Award-Winning Producers set to Impress Visitors at Stirling Highland Games

Visitors will have the chance to browse high-quality crafts and sample a wide range of delicious food at this year’s Stirling Highland Games.

The Games team pride themselves on the event’s unrivalled food and drink experience and the award-winning producers selected for the popular Traders Village Marquee.

Creative traders from across Scotland will be showcasing their giftware and products on-site while four artisan food trucks serve up venison burgers, gourmet sandwiches and more.

Stirling Highland Games, which takes place on Saturday August 20, will also feature coffee vans and three bars supplying craft beer, prosecco and award-winning Isle of Bute gin.

Stirling Highland Games President Matt McGrandles said: “Stirling aims to be much more than simply a Highland Games so in addition to the traditional competitions, we strive to offer a first-class full-day visitor experience which includes talented Scottish producers and fantastic food and drink.

“We’re also keen to support producers and crafters by giving them a platform to showcase their goods and we find that visitors – especially those from overseas – really enjoy speaking to and building a relationship with our traders so it works out well for everyone.”

Around 30 product makers from all over Scotland will be based in the Traders Village selling a range of goods including artworks, cashmere, tablet, artisan gins, novelty bottle coolers, handcrafted soaps, candles and much more.

Aboyne-based Stuarts Men’s Grooming Products will be visiting Stirling Highland Games for the first time with their collection of handmade beard oils and balms plus shaving products.

Owner Adrian Stuart says: “We’ve just started attending Highland Games events this year and are very much looking forward to coming to Stirling.

“I’ll be wearing my kilt of course and am keen to meet new people and chat about our range with their unique scents which aim to capture the spirit of Scotland.”

Gillian Irvine, who runs Coorie Home Co creating eco-friendly soy wax melts, candles and diffusers, is also looking forward to her first visit to Stirling Highland Games.

She said: “I’m excited to come along to Stirling which isn’t far from my base in East Calder and I’m also enjoying the buzz around the build-up to the Games.

“It will be great to meet customers face-to-face again and to meet other local traders and I think there will be a great atmosphere on the day as everyone returns to an in-person event.

“I’ve got a few volunteers helping me out on the stall so I can hopefully get the chance for a look around the Games field as well as I’d like to soak up the atmosphere and catch some of the events.”

In addition to the makers, there will be four food trucks at the Games including Bridge of Allan-based Wild Venison who are well known for their pulled venison burgers and Stirling company Piece Out who make gourmet sandwiches filled with local produce.

From further afield are Cafe at Kilcreggan who will be serving shredded pork rolls and Berwick family firm Well Hung & Tender selling steak burgers and more.

There will also be bars providing beer, gin and prosecco including craft brewery Glasgow Beer Works who will be serving their refreshing lager and pale ales.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: “Team GBW is absolutely thrilled to be pouring at the Stirling Highland Games! We last attended a couple of years back when we were known as Merchant City Brewing Company and had a fantastic time pouring beer during the games.

“It’s a great event with a wonderful atmosphere and we know that after two years away, everyone will be even more excited to attend.

“As an independent Scottish craft brewery, we can’t imagine a better place to have our beers pouring for everyone who is out enjoying the day.”

Stirling Highland Games runs from 10.30am until 5pm on Saturday August 20 and tickets can be bought now or on the day.

It will be the first in-person event since 2019 and the packed schedule includes traditional and adaptive heavyweight competitions and the gruelling Bruce Challenge, unique to the Stirling Games, which sees strongmen carrying two boulders weighing over 164kg as far as possible.

There will also be highland dancing, on-site heritage tours, athletics, children’s activities and performances from Stirling Gaelic Choir and local pipeband The Balaklava Pipes and Drums.

The event is sponsored and grant-funded by a variety of organisations including Active Stirling, EventScotland, the Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association, Specsavers Stirling and Stirling Council.

For more details on Stirling Highland Games and to book tickets, visit www.stirlinghighlandgames.com