The Festival cares!

Every official event at the Pick n Pay Knysna Oyster Festival raises money for charity. One of the requirements for events to be officially listed is that the event must benefit a local non profit organisation or charity.

Last year over R1million was raised and we’re hoping to grow that figure significantly each year.

Local Loeries

In an attempt to include all local communities in the festival, Knysna Tourism’s Local Loeries project offers sustainable opportunities for previously disadvantaged communities to get involved in the festival and reap the benefits for many years afterwards.

The programme identifies individuals to be mentored in four areas: food & catering, entertainment, sports development and services. Mentors assist candidates to set up businesses that can provide services to the festival such as catering, cleaning and transport. Mentoring continues for as long as necessary and entrepreneurs are offered the chance to get involved in the town’s other festivals such as Gastronomica and the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras.

The project also provides for the scrapping of entry fees for festival sport events for those who can’t afford them, and competitors with potential are identified by local clubs and NGOs. Local sports clubs provide mentors and the necessary equipment while waiving club fees to assist in their development.

A similar project exists for children who are spotted as having sporting potential at the Knysna Sport School Sports Fair, a two-day sports workshop that introduces a wide range of sports to children from disadvantages communities.