Focus on Local Food and Farming at Huntly Hairst

An expanded Huntly Farmers' Market will take centre stage at the heart of the annual Huntly Hairst - a celebration of food and farming - this weekend (3-4 September).

Huntly Square will be closed to traffic tomorrow (Saturday) as the regular Farmers' Market doubles in size, and runs from 9am-4pm to create an even bigger local food shopping experience.

Katrina Barclay from Aberdeenshire Community and Farmers' Markets Association explains it is the perfect opportunity for local shoppers: "With the market open for longer more shoppers will be able to buy the finest local seasonal produce," she says.

"Make a day of and meet the farmers and growers behind some of the best produce Aberdeenshire has to offer."

The market will also offer a delicious hog roast, and for those with a sweet tooth, freshly-cooked pancakes and chocolate dipping.

Highly anticipated, the cookery tent will include a variety of demonstrations from traditional northeast baking to Indonesian cuisine, while there is also fun for the whole family with a bouncy castle, face painting, a treasure hunt and a children's film.

Anna Wilson, one of the Huntly Hairst organisers, wants this year’s festival to be an event for everyone. She says: "Our local community are a talented and dedicated crowd, with some exceptional food and crafts.

"The Hairst festival celebrates our traditions and over the years we’ve had a great turn-out. There is so much going on over the two days and you can keep up-to-date on our website."

Other events during Huntly Hairst include:

Bike Tour of Local Food Producers: A gentle cycle ride around five of Huntly's best-known food businesses with plenty of tastings en route. Starting at 2pm on Saturday from the information stall and returning at 4pm, you’ll visit Rizza's ice cream factory, Raeburn's butchers and Duncan & Taylor's Whisky Shop - all stops on the way. Some bikes will be available to hire or bring your own.

World Stovies Championship: This includes a traditional stovies and an exotic stovies category, which is always the subject of heated debate. We have an entrant from Swindon this year, which is the most far-flung plate of stovies yet! So if you know your stovies well, come along and see for yourself who the winner will be. Entries must be submitted before 10am on Saturday at the Linden Centre, The Avenue, Huntly.

Vintage Tractor Parade: Alford Museum & Heritage Centre (organiser of Alford Farmers' Market) is working with us this year to bring a display of vintage tractors to the Huntly Hairst on Sunday. Due to arrive at Huntly mart around 11.30am, they will remain there for the rest of the day. We hope to have a binder and threshing mill, too, continuing the Hairst theme.

Huntly Farmers' Market is one of the founding members of the Aberdeenshire Community & Farmers Market Association.

ACFMA supports 11 markets throughout the region as part of a Leader-funded grant to promote and increase footfall among locals and visitors.

More food and drink events taking place in Scotland.

Looking to source local produce in Aberdeenshire? Use Scotland Food & Drink's Buyers' Guide.