 8h30 – 9h30 Steenbok Park, Leisure Island.

Kids Pavement Art Competition:

4 July: 10h00 – 17h00 Woodmill Lane – Kids dream come true.  Draw to their heart content all over Woodmill Lane’s pavements whilst enjoying snack packs from Pick n Pay.  Prizes for different age categories.

GENERAL ACTIVITIES

Flea Market:

1 – 16 July: 10h00 – 22h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

SA Dog Agility Championships:

1 – 3 July: 10h00 – 15h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

Blocarts:

1 – 16 July: 10h00 – 22h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

Harley Davidson Demonstrations:

1 – 15 July:  10h00 – 22h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

Radio Controlled Airplanes:

2 July: 15h00 – 16h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

3 July: 12h00 – 13h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

3 July: 15h00 – 16h00 – Oyster Carnival Grounds

Oyster Rapid Chess Tournament:

7 July: 8 – 18h00 – A 5/6 round Swiss 25/25 chess tournament – Boiler Room, Woodmill Lane.

ENTERTAINMENT

Dans met Koekie:

2 July: 19h00 – 23h00 – Knysna Secondary School grounds.

The Oystercatcher Shucking Competition:

5 July:  18h30 – 22h00 – Different teams compete to become the Festival Champion Oyster Shucker – The Oyster Catcher

Protea Hotel Waitron Race:

7 July:  15h00 – 16h30 – Teams of two – open wine, fill 2 glasses and run, hand over tray and race to finish line.  Penalties for spilling – dress up compulsory! – Knysna Waterfront.

Turbine Ladies Night:

7 July:  19h00 – 23h59 – At Turbine Tapas Bar

FOOD & WINE

Bubbles and Blues Evening on the Paddle Cruiser:

2 July: 17h00 – 18h00 – Bubbles tasting to the sounds of some mellow blues plus crustacean canapé extravaganza

The Whisky and Jazz Festival:

3 July: 11h00 – 17h30 – Featherbed Ferry Terminus – Whisky tasting including snacks on the Paddle Cruiser – Jazz band on board.  2 cruises and tastings continue at Cruise Café – R350.00 pp – booking essential.

Wade Bales Wine Festival:

5 July:  17h30 – 20h30 – The Pezula Club House – Meet local winemakers, taste their current releases and learn about the latest trends in wine making.

Pick n Pay Oyster & Wine Mardi Gras presented by Tabasco:

6 July:  17h00 – 22h00 – Festival Pavillion, Loerie Park – The Mardi Gras combines the skills of oyster cooking chefs with choice South African wines.  Tickets R200.00 pp – booking essential.

TSIBA Wine Tasting:

7 July:  17h00 – 22h00 – TSIBA campus.

Longbarn Tavern Oyster Eating Competition:

7 July:  19h30 – 22h00 – Three competitions:  individual – 24 oysters in fastest time, Team – One opens and one eats, Break the Guinness Book of World Records of 552 oysters in 10 minutes.

Oyster & Ardberg Whisky Tasting:

8 July: 16h00 – 22h00 at Turbine Tapas Bar

Murder Mystery Dinner:

6 – 8 July: 18h00 – 23h00 – at the Featherbed Ferry Terminus aboard the John Benn – 80 guests enjoy a cruise and dinner aboard while playing the famous dinner party game – Murder Mystery.

Gala Dinner:

9 July: 19h00 – 23h00 – Knysna Secondary School – a gala evening celebrating the achievements of residents from the local community.

Now that you’ve made your selection of activities to attend, join or watch – you’ll need to know where everything is located.

Enjoy the 2011 Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival.  Please come back and tell us about your experiences.

Being a seasoned traveller and used to the finer things in life, we were delighted with this review we received from Andrew on his return to his home town, Cape Town.

“Tauraco” – The Knysna Lourie – and you’ll feel like one in this luxurious cabin, perched high in the tree tops of the Kynsna Forest.  Hidden from view. Hidden from the world.  The perfect place to escape.

The drive up to the cabin is as heady as the view and once you’ve got the handbreak on and the keys out of the ignition, your car is best left beneath your hideaway.  The lure of Knysna and its plethora of mojito-and-munchie spots is within easy reach, thanks to the reasonably-priced local shuttle service, but if you’re well stocked for your stay, you might just decide to stay put and that wouldn’t be a bad call at all.

