Heritage Fairs
This year Aberdeenshire Council is piloting an exciting programme of Heritage Fairs in communities across Aberdeenshire.
What are Heritage Fairs?
A Heritage Fair is a dynamic community celebration of the culture and traditions that are unique to each community. The Fairs encourage individuals to engage with, and foster a sense of pride in, the heritage of their community.
The Heritage Fairs actively involve schools, museums, artists and performers, heritage organizations, businesses and community groups in a contemporary celebration of shared traditions and history.
Schools are invited to produce a project that celebrates their local culture and traditions that will then be showcased at the Fair. This might include 3D exhibits, creative writing, performance or audio-visual media to tell stories about Aberdeenshire. These stories could envelope traditions, heroes, milestones and achievements.
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.
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, to coincide with the ‘Year of Homecoming’.
Aberdeenshire Council is therefore piloting the Heritage Fairs Programme with 6 communities in summer/autumn 2008. It is hoped that a number of schools drawn from each geopolitical area will participate.
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
Banchory St Ternan’s Heritage Fair
Banchory'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 childrens 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.
For more information on Heritage Fairs contact Ingrid Turner- Cultural Co-ordinator Heritage and Environment.
For more information about Banchory St Ternan’s Heritage Fair specifically contact Sue Edwards, Chair of Banchory District Initiative (BDI) on 01330 823856 or log onto the website www.banchory.org
