Huntly Hairst - Celebrating Rural Life Together
By Experience Huntly on 10/08/2021
The Hairst is a unique annual harvest festival which takes place in Huntly to celebrate the food and traditions of Aberdeenshire. The event, which this year takes place on Saturday 4th September, is free to attend and provides something for all the family to enjoy.
The programme includes an extended Farmer’s Market with over 50 stalls showcasing the best local produce, cookery demonstrations and competitions, including The World Stovies Championship, and much more.
During the event, attendees can also look forward to browsing the best local handcrafts at the Huntly Crafters craft fair to be held in The Gordon Arms, cheering on competitors in the sausage eating competition at Huntly Football Club, and learning how to make the tastiest cocktails at Whiskies of Scotland.
For younger visitors, there is a fancy dress tea party with Wee Toots at the Ex-Serviceman’s Club, crafts with the Huntly Christian Fellowship, Doric stories with local children’s author Aaron Gale at Orb’s Bookshop and the Great Scottish Youth Bake Off supported by The Larder.
The annual Room To Run 5k, 10k, half marathon and Wee Shortie races will also be taking place. Spectators are welcome to cheer on the runners as they voyage through the town streets and past the iconic Huntly Castle.
Special Hairst deals and offers will be available across local shops, bars, restaurants and cafes making this a great day to come and enjoy Huntly. Find the deals and offers on the Experience Huntly app as the Hairst approaches.
On Sunday 5th September, The Big Picnic at Leith Hall and Gardens provides a day for the family and lots of activities for the kids to enjoy. Pick a picnic spot and enjoy a family lunch in the beautiful grounds of Leith Hall, with a variety of food stalls available to tempt you. Meet the rare breeds of North East Scotland, before joining the nature trail and getting creative with some kids crafting. Browse the pop up craft fair and find a memento of the day too.
This year, the Hairst will also showcase an online ‘Meet Our Producers’ week from 30th August to 3rd September, where the spotlight will fall on some of the great local producers in and around Huntly.
Events include Meat Monday, where Deveron Projects chefs in residence will give tips for making the best stovies, with free stovies making kits to be made available from The Square Deal in Huntly beforehand. Ideal if you fancy increasing your competitive edge in the World Stovies Championships during the Hairst event!
On Tuesday, Coldwells Organic Farm will explain how flour is made, and the Honesty Bakehouse will provide a bread making demonstration, followed by top tips from Diane Ingram for making the perfect oatcakes. It’s also curry night for the kids, with curry kits available from The Square Deal.
As mid week approaches, we look to sweeten things up. Rizza’s will share their story and reveal how to make ice cream, and also invite everyone to create their own flavour of ice cream and invent their ultimate ice cream sundae in an online competition. Winners will receive a year’s supply of ice cream!
On Friday, the eve of the Hairst, Neep & Okra Kitchen will share tips online for pickling your own beetroot and we enjoy Friday lunch with the Artisan Growers hosted by Deveron Projects.
See the Hairst website for more details of these events and to book places.
We hope we’ve given you a flavour of the great programme the Hairst offers and look forward to welcoming you to Huntly!
Full details and downloadable programme available on the Hairst website.