Posts for September, 2026

Blair Castle’s annual Christmas Market returns for 2026.
Join us inside the Banvie Hall, the beautifully atmospheric ballroom and outside our tented Christmas village will be in front of the Banvie Hall.

Beautiful art and crafts will tempt and delight with individuality and flair, wood work, metal work, antler art, textiles, art illustrations, pet snacks, decadent cushions, throws, ceramics, silk scarves. Locally designed jewellery featuring silver, gemstones, copper and glass. Lovely wood crafts, children’s clothes and exquisitely beautiful knitwear. Organic and vegan soaps & skincare, candles, reed diffusers and wax melts – all lovingly created in Scotland.

A glorious selection of tempting foods awaits you at the Blair Christmas Fair. Fabulous chocolate confectionery from the Third Sin and delicious preserves from Spice Harmony and fresh game in the form of steaks, pies, pates, & sausages.

Our alcohol producers include a spectacular range of gins, rums, vodkas and liqueurs.

Highland Food Shack will be bringing their tasty range of artisan street food suitable for all ages and Henderson’s Fine Food with mouth watering offerings.

A full list of exhibitors will be available on social media prior to the event.

Visiting the Castle:

Experience a self guided tour of the castle during your visit to the market. The castle will be dressed for Christmas and the gift shop open to all Christmas market visitors. The castle restaurant will be serving homemade and locally sourced hot and cold food and drinks, and offers a great place to sit down and take five.

Discover Blair Castle after dark on a tour through the castle and hear spooky tales told by characters of the past.
Put on your best Halloween outfit and join us for some spooky fun on Wednesday 28th October and Thursday 29th October from 5.00pm.

Book your 30 minute time slot today. The last tour is at 6.30pm.

Fancy dress is encouraged and all you can eat pizza with fries and drinks will be available in our restaurant. You can book food with your ticket in advance or buy food and drinks on the night.

12.00-12.55 Ben Mhor – Beginners Drumming / Sam Fry OR @ YMCA – Guitar / Will Boyd-Wallis
1.00-1.55 Ben Mhor – Drumming Circle / Sam Fry + OR @ YMCA – Singing together / Shona Donaldson
2.00-2.55 Ben Mhor – Beginners Fiddle / Paul Anderson OR @ YMCA – Ukulele / Susie Minto Ken Walker
3.00-3.55 Ben Mhor – Experienced Fiddle/Paul Anderson OR @ YMCA-Moothie (key of A)/ NeilMcGregor
4.15-4.30 Ben Mhor – Workshop Concert Rehearsal
4.30-5.00 Ben Mhor – Workshop Concert (show your skills – all welcome to watch)

Borrow an instrument or bring your own (moothies in key of A). To borrow a violin or guitar (small sizes available) please email: fiddlerofstrathspey@gmail.com

Start your day with a refreshing cuppa, delicious home bakes and a blether. A special jaunty atmosphere is provided courtesy of the doyen of fiddlers, Paul Anderson. All welcome.

Whirl and birl the night away to the stirring traditional tunes of Reel Scotch. If you don’t know the steps or have forgotten them, don’t worry, all will be explained when you take the floor. The venue is the refurbished acoustically engineered main hall in the YMCA Community Centre. Families welcome. Disabled access by spacious modern lift. B.Y.O.B. (Bring your own bottle/booze). Prize raffle. Event organised by The Grantown Society (c/o The Grantown Hub) as part of the Fiddler of Strathspey Festival 2026 (15-19 September).

Master fiddler Paul Anderson and bothy ballad specialist Shona Donaldson join varied talents The Braeriach Quartet, Bella Voce, Will Boyd-Wallis, Neil McGregor and The Fiddlers of Strathspey. The venue is the acoustically engineered hall at the YMCA Community Centre, Grantown-on-Spey. Disabled access by spacious lift. Teas, coffees and soft drinks available before concert and during the interval. Prize raffle. Organised by The Grantown Society, c/o The Hub, High St., Grantown-on-Spey.

As part of the Fiddler of Strathspey Festival, organised by The Grantown Society, the ever-popular Braeriach String Quartet play a selection of classical pieces. The concert also features the premiere of two pieces for string quartet and piano performed alongside local composer and pianist Dmytro Morykit.

The annual Cairngorm Ski Club Snowsports Equipment Sale offers Snowsports fans an excellent opportunity to buy and sell second hand and new ski and snowboard equipment and clothing. Here you can find a wide range of competitively priced equipment to suit all budgets. Goods can be closely inspected and boots tried for fit with ski club members and coaches are available for advice.

Freya Rae and Tim Lane (of Hidden Orchestra) present Divergence, a captivating performance of original music inspired by traditional melodies and contemporary creativity. The tunes, written by Freya in 2020, blend flute, whistles, clarinet, tongue drum, percussion, and subtle electronic effects to create a rich, contemporary sound rooted in tradition. Since premiering the project at Edinburgh TradFest in May 2025, they have also performed at their album launch at the Pianodrome and at Knockengorroch and Kelso Folk Festival. Divergence celebrates the meeting of old and new through lyrical melodies, inventive arrangements, and immersive live performance.

Something a bit lovely and different! Tim and Freya are also going to host a post performance jam session for anyone who would like to join, so please do bring along your instruments and keep the vibes going.

Doors and tipi bar open from 6.30pm with music starting around 7.30pm

We’d love to see you there x

North of Scotland Cup (Rd.1): Strathspey Thistle v Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Seafield Park, kick-off 7.30pm (N.B. Early kick-off time). Parking at ground and at Grantown-on-Spey Golf Club, by their kind permission and at own risk. Mackellar Suite bar (18+) open to hospitality guests and paying spectators. Snack bar, half-time raffle, merchandise, teamsheets.