Game Fair shapes up to be best yet
30,000 people are expected at Scone Palace
Thousands are expected to descend on Perth this weekend for the popular Scottish Game Fair.
And this year the fair, which runs from Friday, June 29 until Sunday, July 1 in the grounds of Scone Palace, will celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Celebrating all things countryside and conservation, 30,000 people are expected to enjoy a number of exciting new events as well as a number of firm favourites, hosted by Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary, there will be a ceilidh on the Saturday evening from 6pm in the Field Kitchen with the Ceilidh Minogue band, including a barbecue and a hog roast.
Also to mark three decades there will be an exhibition on the past 30 years of game fairs and a specially produced whisky, which will be available in the Robert Graham Tasting Bar.
Sarah Ballantyne, head of events at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and organiser of the game fair, said: “We are really excited to be putting on this year’s fair. We have sold the largest number of advance tickets ever and combined with a very positive weather forecast, it’s shaping up to be our best fair yet.
“To mark our 30th we are introducing lots of new content for sports men and women, as well as lots of new fun activities for families - we’re really looking forward to opening the gates to open on Friday morning.”
This weekend the Estates Challenge returns for its second year, and will be open to landed estates from across Scotland.
And dogs will again be at the forefront of the fair, with the Four Nations International Gundog competition, which last year was won by England.
There will also be terrier racing and dog and duck displays in the main arena.
There is a lot going on in the fishing area of the game fair too, with an enhanced programme of expert speakers and an international competition.
This year there will also be a brand new cookery theatre with a number of headline chefs carrying out cookery and baking demonstration.
There will be lots more activities and competitions during the weekend, including a birds of prey display, a classic Land Rover rally and the awarding of the Fred Taylor Trophy for working hill ponies.
Visitors will be able to ‘have a go’ at a number of activities in the main arena, including working with gundogs, archery, clay pigeon shooting, air rifle shooting and fly casting.
And new for this year will be a education area called “The Covey”, with hands-on science, storytelling and arts and crafts to inspire the next generation of young ecologists.
Local pipe bands will be providing some light entertainment throughout the weekend as well, including from the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, Blairgowrie Pipe Band, g
Isabella McGregor (5), Cody Kerr (5) and Rachael Griffin are looking forward to the Game Fair. Right, a cooling ice cream for Isabella and Cody
Perth and District Pipe Band and the youngsters from Strathallan School Pipe Band.
And on the final morning, the day will begin with a multi-faith blessing.
Advanced tickets for the game fair cost £20 a day, children £5 and car parking £4 from www. scottishgamefair.co.uk