The organisers of one of Scotland’s biggest beer festivals have toasted another successful year and raised almost £30,000 for local charities.
The Midsummer Beer Happening attracted 5,500 visitors from Thursday to Saturday to Stonehaven’s Baird Park, where they were able to sample more than 120 different beers, listen to live music from a mixture of local artists and enjoy a variety of street food in glorious sunshine.
Now in its fourth year, this summer’s event generated £29,200 for good causes, bringing the total cash raised by the event to £125,200 since it was launched as the Stonehaven Real Ale Festival in 2009.
Organiser Robert Lindsay said: “This year’s Happening was the best yet, with a never-ending flow of great beer, fantastic award-winning food and some absolutely brilliant bands.”
The three main charities supported by this year’s festival, Stonehaven Sea Cadets, Stonehaven Amateur Swimming Club and local Alzheimer Scotland services each received £8,000, and the rest of the cash was split between other local causes.
Mr Lindsay added: “We are delighted to be able to help all of these good causes. Since we first started in 2009, it has always been our belief that money raised in our community should stay in our community.
“That we have been able to raise so much is a testament to the support the Happening is given by people in Stonehaven and from much, much further afield.
“That support comes from the top down at the Happening, as everyone involved is a volunteer. Without the army of people willing to give up their time, talent and energy, we wouldn’t be able to stage it at all.”
