200 000 oysters, 9 days. These are the significant numbers behind the annual Knysna Oyster Festival which hits this popular Garden Route town from 4 to 13 July this year.

An action-packed line-up is planned with amongst others the Oyster Carnival with flea market, beer tent and food market; the Knysna Angling Competition; Battle of the bands; the Pick n Pay Cape Times Knysna Forest Marathon; and of course the Oyster and Wine Mardi Gras taking place on the 9th of July, where over 600 festival goers will partake in 18 250 Oysters while tasting 500 litres of wine.

Most importantly, as devoted restaurant goers, you are probably interested in the over 40 restaurants posing as Oyster Hotspots for the duration of the festival. Participants include 34° South, Cruise Café, Firefly Eatinghouse, Knysna Oyster Co , Sirocco and Zacharys. (For a full list, visit http://www.oysterfestival.co.za).