The Midsummer Beer Happening in Stonehaven, Scotland, has revealed the charities it will support with funds raised at this year’s event, from 15th-17th June.
The Happening is a celebration of the craft of brewing, along with street food and musical entertainment. The event will support Stonehaven’s life-saving RNLI crew and the town’s Sea Cadets, as well as the world-famous Fireballs ceremony.
Also being supported by the Happening will be Stonehaven Folk Festival, Stonehaven Men’s Shed, Stonehaven Lions, Stonehaven Youth Rugby, Stonehaven Cricket Club, Rhythm Dance Nation, Friends of Stonehaven Open Air Pool, and Mearns FM.
“Everyone involved in the festival wants to ensure that each year the Happening leaves a lasting legacy in the town, as well as creating great memories for the thousands of people who flock to the event each June,” said organiser Robert Lindsay.
“That is why we are proud and delighted to work this year with so many outstanding organisations who do so much good work in Stonehaven, be it saving lives at sea, offering young people a great start in life, or putting the town on the global map every Hogmanay. There are so many groups who do so much to make life in our town better for everyone.”
Robert said it was heartening to see the tangible difference the Happening — and its predecessor the Stonehaven Real Ale Festival — has made over the years, with £247,000 raised since the first festival in 2009.
“We recently paid a visit to meet the guide dog puppy, Mary, which the Happening sponsored after last year’s event,” he said. “It was a privilege and joy to meet this lovely girl during her training, knowing she was going to be making such a massive difference in someone’s life.
Robert Lindsay and other Midsmmer Beer Happening volunteers meeting Mary, the guide dog puppy sponsored by the event
“It was a reminder of why the charity fundraising side of our not-for-profit event is so important, and why all the volunteers work so hard to do what they do every year.”
Robert said last year’s Happening was able to raise almost £63,000, and he thanked everyone who came and who volunteered for their support. “We couldn’t raise any money at all — in fact we couldn’t even stage the Happening without the willing support of our army of volunteers and the dedication of people who travel from across the north-east, Scotland and the whole of the UK to enjoy the festival.
“We never take that for granted and every year we want to give them the best of times and the warmest of welcomes.”
Visitors to this year’s festival, held in a purpose-built marquee in the town’s Baird Park, will have the choice of around 150 beer and ciders, hand-curated from the finest brewers across Scotland and the UK. There will also be a choice of great food from award-winning street vendors in an alfresco food court, as well as music from some of the finest artists in the north-east.
Also returning is the Happening’s Cycle Sportive which attracted more than 1,000 riders willing to take on the event’s challenging routes.
Robert said: “We are all very excited about the Happening in June and we know people are looking forward to it, judging from the way tickets are flying out the door. We can’t wait to welcomed everyone to the Midsummer Beer Happening 2023.”
• For more information and tickets, msbh.co.uk
