Win tickets to the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival – Scottish Field

Sponsored Content | The Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival returns this summer on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2024.

Premium heritage boats from across the country will drop anchor in the historic harbour of Portsoy for a weekend of music and dance, the finest Scottish food and drink and traditional craft demonstrations and a range of unique handmade items and gifts. 

The festival will host the world-famous Red Arrows Aerobatic Team on Saturday 22nd June 2024. It is the only Scottish public display performed by the team, during their very busy diamond anniversary campaign. This new nine-aircraft show will feature manoeuvres not seen for a generation, in their routine which changes each year. 

Around 30 traditional boats from across the UK will sail into Portsoy, including 17th century Fifie herring drifter Reaper, which will make the journey from the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, Fife. Also returning to the festival is White Wing, a 33ft Baldie and setting sail from Wick in Caithness will be 19th century Fifie and festival favourite, the Isabella Fortuna.

Around 15,000 visitors are expected to attend the event and enjoy a packed programme of entertainment. Celtic rock band Skipinnish, headline the Big Gig on the Back Green on Friday 21st June 2024.  The band has spent the last year touring the UK and across Europe, playing to sell-out crowds and appearing at some of Britain’s biggest music festivals. Tickets are on sale now from the festival website www.stbfportsoy.org for £38. This is a licensed event for over 18s only. 

The music programme features renowned groups and local artists, including Cullen-based duo Fair Trickit with their self-penned songs. Skip 2 the Beat will bring their fast-paced skipping stunts and the Anne McArthur Dancers will perform a range of Highland country dancing routines. Saturday night will see one of the most exciting bands on the Scottish folk scene, the multi award-winning RURA make their festival debut. They will be supporterd by RuMac, AKA Ruairidh MacLean with his soul stirring melodies and traditional Celtic songs and the Black Isle Peas, are guaranteed to get the party started. 

In the Food Fayre you’ll find the best Scottish produce on the menu from handmade pies and pickled onions to locally produced gin, rum and whisky. There are also sweet treats including toffee, fudge and Belgian chocolate and no visit would be complete without a scoop of Portsoy ice-cream. Visitors can eat their way around the harbour with fresh fish and seafood from Stonehaven’s Seafood Bothy and Crabs and More from Peterhead will serve up delicious lobster rolls, crab claw and dressed crab. There will also be woodfired pizzas, Aberdeen Angus burgers, German street food and Scottish game.

Traditional craft demonstrations will be on display in the Craft Fayre along with handmade ceramics, jewellery, prints and paintings available to browse and buy. Inspired by the stunning Scottish coastline, our new Coastal Crafts area will showcase exceptional items created using traditional techniques, upcycled gifts, accessories and artwork created by local artists. 

Younger visitors can enjoy a range of fun activities in the Wally Green Kids’ Zone including bouncy castles, giant slides, trampolining, segways and the Tam O’Shunter land train will be running throughout the weekend. The ever-popular raft race will take place on Saturday afternoon, where teams of three people compete to cross the harbour in homemade rafts and paddles, without falling in!

This year’s festival is sponsored by Glenglassaugh Distillery, Event Scotland, Gray Composting Services Ltd, Puffin Wood Fuels, Moray West, Ocean Winds, , Portsoy Thrift Shop, Urquhart Joinery Services, Portsoy 75 Club, Hamlyn’s of Scotland Oatmeal, Messrs J Smith of Sandend, Aspire Restaurant, Whisky Cask Pens and Highland Tweedery, Camwater Ltd, Davidson Reid Auctions and Crisp Malt.

Tickets are discounted when purchased in advance online, to book visit www.stbfportsoy.org. For festival updates follow @stbfportsoy or #ahoyportsoy on social media.

We have TWO family weekend passes for the festival to give away. For your chance to win, just answer the following question.

How many years has the Glenglassaugh Scottish Traditional Boat Festival been running?

1. 15

2. 25

3. 31