Stonehaven Festival Blends Beer, Circus and Community Spirit
A lively weekend of fire-breathers, local brews, street food and volunteer-powered fundraising.
The Midsummer Beer Happening returns to Baird Park from today until Sunday, featuring a diverse mix of beer, food, and music that goes well beyond the basics. The three-day festival will feature more than 120 beers, alongside street food and live music, all under a purpose-built marquee.
One of the more eccentric highlights is the return of De Circus Brouwerji from Belgium. Alongside pouring their beers, they’ll arrive in costume and perform juggling, balancing and fire-breathing outside the tent. It’s a slightly surreal addition, but one that went down well last year and adds to the festival’s offbeat character.
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Six Degrees North at the helm
The festival is organised by Stonehaven-based Six Degrees North, whose Belgian-style brewing is a key feature of the event. As well as curating the beer list, they’ve created a special festival brew: a gluten-free hazy pale made with Sorachi Ace hops, described as tasting like key lime pie in a glass.
Food stalls will include options from The Bay on the Road and local deli Picos, plus burgers, pizzas and other street food favourites. Music will play a big part too, with performances ranging from jazz and funk to rock and pop. Saturday brings the return of Hawaiian shirt day, a light-hearted tradition now firmly part of the festival’s identity.
A weekend of beer and bikes
Saturday also includes the popular cycling sportive, which is expected to draw around 1,000 riders. There are four different routes through the Mearns countryside, and the finish line is back at the marquee with a well-earned pint waiting.
The entire event is volunteer-led and raises money for local causes. Since its early days as the Stonehaven Real Ale Festival, it has raised £375,000. This year, nearly 20 charities will benefit, including Stonehaven Sea Cadets, Friends of Kincardine Community Hospital and the town’s Fireballs Ceremony.
A festival with a local heart
The team are still putting the finishing touches to the site, but the shape of the weekend is clear. It’s a relaxed, slightly unusual festival shaped by the people who run it. And while the beer is central, the community effort is just as important.
It’s this mix of good beer, offbeat fun and local spirit that gives the Happening its atmosphere. The tent is ready. The brewers are coming. The rest is up to whoever walks through the gates.