Tauraco is fabulously comfortable and well-equipped, whether it’s a three-course dinner or a braai you have in mind for dinner.  You’ll find everything you need in the open-plan kitchen.  This really is a home-away-from-home.  Put your feet up and enjoy your favourite show on TV or kick-back and relax on the deck, taking in the breathtaking view.

That is, of course, if you ever manage to get out of bed.  They are criminally-comfortable and both front bedrooms offer the same jaw-dropping view over the forest.  It’s hard not to feel like a well-nested bird as you fluff up the continental pillows and settle down with a mug of coffee and your favourite book, or your favourite someone who’s read one.

Enjoy your stay….Tauraco was certainly purpose-built.”

What can we say.

We are also offering a huge 30% off of our other cabins at Phantom River View AND some incredible discounts from activity providers and restaurants.

The cabin is to be named: “TAURACO” which is the name for the Knysna Lourie which is a frequent visitor to the cabin. 

Well done Garth!  You have won a free 3 night stay at “TAURACO”.

We will be contacting you shortly to discuss the details. 

To all of you that entered this competition; thank you for your suggestions.  It was an extremely difficult choice but remember to keep your eyes open for our future competions.

Kim has won a FREE 3 night stay at African Dream, Mossel Bay.  Well done Kim and thanks for your entry. We will be contacting you shortly to discuss the details.

To all of you that entered and didn’t win; keep your eyes open for future competitions.

Name our New Luxurious Cabin

and Win 3 FREE Nights!

]]> http://www.absolutegetaways.co.za/name-our-new-cabin-competition/feed/ 0 http://www.absolutegetaways.co.za/dates-to-plan-your-next-getaway/ http://www.absolutegetaways.co.za/dates-to-plan-your-next-getaway/#comments Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:31:47 +0000 Lize Barnes http://www.absolutegetaways.co.za/?p=464 Continue reading →]]> So our launch at Absolute Getaways has been an unprecedented success. Our portfolio of luxury self-catering getaways are receiving a lot of attention and the bookings are coming in very quickly, so now is the time for some forward planning.   Think ahead to birthdays, anniversaries and other special days that deserve a getaway!

The Early Bird gets to Get Away

With this in mind I thought it might be an idea to remind you about long weekends and holidays coming up so that you can start planning and booking your escape.  The anticipation of a well deserved break is almost as good as the holiday, so get out your diaries, speak to the boss and plan that Absolute Getaway.

22 – 24 October: Knysna Hill Climb and Speed festival www.speedfestival.co.za

10 – 11 December: Rugby Emirates Airlines SA Sevens 2010 in George

13 December – 16 January: Christmas School Holidays

18 – 21 March: Long weekend – Human Rights Day

1 – 10 April:  School holidays

22 – 25 April:  Easter Weekend

26 April: School Holiday

27 April (Freedom Day) – 1 May:  Pink Loerie Mardi Gras (www.pinkloerie.co.za)

30 April – 2 May Long weekend:  Workers Day

1 – 10 July:  Knysna Oyster Festival (www.oysterfestival.co.za)

Secure your dates now before we’re fully booked!

Don’t forget our Facebook competition where you can win 3 free nights at one of our Getaways.  Enter now for your chance to win. Sign up to follow us on Twitter for our “last minute” deals…every Thursday at noon we’ll “tweet” you to a ½ price holiday surprise for the coming weekend.  Good luck.  We can’t wait to welcome you.

Absolute Garden Route, and now Absolute Getaways, has always prided itself on its one-of-kind selection of self-catering holiday homes.  These properties have something that sets them apart from the rest; something truly unique, whether it’s the location, the view, the setting, the design, the feel….. it’s got to have that “wow” factor to be a part of our portfolio.

For now I’m happy to welcome you to this website and urge you to take advantage of our Absolutely crazy launch special as well as our Facebook competition for a chance to win a free 3 night stay at one of our amazing Getaways.

Follow us on Twitter for our “last minute” deals…every Thursday at noon we’ll “tweet” you to a ½ price holiday surprise for the coming weekend…depending whether we have anything left to offer!

Good luck with the competition and keep an eye out for further posts and tweets.

Absolute Getaways