Farmers’ Market and Open Garden Event - 2 September

The event takes place at the gardens on the Kirkhill Estate in Colmonell between 11am and 4pm.

Entry is just £2 – and children aged 15 and under get in free – and there’s the chance for all those attending to win a prize in a luxury raffle.

For more information contact the Kirkhill Estate on 07883 061440 or email kirkhillevents@gmail.com.

Montrose LandxSea FilmFest – 15-17 September 

Join us on the maiden voyage of LandxSea, a weekend full of inspiring films and thought-provoking conversations designed to spark a deeper connection with our planet. Over the course of three days, we are proud to present a rich selection of 20 new films with guest speakers, discussions, and special events that explore our intricate relationship with land and sea. 

There will be a pop up restaurant at the Montrose Playhouse, hosted by Rae’s. They will be offering a 4-course sustainable menu – showcasing the journey from land to sea: underground, above ground, shoreline and sea. 

Find out more about LandxSea on their website.

Arran Festival of Food & Drink – 13-24 September 

Organised by Arran’s Food Journey, this year’s festival is being held across many venues on the Isle of Arran between the 13th and 24th of September 2023. 

Last year's inaugural festival brought together 24 unique food and drink events across 12 days showcasing 30 of the island's hospitality businesses & community groups - a true celebration of Arran's unique food and drink scene. 

Keep up to date with festival announcements on Arran's Food Journey's website.

The Scottish Rum Festival – 2 September 

Scottish rum producers are at the forefront of a new wave of UK-distilled and blended rums. The Festival, for rum lovers and newbies alike, will introduce audiences to the nation’s finest rum distilleries and blenders through a variety of unique brand experiences, tasting sessions and masterclasses on key topics within the industry. Masterclass panellists include Sir Geoff Palmer, Professor Emeritus and Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University and industry legend Billy Walker. 

Featuring a strong line up of Scottish producers presenting their rums to sip and mix, including: Banditti Club Rum, Base Spirits Collective, Brewdog Distilling Co., Dark Matter Distillers, The GlenAllachie Distillery’s Exploration Rum, Illicit Spirits, IslandSlice Rum, Islay Rum, Jacobites Spirits, J. Gow Rum, Matugga Distillers, Ninefold Distillery, North Point Distillery, Ron Cabezon, Rum Union, SeaWolf and Wester, there will be something to suit every taste and preference. 

The festival will take place in Patina, Edinburgh, and consist of two sessions: an afternoon session from 12:00 to 16:00 and an evening session from 17:00 to 21:00.  

Supported by Scotland Food & Drink and leading commercial law firm Burness Paull, the Festival marks the start of Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight and Scottish Rum Week, giving rum a prominent place amongst the best of Scottish produce. 

For more information and tickets on The Scottish Rum Festival's website. 

Markets Between Two Firths (monthly, starting from 2 September)

From farmers to bakers, and alcohol to fresh fruit & vegetables, Markets Between Two Firths showcases a real range of what Scotland can produce as well as the people who grow, make and sell it.

Head along to the upcoming markets in St Andrews and Cupar:

St Andrews Market in South Street:

• 2nd September
• 7th October
• 4th November
• 2nd December

Cupar Market in Crossgate:

• 16th September
• 21st October
• 18th November
• 16th December

Balgove Larder Night Market – 5 September 

Enjoy shopping amazing local produce direct from the makers and growers. This is your chance to get to know Balgove suppliers. 

For the first time you will be able to tour the Balgove market garden with head grower, Andrew Naughton. Wander the polytunnerls and learn about the wide variety of seasonal veg that is grown at Balgove.  

Make sure you arrive with a healthy appetite. The variety of dishes from local food trucks, along with Balgove's own Steak Barn, Pizza Box and Eat Out, will leave you spoilt for choice. 

There will also be live demos. Executive chef, Roy Brown and Head butcher, James Lothian, will be hosting demonstrations on how best to prepare and cook Scottish reared pork, beef and lamb. You'll be able to sample vibrant, healthy dishes from our expert team. 

Find out more about the Night Market on Balgove's website. 

Bowhouse Market Weekend – 9 September  

The September market weekend at Bowhouse will be harvest themed, and will feature an array of Scottish food and drink traders. More information to be announced soon. 

Find out more about the September market weekend on Bowhouse's website. 

Mushroom Alchemy – 16 September 

Learn how to grow oyster mushrooms from household waste. Join a beginners mushroom cultivation workshop and learn everything you need to know to grow your own oyster mushrooms from household waste. 

Find out more about Mushroom Alchemy on Eventbrite.

Scottish Wild Food Festival – 16 & 17 September 

Embark on a remarkable journey into the heart of Scotland’s wild culinary landscape at the Scottish Wild Food Festival.  

Nestled amidst the breathtaking beauty of Tir an Og, this festival is a vibrant celebration of wild food and foraging, inviting individuals of all ages to reconnect with nature and explore the rich tapestry of local flavours. With dining experiences, foraging walks, wild cocktail making, bushcraft, talks and demos, workshops, live music and even a marketplace there really is something for everyone to get their teeth into!  

Find out more about the event on Scottish Wild Food Festival's website. 

