Work up an appetite for this year’s Winter Festival

Food and drink are very much a focus in this year’s Winter Festival and, to celebrate the Year of the Haggis, butchers from across the country will be hot-footing it to Oban on Sunday November 24.

‘Haggis of distinction’ from across the nation will be en- tered for the coveted Golden Haggis Award when members of the public will have the opportunity to taste each one and cast their vote for the People’s Choice Award.

The event will take place in Oban Distillery cask room from 12.30-3pm. Entry is £2 with all proceeds going to Oban High School Pipe Band.

The Great Haggis Hunt will take place the same day, from noon to 5pm, when hunters are invited to find hidden haggis pets around the town and then swap it for a free light stick/gift to take to the Sunday Light Show at 6pm and join in the Parade of Haggis Hunters.

Prizes for the best dressed hunters (children only) will be decided in the distillery courtyard at around 5.30pm.

As the Winter Festival has grown, so has the reputation of its markets for showcasing the best produce in Argyll and the West Highlands – and that reputation is now growing nationwide.

This year’s George Street Christmas market will take place on Saturday November 16 and will include foraged cooking and local coffee roasting demos, and a huge range of stalls selling jams, cheeses, chocolates, organic breads, local meats, candles, coffee, willow decorations, wood craft to glitter tattoos, face painting and art and crafts.

Oban Winter Festival runs from Friday to Sunday, November 15 to 24, with events also taking place on St Andrew’s Day, Saturday November 30.

Visit obanwinterfestival.com for more mouthwatering details of this year’s event.