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Heritage Fairs

This year Aberdeenshire Council is piloting an exciting programme of Heritage Fairs in communities across Aberdeenshire. The Arts Development's Education Team is responsible for the development of this project.

What are Heritage Fairs?

Finzean TartanHeritage Fairs celebrate the culture and traditions that are unique to each community and encourage individuals to engage with their community and to take pride in their heritage.

It is hoped that the community will be as broadly represented as possible with a variety of stalls and activities to bring the event to life. These may include heritage related displays, traditional music and performance, craft demonstrations, storytelling, historical re-enactment and other activities that will provide a rich and diverse event for the enjoyment of the whole community.

Inverurie StoneLocal school children will embark on a range of projects to explore their local culture and traditions that will be showcased to the broader community at the Fair. Projects might include artwork, stories, performance or 3D exhibits that tell stories about the traditions, heroes and achievements that characterize their community.


What’s happening in Aberdeenshire?

It is the Director of Education’s vision that the Heritage Fair Programme should be piloted in 2008 and rolled out across Aberdeenshire in 2009.

It is anticipated that the programme will be extended and developed as part of the Homecoming Scotland series of events in celebration of Scotland’s past, present and future, which will take place next year.

The communities that will participate in the 2008 pilot are: Banchory, Peterhead, Inverurie, Fraserburgh, Laurencekirk and Ellon.

If you would like to get involved with the Heritage Fair in your community please contact Ingrid Turner 01224 665514 or ingrid.turner@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Peterhead Heritage Fair

19th July - Peterhead Central School: 12-4pm.

Peterhead Heritage Fair is the second event following on from the recently successful Banchory St Ternan’s Fair.

Heritage fairs celebrate the culture and traditions that are unique to each community and encourage individuals to engage with the community and take pride in their heritage.

The Peterhead Heritage Fair will take place on Saturday the 19th July at Peterhead Central School from 12-4pm.

It is hoped that the community will be as broadly represented as possible with a variety of stalls and activities to bring the event to life. These include stalls by Buchan Family History Society, Peterhead Museum and Library and theatrical performances by the Red Brick Theatre Group.

Local schoolchildren have embarked on an exciting range of projects to explore their local culture and traditions that will be showcased to the broader community at the Fair. These include a ‘ceilidh’ performance by Meethill Primary, a wide range of artwork, and an audio recording of a song created by p.3 pupils at Dales Park Primary and much much more!

The remaining communities that will host Heritage Fairs this year are: Inverurie (September), Fraserburgh (October), Laurencekirk (November) and Ellon (November).

It is anticipated that the fairs programme will be extended and developed as part of the Homecoming Scotland series of events in celebration of Scotland’s past, present and future, which will take place next year.

If you would like to get involved with the Heritage Fair in your community please contact Cultural Co-ordinator Ingrid Turner on 01224 665514 or ingrid.turner@aberdeenshire.gov.uk

 

Banchory St Ternan’s Heritage Fair
14th June 2008

Fraserburgh EventBanchory's own St Ternan’s Fair will be an opportunity to provide a template for heritage fairs for Homecoming Scotland - a nationally organised and promoted series of activities that will create a year long celebration of Scotland's past, present and future next year.

Sue Edwards, Chair of Banchory District Initiative (BDI) says:

'We're delighted that Banchory's St Ternan's Fair has been chosen as one of the pilots for the heritage fairs. BDI has tried hard to develop and encourage a community experience for the St Ternan's event over the years and it is encouraging that this work has been recognised.  The idea of the Heritage Fair in Homecoming Scotland year is to link in with schools from primary level upwards as well as the arts, heritage organisations, business and community groups who could contribute to a rich and diverse cultural event.

St Ternan's Heritage Fair honours Banchory's founding Saint Ternan and celebrates local history and culture.

Exciting events, including ferret racing, sword fighting, falconry, a medieval encampment and traditional music will take place from 10.30 to 4.30 in the central park in Banchory. 

Bring your youngsters to be knighted and to participate in the Banchory Battle.  Come and watch the fantastic Falconry Displays from SkyHigh Falconry.

Visit the Banchory Birl in the St Ternan Marquee - the Birl is a traditional Arts Event which provides ordinary folk with a chance to learn a new instrument or skill (dance - sing - write poetry - tell stories).  Be involved with our local culture through professional musicians and artists who want to pass on their skills and knowledge!

Banchory Museum will be running workshops on children’s toys and games and the St Ternan's Freemasons are opening their Lodge so that you can delve into their fascinating archive of local history.

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