Three north-east charities are toasting success after an annual beer festival in Stonehaven raised £24,000.
Around 4,500 visitors flocked to Baird Park for the Midsummer Beer Festival over three days, where they enjoyed tipples from all over Europe.
The success of the weekend means the not-for-profit event, run entirely by volunteers, is now able to give £8,000 each to Stonehaven Sea Cadets, Home-Start Kincardine, and the youth development programme of Mackie FP Rugby Club.
Festival organiser Robert Lindsay said: “It was an incredible weekend with an incredible turnout – especially in what are tough times for so many – and we cannot thank people enough for coming along to support us.
“It is down to them that three really great causes will benefit from so many people having such a good time.
“They turned the marquee into one huge, good-natured party for three days solid. Just standing watching so many people enjoying themselves, having a drink, a laugh, a dance, was just such a great feeling for all the volunteers who put so much into staging the event.”
The charities who will benefit were also delighted at the amount raised, with each of them providing the volunteers who manned the pumps during the festival.
Drew Lawson, sailing principal for Stonehaven Sea Cadets, said: “All our volunteers who worked on the bar had a great time – made even better by the £8,000 we will now be able to put towards our new headquarters.”
Richard Cochrane, mini/youth coordinator of Mackie FP RFC, said: “What a fantastic achievement from what has been a fantastic event for Stonehaven. This money will be a real boost for the development of young rugby talent here in the town.”
Cate Garrow, senior coordinator with Home-Start Kincardine, said: “Thanks to all the people who came along to enjoy the Happening we will now be able to support even more families in the Kincardine and Mearns with at least one child under five years old.”
