Summer is upon us once again at Forbes Place! Whilst the weather can be hit and miss in Aberdeenshire, there’s plenty of things going on to keep us entertained; take a look at some of our top picks this July.
Aberdeen Gin Fest
Where: The Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT
When: Friday 7th July and Saturday 8th July
Time: Friday and Saturday evening 7pm-11pm, Saturday afternoon 1pm-5pm
Price: £25 (including booking fee)
What’s on: Brought to us by the team behind Porter’s Gin, Aberdeen’s first ever Gin Festival will be taking place at The Lemon Tree this summer. With three sessions to choose from, ticket holders will be treated to demonstrations from local gin producers and encouraged to sample some of their finest tipples.
There’ll be up to 30 different gin varieties on offer from throughout the region, Scotland and further afield, so you’re bound to find something new. There’s also live music and food to enjoy throughout the festival, and (of course) you can also purchase your new favourite gin to take home!
Stonehaven Midnight Swim
Where: Stonehaven Open Air Pool, Queen Elizabeth Park, The Links, Stonehaven AB39 2RD
When: Wednesdays throughout July to Mid-August
Time: 10pm-12am (doors open 9.30pm)
Price: £7.10
What’s on: After dark during the warmer months, Stonehaven’s open air pool re-opens for a late-night swim sesh, complete with disco tunes! Doors open at 9.30pm every Wednesday for swimmers to enjoy a few lengths in the seawater lido.
You can avoid the daytime crowds as the pool is open until midnight, and as the water’s heated to a comfortable 29°C, you don’t need to worry about the North East breeze. What better way to de-stress than an invigorating swim along to classic anthems?
Exclusively Highlands at Crathes Castle
Where: Crathes Castle, Crathes, Banchory AB31 5QJ
When: Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th July
Time: 10am-5pm
Price: £4
What’s on: Located less than 20 miles away from Forbes Place, the beautiful 16th century castle at Crathes is a fantastic day out. There’s plenty to explore inside and out, including traditional painted ceilings, turrets, towers and walled gardens. Over the course of the weekend, however, there’ll be even more to see, as artisan producers will be setting up shop for the first Exclusively Highlands event held at the castle.
Over the three days, a range of arts, crafts and food stalls will be set up as a ‘working village’ within the grounds at Crathes. You’ll be able to view the makers at work and take home some of their unique, handmade crafts and luxury produce. It’s the perfect weekend to visit the castle and stock up on local goods at the same time.
Aberdeen International Youth Festival
Where: Locations throughout the city centre
When: 28th July to 5th August
Price: Various
What’s on: With 44 years of experience, the 45th Aberdeen International Youth Festival is set to be as big as ever. With a 9-day programme of events celebrating the talents of young people from across the world, everyone is invited to join in the festival which takes place in locations throughout the city.
The festival showcases a spectrum of performing arts events, including choirs, dance workshops, jazz evenings and theatre productions, to name a few. Tickets are very reasonably priced and there’s also plenty of free events too.