Knysna Oyster Festival: Family fun at the Festival Hub!

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This article may contain graphic and/or adult content unsuitable for minors and sensitive readers.

The 2025 Knysna Oyster Festival is back from 4 – 13 July, and this year, the heart of the festival will be the Festival Hub at Knysna High School Sports Field just off Waterfront Drive. Here, a jam-packed line-up of family fun, local flavour, and community spirit awaits.

The Neighbourhood Makers Hub, powered by Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking, is the star attraction for locals and visitors looking to support small and medium-sized businesses and handmade creativity. This curated consignment store is no ordinary market—it’s a vibrant celebration of SMMEs and their growth journey, as they build sustainable businesses across the Garden Route. Stocked daily with unique crafts, boutique fashion, homegrown products, gourmet treats, and artisanal surprises, the hub showcases the best of local talent and innovation.

On Sunday 6 and 13, the Festival Hub will host laid-back Sunday Market Days with gourmet stalls, fresh produce, pop-up shops and picnic vibes. It's the perfect way to soak up the weekend sun with friends and family.

Entry to the Hub is free, as is access to the Kids Zone, a vibrant wonderland for young festival-goers. Expect all-day inflatable fun, bungee trampolines, mini quads, puppet-making workshops, and creative play sessions with the Kom Kuier Clay Café. Add face-painting, crafts, and supervised activities, and you’ve got a winning formula for a family day out—without breaking the bank.

One of the most anticipated family features is the Wildlife Warriors fairground, where kids can enjoy animal-themed games while learning about endangered species, courtesy of Raptor Rescue and the Raphaeli Waldorf School.

There’s more action inside Oyster Alley—a bustling thoroughfare of thrift stalls, delicious food, coffee, and arts and crafts.

Community and cause come together at events like the 5km for CANSA (Sun 6 July) and the ongoing Knysna Animal Welfare pop-up shop and food donation drive, making it easy to give back while enjoying the festivities.

Don’t miss these other highlights at the hub:

• Gerard Supra Variety Show (Sun 6) - an internationally acclaimed aerial acrobat spectacle that promises to wow all ages.
• The Oyster Cooking and Shucking Competitions presented by Stella Artois (Tues 8) will see winners walk away with the titles of Best Dressed Oyster and fastest shucker!
• For the sweet-toothed, the Dessert War Fair (Wed 9 July) serves up a decadent face-off of sugar and flair.
• The Big Mouth Pizza Eating Competition returns with semi-finals on 9 July and the grand finale on Thursday 10 July.
• Amazing Race – Knysna Style (Wed 9) promises high-energy clues and challenges for teams of two in this fun festival tradition.
• Bring the kids to try their hand at different sports in a fun and inclusive environment that promotes active play at the Knysna Sports Fair presented by DCAS (Thurs 10).
• For a scenic, early-evening route along the water’s edge join the Cupid Sunset Walk/Run (Fri 11).
• Revel in a Secret Sunrise (Sat 12) with movement, music, joy and connection through silent disco headphones.

The Hub also turns up the volume on the Forest Marathon weekend, with KFM broadcasting live from 4 to 7 p.m. and Carl Wastie joining the fun on Saturday morning from 10 am to 1 pm. Algoa FM will be in the mix, too, supporting the 5km CANSA run and the Knysna Cycle Tour.

Visit www.knysnaoysterfestival.co.za or follow @KnysnaOysterFestival on social media for updates.