The Knysna Oyster Festival 2025 is back! Enjoy oysters, thrilling sports events, live music, and cultural activities in the heart of the Garden Route.
The Garden Route’s longest-running annual event, bringing thousands of visitors to the greater Knysna area every year, is back with a splash!
Mark your calendars as the Knysna Oyster Festival is just around the corner, scheduled to take place from 4 – 13 July 2025. With delectable oysters, vibrant atmosphere and thrilling sporting events as always, this year the festival promises even more excitement with a program full with fun for all attendees.
The theme of this year is “For a shucking good time!”. The festival will be celebrating the unique charm and flavours of Knysna and invites festinos to indulge in the festive foods, sports and cultural activities planned.
The Oyster Festival kicks off every year with the Knysna Cycle Tour, an enthralling weekend of cycling for the whole family. The routes are exciting, challenging, and very scenic, showcasing the natural beauty of the area.
The second iconic event is the Knysna Forest Marathon and Half Marathon on the last Saturday of the festival. It is known for its unique early morning start deep in the Knysna Forest, which inspires a special camaraderie amongst the runners. There is a 21 km and a 42 km option, so runners can choose the distance that best suits their fitness and training. There are usually a number of fun, celebratory parties for runners to attend after the race.
Between the two major sporting events, a host of other sports and lifestyle events are planned to keep festival goers enthralled and entertained. Hikes and trails run through the forest, a paddle race to The Heads, Wine Festivals, chess tournaments, soccer, netball and street miles – and a plethora of kids’ events – are all on the extensive programme, not forgetting live music concerts and events celebrating the local mollusc which gives the festival its name.
Restaurants in and around Knysna provide plenty of opportunity to taste oysters, and many have a programme of live music and entertainment over the 10-day period. Local tourism companies also offer visitors the chance to explore the area with ferry rides across the lagoon, boat rides through The Heads, township tours, and tours of the town, and a variety of activities in the forest.
From live music performances and cooking competitions to wine festivals and arts and crafts markets, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, the event coordinators are working on bringing the oyster back to centre stage and ensuring that this popular mollusc will be readily available at venues throughout the Knysna area.
Contact us to book your accommodation early, and we’ll see you in Knysna for the best 10 days of your winter!
