Knysna is festival town! Every year thousands of visitors flock to this top destination on the Garden Route, just 500 km from Cape Town, to attend and participate in a number of unique festivals that include fun events and activities for children.
Slow Festival - March
Sedgefield’s Slow Festival was designed with family-friendly events in mind.
Anything that Floats is a team challenge to build a craft on site and launch it onto the lagoon waters off Fish Eagle Green to compete in a series of heats. It’s a guaranteed day of fun and laughs for the whole family.
In the Slow Bike Challenge event cyclists must ride as slowly as possible across a demarcated track without putting their foot down, falling off or rolling backwards. The slowest time wins!
The Out of the Bin Fashion Show showcases outfits created from recycled materials. This fashion show with a difference is for children and adults and is lots of fun for both participants and spectators.
Knysna Oyster festival – June/July
By far the biggest and most popular festival for families is the annual Knysna Oyster Festival which occurs in June/July every year, with dates depending on school holidays.
The festival kicks off with the Knysna Cycle Tour, a weekend of cycling for the whole family. On day one, two of the mountain bike events are open to children who are experienced cyclists: the 15 km ride accepts entries for children over 9, while children aged 10 and older can compete in the 30 km race.
On day two of the Cycle Tour, children over 12 can enter the 50 km road race.
Day three is the big day for kiddies – the SPUR Children’s Cycle Tour! This fun event is not a race and all participants receive medals and goodie bags. It takes place on the festival grounds so parents can be close by to spectate and assist where necessary. There are three age categories for children aged 2 – 10 years and the length of each race varies according to age. The fun component is increased by the presence of face painters and cheerleaders and there are prizes for children and parents who dress up for the occasion.
Leisure Isle Festival - November
Every year, the Leisure Isle Festival at Kings Park’s brings local artists, crafters, traders and vendors together for a fun-filled weekend which the whole family can enjoy. Featuring craft stalls, homemade food and fresh produce, a 4 km fun run and a 1,2 km walk, there’s also a beer garden for adults and lots of activities to keep the kids entertained.
Proceeds go to various local charities.
Knysna SPLASH - December
Knysna SPLASH is the Garden Route’s entertaining family water-based festival presented by the Rotary Club of Knysna. There are two events which are great fun for both participants and spectators. You can brave the waters and swim the Knysna Lagoon Mile or purchase a number for a plastic yellow duck and watch it race along the waters of the Waterfront canal. Book you place at one of the restaurants which offer a great viewing spot of the spectacle!
Knysna SPLASH is an important fundraiser for Rotary, which donates all proceeds from the entry fees to local charities.
Eden Kite Festival - December
There’s always a great vibe at the annual Eden Kite Festival which is held over four days at two different venues – Myoli Beach in Sedgefield and the Knysna High School fields in Waterfront Drive. Contestants come from all over South Africa and abroad to celebrate the ancient art of kite flying and showcase their colourful, innovative designs in front of hundreds of kite enthusiasts. The event includes an art and craft market and food stalls and raises money for Masithandane’s Bursary Fund, to ensure that disadvantaged children in Sedgefield can attend high school.
