Summer at Glen Tanar is one of the best times of year with holiday guests enjoying the outdoors and the abundance of nature and wildlife making the most of the nice weather. The summer holiday season also bring about a huge variety of local events and activities for visitors to enjoy and what a great selection Deeside has to offer this year. Here’s our pick of some of the best!
Banchory Show, Bellfield Park - Saturday 29th July
A fun day out for all the family with events from football, highland dancing, dog show, tug o’war and the hill race.
Ballater Victoria Week, 4th – 13th August
Highlights include duck races, a scarecrow trail, panto horse trials, highland games, cartie race, dog show, lego session, parades, picnics and lots more!
Aboyne Highland Games, Aboyne Green– Saturday 5th August
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Aboyne Highland Games with visitors coming from as far afield as America and Canada to watch some of the world’s strongest men take on time-old Scottish traditional games such as tossing the caber, hammer throwing, the hill race and the tug o’war. Saturday 5th August, The Green, Aboyne.
Ballater Highland Games, Monaltrie Park – Thursday 10th August
Ballater Highland Games prides itself in having something for everyone, young and old alike. There are a large variety of trade stands, together with a fun fair for the children. To complete the day, Beat Retreat by the Pipe Bands is planned for 7pm on the Church Green in Ballater.
Tarland Show - Saturday 12th August
Held on the 2nd Saturday in August each year, Tarland Show is a fabulous day out! A popular attraction to the show each year is the truck show, with vintage & modern tractors all competing to win a rosette and the afternoon entertainment offers pipe bands, the prize winners parades, childrens races, fancy dress parades & the young farmers stock judging and tug of war competition where a mix of ages and abilities compete to show the young farmers up!
Banchory Beer Festival, Woodend Barn – Fri 11th – Sun 13th August
A festival of great beer, cider, gin, prosecco, Banchory’s local rum, unique street food and great live music. What more could you want?
Deeside Steam Rally, Crathes - Sat 19th – Sun 20th August
An exciting day out where steam driven vehicles take over Crathes and invade Banchory town centre! With a huge variety of vehicles involved there will be steam engines, steam vehicles, vintage tractors, miniatures, vintage agricultural machinery, plus vintage cars and vintage motorcycles.
Royal Deeside Speed Festival , Kincardine Castle– Sunday 20th August
Held in the grounds of the iconic Kincardine Castle in Deeside, the Royal Deeside Speed Festival is a great day out with something for everyone. A huge variety of trade stands and one of the most impressive car line ups it will satisfy your every need for speed! The greatest spectacle of the day is the fantastic hill climb where cars race through the estate.
Lonach Gathering, Strathdon – Saturday 26th August
Founded in 1823, this year marks the 176th Lonach Highland Gathering and Games. Join the show from 8am to watch the March of the Lonach Highlanders leave Bellabeg. Pipebands, heavy and light events start at 11am. There will also be a Family Ceilidh in the Lonach Hall on the night of Lonach, dancing to Clachan Yell.