Midsummer Beer Happening in Stonehaven raises £45,000 to support 20 local good causes

Scotland weren’t the only winners at the weekend – some 20 charities are celebrating after the Midsummer Beer Happening in Stonehaven netted £45,000 for local good causes.

Around 5,000 guests flocked to the three-day festival, celebrating brilliant beer, fine food and marvellous music while helping boost the Happening’s fundraising mission – meaning the event has now raised an astonishing £473,000 since it began as the Stonehaven Real Ale Festival in 2009.

Robert Lindsay, festival manager of the Midsummer Beer Happening, said: “It was a brilliant atmosphere in our marquee over the three days and the perfect way to get the party started ahead of Scotland’s first World Cup game in a generation in the early hours of Sunday. On Saturday especially, there was a sea of Scotland tops, kilts and Saltires and plenty of smiles and laughter.

“We got the result we wanted on the pitch in Boston – and also here in Stonehaven, on what is usually a football pitch in the Baird Park - with so many people not just having a good time but also doing good, by helping raise funds that will make a difference to so many lives here in Stonehaven.”

The funds raised will be disbursed among around 20 local organisations who support all aspects of life in the town, from caring for the vulnerable to helping young people, or simply making Stonehaven an attract and vibrant place to live, work or play.

The town’s world-famous Stonehaven Fireballs Ceremony, Stonehaven Men’s Shed and Stonehaven Sea Cadets will be the main beneficiaries, with each receiving £6,000.

Robert said: “The Sea Cadets are an essential part of our community in Stonehaven and have instilled in generations of our young people, vital skills and experiences that will last a lifetime.

“Stonehaven’s Men’s Shed is invaluable for the work it does to help others and improve the town, while also helping tackle issues such as loneliness and isolation.

“And the Fireballs is really just a Stonehaven icon – a world-famous one at that, attracting thousands into the town at Hogmanay and having images of this thrilling spectacle beamed across the world. It truly puts Stonehaven on the global map.”

In addition, £1,500 each will go to Stonehaven Air Cadets, Stonehaven Amateur Swimming Club, Friends of Kincardine Community Hospital, Stonehaven Land Train, Mackie RFC – Youth, Stonehaven and District Lions, Rhythm Dance Nation and Stonehaven Folk Festival.

And a further £1,000 will go to Home Start, Stonehaven Youth Club, Stonehaven Youth FC, Stonehaven Scouts, Stonehaven Guides, Pillar and Dunnottar Pipes and Drums.

Volunteers from each of the charities worked for the whole three days of the Happening, from pulling pints to clearing rubbish, welcoming people to the marquee to waving them good night at the end of each day.

The Happening boasted some 120 hand-picked beers and ciders, a roster of talented local musicians to provide the soundtrack to the event, plus an al fresco food court boasting award-winning street food venders.

It also saw the return of the Happening’s hugely popular cycling sportive which saw more than 700 riders tackle four different, and gruelling, routes across the Mearns countryside on the Saturday of the festival.

Robert said the whole of the MSBH team were grateful to everyone – from visitors to volunteers to sponsors – who helped raise so much not just this year, but every year since the first Stonehaven Real Ale Festival 17 years ago.

He said: “At our briefings for our volunteers before they roll up their sleeves to put in their shifts we always start by telling them that without them the Happening just wouldn’t happen – and that is so true.

“It is quite incredible that a festival of this scale, one which is now a major event in the north-east cultural calendar, is staged entirely by volunteers. I cannot thank them enough for coming along and working so hard.

“And thanks also to the thousands of people who throng the marquee to enjoy and support the Happening, and to our sponsors whose unstinting generosity gives the Happening a major boost.

“We never take any of that for granted. Thank you all, so much”

The sponsors for this year’s Happening were:

Deeside Timberframe; The Bay Fish and Chips; EnerQuip; GB Tarpaulins Ltd; Whittaker Engineering; NFU, Bike Remedy, and Raeburn Christie Clark & Wallace

Robert said: “The Happening is now one of the most-loved events in the north-east, one where incredible memories are made for thousands of people. And planning starts now to make next year’s just as memorable, if not more so.”