Event Details from 2011
See below for a list of events from last year's festival - this year's programme is still being planned.
Thursday
Guided Textile Tour - A guided walk around Huntly looking at the history of the town's flax and woolen industry. Tickets £2
Open Music Session - Songs and music with a food & farming slant, come to join in or just to listen. Free.
Friday
Fair trade wine tasting - by Huntly Ethical Trading Initiative. Tickets £6/£5, limited number of seats available.
Saturday
Farmers Market
The market will expand to take up the whole of the Town Square and will have new stalls as well as the regular stall holders. Throughout the day there will be demonstrations of food preparation and craft work. The market will be open from 9am to 4pm.
Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook
Representatives of the local press/media will attempt to cook a meal under the guidance of local food expert Siobhan Ingram. Go along and cheer on the brave volunteers. To be held at the Linden Centre starting at 1:30pm and finishing at 3:00 pm.
World Stovie Championship
Contestants for the title of World Stovie Champion will gather at the Linden Centre for the judging from 10am with the results expected at 11am. Do you cook great Stovies? Then enter the competition !!
This year we also have a competition for the most innovative or exotic stovies. So get your thinking caps on to come up with an interesting idea.
Rules of the competition, Health & safety Guidelines and an entry form are on this website
Shortbread Competition
Another competition at the Linden Centre. Enter your best home-made shortbread. Judging by Deans with donated prizes. 11.30am. Entry form and Rules of the competition on this website
Tablet Competition
Who has the best version of this traditional sweet? Bring yours along to the Linden Centre at 11:15am. Entry form and Rules of the competition on this website
Bike Trail
The return of the popular trail visiting several of Huntly's good food producers. Bring your own bike or some bikes will be available for loan. Starts at 2:00pm in the Square.
Food Demonstration Tent - Programme of demonstrations throughout day ranging from traditional north-east Scottish to traditional Indonesian cuisine. Free.
Music Stage - Live music and dance throughout the day. Free.
Children's Entertainment - Bouncy Castle, face-painting, quizzes, candyfloss.
Supermarket Challenge - Confidence to Cook groups will compete to make a meal using supermarket produce. 12 noon. Free.
Primary School Allotment Open Day 11am - 2pm
Family Film "How to Tame Your Dragon" PG - A hapless young Viking aspires to hunt dragons, but becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself. Free.
A Tasting Table - Come and see what delights the Larder has in store. Hot soup for sale too.
Cook Books Old & New - Browse through a special display of food and recipe books at Huntly's bookshop.
Food, Charity & Business - Come and hear a Trustee of Café Direct share their experience. Cafe Direct tea and coffee for sale. Huntly Hotel, 04:00pm
Sunday
All Sunday events are in and around Huntly Mart, which is just off the A96 opposite Asda. There is ample parking available. Transport from The Square will be available by tractor and trailer.
IN THE RING
Collage Competition & Art Display - A chance to view entries for this year's Hairst art competition. Entry form on website. Free.
Family Harvest Service - Conducted by the Reverend Kay Gauld, a unique setting for a thanksgiving for the food we enjoy. Free.
Music & Song - Entertainment from local musicians & performers. Free.
Butchery Demonstration -Back by popular demand, Champion Butcher Gary Raeburn demonstrates his skills.Free.
Raffle Draw & Prizegiving - Winners of the various Hairst competitions will be presented with their prizes by Malcolm Bruce MP.Free.
Closing Music & Song - Free.
IN THE PENS
Craft Stalls - A range of local arts, crafts, photography and more…Free entry.
Charity Stalls - Local charities and organisations raise funds and awareness. Free entry.
Scottish Sculpture Workshop - Artist Lauren Gault. Free.
Wood turning demonstrations - From Gordon Woodworkers. Free.
From Sheep to Shawl - See the whole process from washing a fleece, carding, spinning, weaving knitting. Free. Display by Rare Breeds Survival Trust North East Scotland Group", email address
strachern@gmail.com
Pigeon Plucking Contest - See how quickly (and neatly) you can prepare a pigeon for the casserole. Free. See website for entry forms.
Livestock - A chance to see some rare breed sheep, pigs and poultry…along with donkeys and ponies. Free.
CCOW - Children's farm-related activities - try your hand at milking the model cow. Free.
Sheep shearing display - See an expert shearer at work
Fly-tying demonstration - In association with Artloch Fishery. Free.
Mystery Farm Object Display - Try to identify old tools and equipment from Alford heritage Centre.
What is permaculture? - With local permaculture teacher Jonny Barton.
Joanneke and Barefoot Books - (joanneke-kruijsen.barefootbooks.com). Tractors and turnips book reading plus (eco) fun activities for kids aged 4-7.
Market Stalls - A selection of food & crafts stalls.
IN THE GROUNDS
Bouncy Castle
Vintage Tractors - Old working tractors restored to their former glory. Free.
Horse-shoe pitching & Old West Paraphenalia - From the Northern Rough Riders.Free.
Pony Rides - Corrylair Trekking Centre provide lead-rein pony rides. £3 per ride, £5 for two.
Forest Crafts - Fire making and survival skills.
Tranquility Town Cowboys Shows - Wild West reenactments, displays & entertainment from the Northern Rough Riders.Free.
Guided Walk up the Clashmach - Aberdeenshire Countryside Ranger Helen Young will discuss how farming, ecology & landscape connect. Stout shoes, waterproofs, dogs under control & children accompanied by an adult. Free.
Archeological Farm Walk & Drive - A tour of farming sites from the 15th - 20th century in the Clashindarroch Forest, with archeologist Colin Shepherd. By permission of the Forestry Commission. Stout shoes, waterproofs, dogs under control. Offers of car-sharing welcome. Free.
Dudendance's Into the Wild - (www.dudendance.com) Spot the curious wild life that has emerged from the Battlehill Woods around the Mart.
PARKING AND ENTRY TO ALL EVENTS IS FREE
Collage Competition
Prize Money Donated by NFU Scotland
First Prize £50 Second Prize £25
This competition will be judged on Sunday 4th September 2011 at Huntly Mart and to ensure that we have enough display area, it would be appreciated if you could complete and return a completed entry form before Monday 29th August 2011, if you think you would like to take part. Download an entry form
Entries should be delivered to the Mart on Sunday 4th September between 10.00a.m. and 10.30a.m. and collected immediately following the prize giving at 3.30p.m. Alternative arrangements for delivery/collection may be possible.
Tin Hut Supper
We will once again round off the Huntly Hairst Festival of Food and Farming on Sunday 4th September.
Tin Hut Supper Goes Gourmet - Multi-award winning Chef Yoran Odentz. Tickets £40, 6:30 for 7:00pm.
Organisers of Tin Hut Suppers are delighted to have been able to secure a multi-award winning chef to host their next event – the finale to this year’s Huntly Hairst weekend. Israeli-born Yoram Odentz was awarded the bronze medal in the 2011 Scottish Chef of the Year competition. Yoram has designed a Tin Hut Supper menu to reflect the excellent produce available in the north east from land and sea.
To download this year's menu click here.Tickets from Emma Plumpton or 07742 595405.
Outside Events
Live Music event
Huntly Hotel, Saturday 3 September, 6:00pm
4 different acts, Virtually Unknown, Chris Grant, Slave System and Daydream Frenzy
Tickets £8.50 from Huntly Hotel or the Hairst stall at the market.
Photo Gallery
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