OYSTERS, while widely known as the food of choice for lovers, are becoming increasingly popular among the sports crowd - especially runners and cyclists.
The annual Knysna Oyster Festival, held at this popular Garden Route destination in July, has become something of a national institution and offers two of the Country's biggest races - the Pick 'n Pay Knysna Cycle Tour (July 2) and the Castle Lite Forest Marathon (July 8).
To keep up with the sporting demand, this year's festival also includes a Running and Walking Festival which includes walking races, various street miles, a training camp for distance runners, road runners, cross-country athletes, walkers and ultra-distance runners.
For those who prefer the softer option of sitting next to a roaring fire, simply enjoying the taste that "smacks of the sea", the Garden Route Woodberry's Food Expo, the Graca Oyster-Eating Competition and Graca Oyster Cooking Competition will have enormous appeal.
Live bands, vintage and classic car club gatherings, parades and pageants provide a further drawcard.
(Adele Mackenzie)
