THE Highland Haggis Festival, supported by Macsween and considered the first family-focused festival to celebrate Scotland’s iconic national dish and showcase its amazing versatility, will be staged in Spean Bridge at the heart of the Outdoor Capital of the UK – Fort William and Lochaber, on Saturday 11 April 2015.
Glen Wilson from event organisers, the Glen Spean and Great Glen Tourism Group, said: “The Highland Haggis Festival is the first of its kind to celebrate Scotland’s national dish, whilst at the same time showcasing its versatility.
“While Burns Night is an important date in Scotland’s calendar, we are keen to highlight the fact that haggis is a wonderfully flexible dish and can be eaten on any day of the year and in so many different ways.
“Our festival will allow the whole family to discover all there is to know about the mighty haggis with tasty, fun and informative activities throughout the day.”
Highlights of the free event programme, to be staged at the Spean Bridge Primary School from 13:00 to 17:00, include:
- Haggis cookery demonstrations and tastings by world-renowned Haggis producer, Macsween’s resident chef, Colin Bussey, together with local chefs from Spean Bridge’s own Russell’s Restaurant and The Old Station Restaurant. Colin Bussey will rustle up Vegetarian Haggis Empanadas, Traditional Haggis Scotch Eggs, Traditional Haggis and Lamb Koftas; as well as demonstrating how to cook the perfect British beef and haggis burger. Macsween recipe books will be available to take away.
- A children’s Haggis recipe competition. Haggis is a very versatile ingredient, quick and easy to cook. Organisers are challenging the kids to come up with a fantastic new recipe to tempt the judges. There will be some great prizes for the winner, including having their recipe cooked by former Gleneagles chef Colin Bussey as part of his cookery demonstrations at the festival.
- A Haggis Hunt with a special guest appearance by Hamish the Haggis.
- A Highland Haggis Fling with the Lochaber Ladies Shinty Team. The Highland Haggis Fling is a Haggis hurling competition. Individual hurls of the Haggis will be judged on the basis of distance and accuracy of the hurl. Can you beat the world record of 217 feet?
- Other attractions include a Craft Fair showcasing talented designers, makers and producers from the Fort William and Lochaber area, refreshments and treats at the Haggis Café; live music from Lochaber Music School students and broadcasts from Nevis Radio.
James Macsween, joint MD and owner of Macsween, said: “As it is our mission to showcase the versatility of haggis we are delighted to be involved in this lovely event.
“Our resident chef, Colin Bussey, will be showing visitors how quick and easy it is to cook with haggis, adding it to family favourite dishes to give it a refreshing twist.”
The haggis celebrations will continue into the night with the Highland Haggis Festival Ceilidh, which runs from 19:00 – 00:00 at the Spean Bridge Community Hall. Tickets (£15) include a traditional haggis supper and fantastic live music from local legends, Skipinnish, one of Scotland’s most accomplished and respected ceilidh bands.
Ends
Media Contact:
Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media |T: 07913951717 | e: paddy@littlehousemedia.uk.com
For downloadable images – Haggis dishes, Macsween resident chef, Colin Bussey, and Hamish The Haggis, go to: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/neqd151g21lxrs4/AACirfE913Eh7bqct0chjiWYa?dl=0
The Highland Haggis Festival
A fun and family programme of free events to celebrate Scotland’s iconic national dish and to showcase its amazing versatility
13:00 to 17:00
Free admission
Venue: Spean Bridge Primary School
The Highland Haggis Festival Ceilidh
Traditional Haggis Supper and fantastic live music by Skipinnish
19:00 – 00:00
Tickets £15.
Venue: Spean Bridge Community Hall
Spean Bridge (ten miles north of Fort William on the A82)
To book ceilidh tickets and for further information about The Highland Haggis Festival – T: 01397 712684 / 01397 712452.
The Glen Spean & Great Glen Tourism Marketing Group
The Glen Spean & Great Glen Tourism Marketing Group is an affiliate member of Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, whose ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’ destination marketing brand promotes the area around the world.
The group was established nearly 20 years ago and is made up of 50 local businesses with a firm commitment to provide the highest level of hospitality to their visitors and guests.
Their members are drawn from the full spectrum of the tourism sector in this beautiful area of Lochaber – accommodation providers, restaurants, retailers, activity and tour companies, including the Nevis Range Mountain Experience.
They promote the area through its own website www.highland-glens.co.uk and a full-colour brochure, ‘Discover Glen Spean & the Great Glen’. Other national marketing channels include VisitScotland and the Outdoor Capital of the UK. They are also responsible for the annual Villages in Bloom schemes for Spean Bridge and Roy Bridge.
Macsween is a third-generation family firm, passionate about making great-tasting foods. They start with the best ingredients and their family recipes, which are virtually unchanged in 60 years. And just as they have always done, hand make their products with great care. Their haggis, vegetarian haggis and black pudding are wonderfully versatile, great for all times of day and throughout the year! In 2013 the Great Taste Awards gave their haggis their highest accolade of three Gold Stars, making it the only haggis to have received this award.
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Littlehouse Media contact details…
Contact: Paddy Cuthbert
Email: paddy@littlehousemedia.uk.com
Website: http://www.http://www.outdoorcapital.co.uk/whats-on/highland-haggis-festival-2015
