The Huntly Hairst is an annual festival celebrating the food and local traditions of Aberdeenshire. It takes the form of an extended Farmers' Market, occupying the town square and central streets, with over 50 stalls showcasing the best local produce, cookery demonstrations and competitions, including The World Stovies Championship, Huntly's Room to Run race and even more events throughout the week. Check out the Hairst website for full details of the festival, and see below for our packed programme of events for 2023 celebrating abundance and care with growers, artists and ecologists.

Our programme

Deveron Projects at Huntly Hairst : Saturday 2nd September 2023, 9am-4pm

Square Dealall day                 Open printmaking studioJoin artist-in-residence Petra Pennington in her printmaking studio for the day. 9am-1pm             Public studioCreate your own garden-inspired drawings and paintings with support from artist Robyn Benson. 1:30-4pm             Screen-print a posterLearn about the screen-printing process and print your own poster to take home!

The Brander Gardenall day                  Garden Café Make and enjoy herbal tea blends with artist Ju Scott. 10am                   Meadow seed savingJoin local ecologist John Malster to learn about saving perennial meadow seeds. 11am                   Scything demonstrationJohn Malster demonstrates the benefits of traditional scything methods for meadow and land management. 11am onwards    Composting drop-inGardener-in-residence Lindy Young is on hand to get down with the worms and talk all things compost! 12pm                   What is yellow rattle?Learn about the role of yellow rattle in establishing a perennial meadow. 1:30pm                Seed Saving 101Join Sinéad Fortune from the Gaia Foundation to learn how and why we should save vegetable seeds.

Square Deal Gardenall day                   Quiet SpaceTake a breather from the hustle and bustle of the Hairst - head down the pend to our garden at the back of Square Deal, open all day as a quiet space.  All events were free and open to all.

Also part of Hairst Week 2023Food Chain: Stovies Masterclass with the Huntly Hairst CommitteeMonday 28th August 2023, 6-8pm, Square Deal Friday Lunch: Fair Food AberdeenshireFriday 1st September 2023, 1-2pm, Square Deal