‘Like a Local’ Campaign – July & August 

Hungry for an authentic culinary escapade? Get ready to feast like a true local in Forth Valley! Forth Valley Food and Drink’s new campaign serves up a delectable series of social media videos, dishing out the top-notch spots to brunch, lunch and dine, unlocking the heart and soul of local flavours. 

Discover top-notch local dishes and sweet treats that’ll make your taste buds sing  and unearth hidden gems and must-visit local spots that define the Forth Valley vibe. 

Find out more about the 'Like a Local' campaign on Forth Valley Food and Drink's Instagram page.

Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival - 2 & 3 September

With cooking classes, a whole host of amazing world street food to sample and lots of vendors selling fresh and packaged artisan food to take home and enjoy, it’s the perfect day out for foodies.

This year’s festival is playing host to two of Scotland’s own celebrity chefs - Tony Singh and Rohan Wadke, who will inspire visitors with their free cooking demonstrations.

Find out more about the Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival on their website.

Indie Beer Scotland – 8 & 9 September

Indie Beer Scotland returns in 2023 at the brand-new event space ‘Clyde Rooms at Edmiston House’ in Glasgow. With double the number of beers on offer compared to 2022, Indie Beer Scotland is now the country’s largest craft beer festival, featuring over two hundred different cask and craft keg beers from some of Scotland’s best independent craft breweries, plus cider & spirits from independent Scottish producers.

Find out more about Indie Beer Scotland and buy your tickets on SIBA's website.

Black Isle Food and Drink Festival – 23 September 

This year marks the first Black Isle Food and Drink festival! You will be able to watch a series of demonstrations and sample produce from a wide range of local providers including Black Isle Brewery, Loch Ewe Salt and Seaweed,  The Highland Coffee Pod and many more.  

The demonstrators will explore slow cooked lamb (UHI); ways with root vegetables (Storehouse); how to make the best coffee with the equipment available (Vandyke Brothers Coffee); how to prepare a seafood platter (Profish); and ways of preserving food (Penny and Martin). 

Find out more about the Black Isle Food and Drink Festival on Culbokie Community Trust's website.   

Hearst and Gaither – 30 September 

Highlands & Islands Climate Hub and Highland Good Food Partnership are encouraging groups to gather together for a harvest (hearst) gathering (gaither) during September. 

This year they’re making it super easy to take part, with several simultaneous gatherings happening at regional hubs all over the Highlands including Elphin, Lochaber and Inverness. 

It's a great opportunity to meet like-minded folk in your area and celebrate and share local, sustainable good food whilst enjoying workshops, discussions and maybe even a ceilidh. 

Find out more about Hearst and Gaither by emailing hello@highlandgoodfood.scot  

CSA and Small Farm Gathering in Scotland -  16-17 September 

Join a gathering for CSAs, agroecological farms, crofts and market gardens. Meet each other, share food and ideas.   

On the Saturday there will be a tour of Glachbeg Croft with speaker sessions on the theme of resilience, including climate change and weather-proofing your farm, looking after personal wellbeing in farming, establishing financial resilience and how policy affects resilience.   

On the Sunday, there will visit Black Isle Brewery Market Garden and Knockfarrel produce. 

Community supported agriculture (CSA) is a partnership between farmers and consumers in which the responsibilities, risks and rewards of farming are shared.  The main principle of CSA is the community supports the farmer through a direct connection, in returning ensuring their own food sovereignty and sustainable and transparent food production.  

Glachbeg Croft is an educational centre for children, community events and adults with special needs with a wide range of agricultural activities. 

Black Isle Brewery  grows produce for their bars from their market garden, Hebridean sheep and cattle, and also hosts a rewilding project.  

Knockfarrell Produce is an organic, carbon negative mixed farm and CSA. 

The event is run in partnership with Highland Good Food Partnership, Land Workers Alliance and Organic Growers Alliance, with support from The Pebble Trust. 

More details and tickets for the CSA and Small Farm Gathering in Scotland are available on Eventbrite.

Orkney International Science Festival – 7-13 September 

An important park of Orkney’s International Science Festival is to showcase and promote local food and drink producers. During the week long festival, enjoy events such as: 

• Buffet Lunch of Orkney Fare 
• Tattie Tasting 
• Make it with Oats, and try it with Bere 
• The Place I Think of as Home – a celebration of F. Marian McNeill 
• Food from the Sea: Fish Tails and Trimmings and Seaweed 
• Cracking concrete, growing carrots, sinking carbon 
• We’ll make our malt: the art and the science 
• Miniature Whisky School: Peat and Whisky 

Find out more about the Orkney International Science Festival on their website.

Stirling SpiritFEST – 27 October – 5 November 

Stirling SpiritFEST is a 10 day celebration of Scottish spirits and beyond. Incorporating the annual Stirling Gin and Whisky Festivals, Stirling SpiritFEST 2023 runs from 27 October through to 5 November. 

The festival offers a range of spirit workshops and masterclasses and will include a range of drinks-based events including a rum masterclass, at venues across Stirling mid-week. 

Find out more about the events happening during SpiritFEST on Stirling Distillery's website.