GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - As excitement continues to build ahead of the 40th Knysna Oyster Festival, organisers last week held a special three-day media launch event.
They welcomed media representatives from around the country to the town of Knysna and surrounds, showcasing what it will have on offer and display during the festival.
The three-day launch tour began on Tuesday 13 June with an ode to the famous Knysna oyster at Drydock Food Co. where the group was given a brief and informative guide on how to identify, cultivate, source and eat the various oysters found in the region. A walking tour in Brenton on Sea followed before the official launch event at The Bell started where media representatives, municipal delegates and organisers of the festival mingled and networked.
On Wednesday 14 June, a cosy and warm spice and tea tasting was enjoyed at The Spice and Tea House curated by tea somelier, Sanchia Hadlow.
The group then made their way up to Knysna Industrial to sample craft gin and beer at Red Bridge Brewery and to take a tour of the artisan design workshop. The day concluded with a visit to the Sedgefield Brewery.
It ended with an interactive tour of the Sedgefield Mosaic Route, where they were able to admire the mosaic work made by members of the community. This tour was led by Jacky Weaver of Masithandane. The route consists of more than 65 mosaic pieces that are mapped around the 'Slow Town'.
Atop of the Seahorse mosaic statue in Sedgefield.
On Thursday 15 June, the three-day launch concluded on a high note with a morning trip to the Knysna Elephant Park.
Thereafter the group was ushered over to Portland Manor for a historical tour of the manor house followed by a chef's table at The Cowshed, prepared by chef Desmond Morgan, co-owner of the restaurant and estate manager of Portland Manor.
The media group experiencing the beauty of the Knysna Elephant Park.
"The idea was to bring national journalists to Knysna to give them a sneak peak of the festival and also to show them the kind of activities that festival goers could do outside of the festival programme," says Jeannine Orzechowski of JO Pr, who along with Knysna travel blogger Rose Greyling Bilbrough, is responsible for the marketing of the Knysna Oyster Festival.
"We were delighted to receive a fantastic response to our media invite and feedback from the journalists was that they had a great time in our beautiful town."
The Knysna Oyster Festival is organised and coordinated by Visit Knysna and will be held from 30 June to 9 July. The winter festival promises to have a host of interactive and entertaining activities for everyone this season. Have a look at the festival progamme online at www.knysnaoysterfestival.com.
In the courtyard at Portland Manor House.
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