Posts for October, 2021

Mr Tom Kelly will give a second presentation of postcard images throughout the ages, relating to Braemar and the surrounding area.

Join us for our festive shopping weekend with plenty of activities and fun for all the family.
Local, independent shops, an outdoor Christmas market and art/craft fair selling local produce/goods, entertainment and fantastic food and drink.

Car Boot Sale & Market
​Saturday, 23rd October 2021
​10am – 4pm

We will be holding a car boot sale and market to raise funds for the museum at the Grantown Showground on 23rd October.
​Clear out your cupboards and make space in your garage. This is your chance to make £££££ from your clutter!

Buyers admitted from 10am.
​Free entry and parking.

Set up for sellers we be from 9am:
Cars £10
Vans or cars w/trailers £15.

The Bairns Market!

Come to our inaugural Bairns Market. To showcase your business, services and preloved items, the place for all your family needs!

We are looking for parents and organisations who would like to showcase their services and products or who want to sell their preloved toys, clothes and all the in-between bits and bobs from pregnancy to childhood.

Entrance into the Market will be £1 to the public.

Flats and Sharps are a four-piece bluegrass outfit from Penzance, Cornwall. Delivering energetic, enthusiastic and spirited Bluegrass to audiences all around the world, Flats and Sharps have been performing their unique take on this music for over eight years. Their shows include a wide variety of influences, from a fresh and modern outlook on foot-stomping Bluegrass material through to their powerful and well-crafted original songs, with beautiful moments everywhere in between. Their music perfectly blends strong harmonies and stonking solos, their incredible stage presence and energy create an evening that’ll have you dancing, laughing and singing along in no time.

Over their time together, the band have made their presence known all around the world, including multiple tours in Australia, Europe and around the UK. Festival appearences at Nashville Meets London, Cambridge Folk, Isle of Wight, Larmer Tree – to name just a few.

2020 is a new album year for Flats and Sharps – a wonderful collection of songs that is sure to only increase their popularity as a highly skilled Bluegrass outfit.

Awkward Family Portraits music covers a jump jive leap that spans rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, classic country and western swing to manouche gypsy jazz and cool ‘50s lounge lizard grooviness. Awkward Family Portraits also inject a distinctly 21st century freshness that is laden with spades of roguish charm and humour to interpretations and all band originals.

“The Cairn in its historic setting” Gordon and Macphail will provide a presentation on our newest distillery and members of the Society will provide information on some of the background to brewing and distilling in Strathspey and point out some of the important features of the area, from retting ponds to fishing pools and hostelries to hangings. As further background those interested may like to review “A Virtual Heritage Round of Brewers, Distillers and Purveyors of Fine Drink ” to be found here on the walks and trails page of our website: thegrantownsociety.org .

Join the Warden for this special tour, where you will get up close and personal with the wonderful waders and wildfowl that spend the winter on Insh Marshes!

– Experience parts of the site not normally open to visitors

– Find out more about our winter residents, including whooper swans, geese and goldeneye, and learn some ID hints and tips

– Learn about the maintenance of our wetland habitat and future plans for the reserve

This will be a walking tour (approximately 3 miles) and will go through rough ground which may be muddy, so sturdy boots or wellies are essential. Please also make sure you have suitable warm, waterproof clothing. We will stop for lunch out on the reserve, so please come prepared with a packed lunch and drinks. All levels of knowledge and experience are welcome.

Numbers are strictly limited and pre-booking is essential. Suitable for age 12+; children must be accompanied by an adult.

Fun for all the family with a beautiful vintage carousel, Santa’s grotto, character trail and film. A chance to get your Christmas shopping done with the farmers market, craft fair and late night shopping.

Happy haunting this October, as we bring a feast of Halloween activities to Blair Castle! With prizes to be won, add our broomstick hunt and spooky wood activity trail to your half term holiday plans.

Running from the 11th – 29th October.

Activities are included as part of our standard ticket options, with an annual season pass a great way to enjoy this event and selected events in the future.

We’re delighted to welcome back Exclusively Highlands to Blair Castle for the 2021 Art, Craft and Food Christmas Fair.

With a host of talented, local arts, crafts and food producers on offer, there is plenty to see and purchase in time for the festive season.

As with last year, the fair will look a little different this year and will consist of an outdoor market in the courtyard for a ‘half in, half out” event. A one-way system will guide you from our outdoor market into the ballroom (masks must be worn inside).

Admission is £5 per adult and £3 per child (children under 5 go free) and tickets are available to buy now.

This is the Christmas fair you know and love, it’s just a (hopefully) temporary twist!