Try out an electric bike supplied by Huntly Travel Hub around the lovely grounds of Leith Hall
Bring your child’s bike and enjoy fun cycling activities!
Farmers Market & HuntlyCrafters
Farmers Market
On Hairst Saturday we grow the Farmers Market significantly with over 50 stalls showcasing and selling locally grown, reared, made or caught produce. The stall holders pride themselves in the high quality of their product sharing the provenance while you make your purchases.
HuntlyCrafters
As with the farmers market the Craft Fair has a different feel, the crafters are sharing their product origins and how they go through the making process, often crafters set up fun tasks for kids to try to help them remember what they have learnt.
HuntlyCrafters are a group of people who either earn a living or have a hobby crafting in the Huntly area. The group is a way to bring people together to share learnings and also to hold craft fairs on a regular basis to be able to sell some of the individual pieces of work. Check out HuntlyCrafters on Facebook.
Kids Activities
The Leith Hall bears are having a picnic too! Pick up your trail and find them in the walled garden. £3 per child / adults free.
A craft table will be available for all children.
The Rangers will be talking about all things trees!
As Leith Hall have lots of open green spaces there is plenty of room for families to bring their own games to play after their picnic in the sun.
Bring your Childs bike and enjoy fun cycling activities.
Rare Breeds of North East Scotland
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust is the only charity in Britain dedicated to the conservation of rare or native breeds of livestock. At the Big Picnic the Rare Breed sheep, pigs and horses will be on display so children can ask questions and be interactive with the animals. This is a great starting point for discussions on the origins of food. The volunteers have great knowledge to share and look forward to talking to anyone who has an interest in their animals.
Each year the RBST produces a watchlist, this categorises the breeds based on the numbers of registered breeding females in the UK. This list includes; sheep, cattle, equine, pigs, goats and poultry. Visit their website to gain a better understanding of what they do or even give a donation to support their work www.rbst.org.uk.
How to Find Us
The Big Picnic @ Leith Hall
Leith Hall and Gardens
Kennethmont
Huntly
AB54 4NQ
How to get there
Visit Leith Hall and Gardens website for a map of how to get there.
A £3 parking fee applies for non-members of National Trust Scotland.
The community minibus will be shuttling between Huntly and Leith Hall to reduce the need for cars. The first bus leaves from outside square deal at 10:30am. This is a free service although donations welcome.
Farmers Market & Street Food
Farmers Market
A Farmers Market is held once a month in The Square Huntly. The Hairst gives us the opportunity to grow the market significantly with over 60 stalls showcasing and selling locally grown, reared, made or caught produce. The stall holders pride themselves in the high quality of their product sharing the provenance while you make your purchases.
Produce stalls will be selling locally farmed meat and game, fish, freshly made breads, condiments, fresh vegetables, eggs, cheese, fresh pasta, honey, preserves, tea, gin, cakes and much more.
Apply for a Market Stall
If you would like to apply for a Market Stall please click on the applicable link below and complete the online application form (Street Food Stall applications can be found further down this page):
**FULLY BOOKED! Applications are now closed for 2023**
Street Food
With the growth of food offering on Hairst day we also offer a superb range of Street Food; ready to eat food made locally to enjoy for your lunch on the day. This includes pizza, bbq, hog roasts, barista coffee, homemade pancakes and award winning ice cream.
Many stall holders and street vendors offer food choices tailored to those with food intolerances, please ask each vendor for details before you buy. (Huntly Hairst can make no guarantees that food has been produced in an allergy safe environment).
Apply for a Street Food Stall
If you would like to apply for a Street Food Stall please click on the link below and complete the online application form:
**FULLY BOOKED! Applications are now closed for 2023**
2023 Food Producers
2023 Street Food
2023 Other Stalls
Craft Stalls
The Huntly Hairst and HuntlyCrafters come together to put on a Craft Fair showcasing the best of our local crafters in the Aberdeenshire area. Due to popular demand we will have more crafters this year than ever before.
Small businesses like these survive through regular craft fairs, please continue to support them by clicking the images below to visit their business sites where you can purchase their unique, individual products.
Apply for a Craft Stall
Application information coming soon. For now, please contact HuntlyCrafters huntlycrafters@outlook.com
What’s on at the Hairst!
Kids Activities
Huntly Hairst is a fun, family event with lots of kids activities.
Abi-Lou Messy Play Free Kids Parties
OAP Hall – Church Street
Up to age 7
Free Event
Pre-Booking available
Two free kids farm themed parties – 10am-11am and 12pm-1pm.
Buffet, dry messy play for little ones, crafts, music, reading corner, bubble fun and so much more!
Pre-booking available by email to huntlyhairst@outlook.com
Kids Activities – Orbs Bookshop
Orbs Bookshoop
The Square
Facepainting (small cost) and kids storytelling by local authors including Doric books. Money off vouchers for books purchased on the day.
Family Shop Window Competition!
Around Huntly Town
Walk around a few streets off the square and answer all the questions in the shop windows relating to food and farming.
£10 Orbs bookshop voucher for the most correct answers!
Wee Shortie Event – Room to Run
The Gordon Schools
Cost Associated
Booking Essential
Wee Shortie Kids races form part of the Room to Run event that runs alongside the Huntly Hairst.
Visit www.roomtorun.uk to secure your place.
Registration opens at The Gordon Schools – 8.30am
Cat 1 Wee Shortie (5-6yo) 300m – 10.10am
Cat 2 Wee Shortie (7-9yo) 600m – 10.20am
Cat 3 Wee Shortie (10-12yo) 1,200m – 10.30am
Kids age 12 and above are eligible for the 5k adult race too.
Kids Crafting
Stewarts Hall – 10am-12pm
Free
No booking required
Join in with fun crafting games and creating at The Stewarts Hall, free for all ages to join in, delivered by Huntly Christian Fellowship.
Deveron Projects
We have a packed programme of free public events on in Square Deal and the Brander Garden to celebrate Huntly Hairst on Saturday 2nd September!
Square Deal
All Day Open artist’s studio with artist Petra Pennington
9am-1pm Draw and paint your own designs with artist Robyn Benson
1.30pm-4pm Screen-print a poster
Brander Garden
All Day Garden Café: make and enjoy herbal teas with artist Ju Scott
10am Meadow seed saving with local ecologist John Malster
11am Scything demonstration with John Malster
11am onwards Learn about composting with gardener Lindy Young
12pm What is yellow rattle? with John Malster
1:30pm Seed saving 101 with the Seed Sovereignty Programme
For full information check out the Deveron Projects Facebook page.
No 30 The Square Huntly
HDT are delighted that the building element of the refurbishment of No.30 is now almost complete. This offers a welcome opportunity for the local community to book a tour of the building on the day of the Hairst to see the transformation so far.
Tour times are:
10am, 11.30am, 1pm and 3pm
Tours must be pre-booked so if you’d like to see around please email with your preferred time to hdt@huntly.net or call and leave a message with your contact details on 01466 799416. Or call Carolyn Powell on 07551 107573.
