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LEISURE ISLE FESTIVALFestival Convener : Peter Marais 044 384 1771Once a year, in spring, the gardens at the entrance to Leisure Isle are the venue for a weekend of fun and pleasure for Islanders and visitors. The two-day event was initially started in 2002 as Art & Craft on The Isle with the objective of giving local artists, crafters and hobbyists an opportunity to display their self-produced works and offer them for sale, and in doing so to help enhance the community spirit of residents both of Leisure Isle and Knysna. In later years this initial activity has been expanded to include a plant stall, book stall, produce stalls as well as a host of Kiddies activities, resulting in the festival occupying both sides of the entrance gardens under the title of THE LEISURE ISLE FESTIVAL. All proceeds from this event are donated to a variety of local charities and non-profit organizations that assume the responsibility of organizing their specific activity so as to benefit from the proceeds. The wonderful support from the community and the growth in the number of participants has resulted in substantial increases in our annual contribution to local charities. In recent years amounts in excess of R100000 have been raised. Enjoyment begins as one is greeted by the colour, fun and buzz at the entrance gardens, and a stroll through the park reveals a wide variety of talent and enterprise. The items on display vary from year to year, and have included works by renowned local artists as well as talented amateurs. Pottery, oil and watercolour paintings, toys, wooden items, a variety of gifts and Christmas-related goodies are featured.  Food and refreshment stalls and tea gardens are now available on both sides of the entrance gardens for the benefit of exhibitors as well as the public. The pleasure of the day continues as one strolls around the Island enjoying the wonderful gardens in Steenbok Park, the Leisure Isle Coffee Shop, Tides Restaurant as well as the Island Antique Shop and Art Gallery. The event has grown in size since first started in 2003, and in 2011 more than 100 stall holders and exhibitors participated in the Festival.    |
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