The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Beer festival ale and hearty as thousands enjoy festival
Bumper crowds turn out for three days of craft drink and bands
Thousands of people raised a glass in the summer sun to bring one of the northeast’s most popular beer festivals to an end.
Stonehaven’s Midsummer Beer Happening attracted bumper crowds for three days of beer, ale, cider, food and live entertainment.
On Saturday, revellers packed out the marquee and surrounding area in Baird Park, the ice-cold drinks providing a reprieve from the sweltering temperatures.
The festivities were accompanied by live music from a host of local bands.
Yesterday, volunteers worked through the morning and afternoon to disassemble the marquee and clear the area up.
The event organisers donate all of the money raised on the day to charity.
This year, the cash will go to the town’s tennis club, sea cadets and Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Organiser Robert Lindsay said the funds had still to be counted and a final total would be announced in the near future.
He said: “It was an absolutely brilliant turnout. Obviously the weather contributed to the success, and it was a great atmosphere too. Each year it seems we get more and more people coming through the door and there was no trouble at all. Stonehaven’s a great town for that.
“The clean-up operation is almost done.”
A major part of the event is also the Cycling Sportive which finishes up at the festival site. Cyclists take part in either a 52-mile, 70-mile or 100-mile endurance challenge over the Cairn O’Mount.
This year the 100-mile route, or the “Dinnaedo”, was added, which takes on 8,100ft of incline.
Each participant crossed the finishing line and was welcomed back with an ice cold beer.
Mr Lindsay said the success of the event hinged on the efforts of the people who had given up their free time to help at the event.
“Without the 350 volunteers, this would not be possible,” he added.