What’s On In Grantown-on-Spey?
April sees the beginning of the school holidays and the start of the tourist season here in Grantown. With so many events cancelled over the past two years, we can hopefully look forward to several events held to make your visit to Grantown all the more enjoyable.
Grantown Museum
www.grantownmuseum.co.uk/
On Saturday, 30 March, Grantown Museum re-opens for the season. Located close to Burnfield carpark, the museum tells the story of Grantown from when it was founded in 1765 by Sir James Grant. They also put on exhibitions and host craft fairs. Their shop has lots of local history books and Clan Grant tartan goods.
Cairngorms Farmers Market
www.facebook.com/CairngormFarmersMarket/
On Sunday 7 April sees the return of the Cairngorm Farmers Market to Grantown Square. Open from 10-3pm nearly 30 local stall holders will be there selling local food and drink, crafts, skin care products and plants. Famed for our food and drink: whisky, beers, gins, salmon, venison, honey… there’s always a great choice no matter the season. Check out their Facebook page for when they return to Grantown.
The Grantown Show
On the second Thursday in August the annual Strathspey Farmers Club host the local agricultural show in Heathfield, 10 min walking distance from Grantown. A traditional local show it is always a highlight of the summer season. Local livestock: sheep, cattle, horses are judged and there is a parade of champions. Numerous tented stalls and displays of domestic baking, knitting, handicrafts, agricultural machinery etc.
There’s also traditional of tug o’war and pet judging and visitors are welcome to join in.
Abernethy Highland Games
nethybridge.com/abernethy-highland-games/
The second Saturday of August is always the Abernethy Highland Games held in Nethy Bridge. One of the oldest traditional Highland Games, it is held in the centre of the village with massed pipes and drums, heavy throwing events, road races, dancing and piping competitions and the annual Clan Grant gathering. Lord Strathspey, chief of Clan Grant parades with fellow clansmen and women from the Nethybridge Hotel to the show ground. Another great event in Strathspey for the family.
Thunder in the Glens
www.titg.co.uk
Thunder In the Glens on the last weekend in August sees the largest gathering of Harley Davidson bikers in Europe descend on Aviemore. Since 1997 apart from one year, Aviemore has been the venue with more than 10,000 visitors and over 3000 bikes expected.
The highlight is the rideout on the Saturday at 12pm from Aviemore to Grantown. Hundreds line the road to watch the amazing collection of Harleys and their riders go by. The route usually takes them out to Lochindorb and the isolated Dava moor road before riding in to park up in Grantown’s Square and High Street. The colourful chrome bikes and riders garb are a site to see, let alone the roar of the bikes as they go past.
Grantown Festive Lights
The town’s Christmas lights are switched on towards the middle of November. A colourful display every year by volunteers from one end of the town to the other.
Grantown Does Christmas
Usually, a weekend at the beginning of December for Christmas shopping for all the family in Grantown’s numerous lovely, independent shops. A craft fair is often held in the museum and local stall holders selling food, drink, crafts set up in the Square. Sometimes Santa’s reindeer make an appearance to.
Grantown Torchlight Parade
A torchlight evening parade through the town led by the Fire Service and Santa with his reindeer. Carols, mulled wine and mince pies are waiting for you in the Square.
Grantown’s Hogmanay in the Square Party
See in the New Year with a traditional, Scottish Hogmanay. Ceilidh band, dancing, revellers and fireworks at the bells. The Square is a mass of people of what many see as the highlight event of the year…not to be missed.
