Town ready to welcome visitors to Huntly Hairst after a year's absence
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HUNTLY welcomes back Hairst - the town's celebration of rural life on Saturday.
Online events, planned to ensure the event had a presence regardless of Covid rules, have been running all week but organisers are looking forward to the buzz of Hairst day in the town centre.
Despite last minute call offs this week, over 50 stalls are expected in The Square and a further 20 plus at the craft fair in the Gordon Arms Hotel.
Extra planning has taken place to make the mainly outdoor event as Covid safe as possible.
Where possible, people are asked to enter The Square from Gordon Street and move round in a clockwise direction.
Hand sanitising stations will be at strategic points.
Masks will be available and must be worn for indoor events.
Extra space has been incorporated between stalls and where previously queues have formed.
Organiser Laura McNeil said: "Our enhanced safety plan includes measures for Covid but we ask that people keep themselves safe and if they feel an area is too crowded, they move away.
"We are able to have some stalls onto Deveron Street to achieve extra space which we hope benefits stallholders and visitors.
"Some stallholders from previous Hairsts have not survived the pandemic but we have lots of new ones and some really tasty street food stalls.
"All the venues have their own risk assessments in place.
"We will be following government guidelines and in line with them people should complete a lateral flow test before coming - they are available free from the chemists."
Business and community involvement has been a priority for the organising group and Mrs McNeil is delighted with the level of support.
Competitions have been sponsored by Dean's, Rizza's, The Larder and Forbes Raeburn.
Whiskies of Scotland is offering first come first served whisky tastings during the day.
The Ex Servicemen's Club hosts a children's party organised by the Wee Toots group.
The Golf Club is the venue for the World Stovies Championship and Huntly FC social club hosts the brand new sausage eating challenge.
Neep and Okra and the Ethical Gift Shop have special deals for the day.
Mrs McNeil said: "The community is really up for Hairst and enthusiastic to be involved, people did not need much persuading to take part. There's been a great deal of generosity. We really wanted wider involvement so that Hairst becomes a day for the whole town, not just The Square and it can hopefully help businesses with their recovery after Covid."
Stalls on the Square open from 9am and the busy programme of competitions and events rolls out from 10am.
Window displays in The Square carry a QR code which allows people to download the programme directly to their mobile phone.
Huntly Sports Hub has its Room to Run race series of 5k, 10k, half marathon and kids races taking place from 10am.
Kids races start at the war memorial.
Adult runners will be piped to the race start on Castle Street by members of Huntly Pipe Band.
The finish line has been moved along Deveron Street to reduce congestion but the medal winners podium will go up in The Square.
On Sunday, from 11am until 3pm, there's a Big Picnic day of activities at Leith Hall, including rare breeds.
