Provenance Festival to return for 2023 highlighting food and drink storytellers of the North-east of Scotland

North-east food and drink producers and hospitality venues are set to open their doors to visitors as part of the third Provenance Festival.

Launched in 2021 by Opportunity North East to grow food tourism in the region, the festival will take place from Friday 29 September to Sunday 8 October. Visitors will meet the people behind the brands and hear fascinating stories of the region’s pioneering businesses.

The aim of the festival is to draw on the strengths of North-east Scotland’s high-quality food and drink produce and the people who make it to help extend the tourist season with experiences matched with trends in visitor interests. The festival will provide visitors with a behind-the-scenes insight into production and sustainability.

Businesses who are interested in taking part still have to time to sign up. Provenance Festival is delivered by VisitAberdeenshire and Opportunity North East, supporting food and drink, tourism and economic development across the North-east.

Chris Foy, CEO, VisitAberdeenshire, said; “The Provenance Festival is a brilliant opportunity for visitors and locals to explore deeper and find out more about food and drink offering in the region. I would encourage businesses to proudly open their doors and share the secrets of their success.”

Peter Cook, director of food, drink and agriculture at Opportunity North East, said: “The Provenance Festival is a fantastic showcase for the region’s growing food and drink sector and the passionate people who create iconic food and drink products. The festival gives people the chance to see behind the scenes, meet producers and hear the stories of heritage, innovation and sustainability behind their food and drink.”

Grace Noble, Owner, Aberdeenshire Highland Beef, said: “As part of this year’s Provenance Festival, we are hosting farm tours and our first ever dining experience, with produce cooked by Meldrum House chef Alan Clarke. These events let people understand what makes our business tick, and all are bookable via our website. We are excited to be involved in this year’s event, which shines a light on the food and drink producers of the North-east.”

Any businesses interested in registering should contact Leah Hodder, Provenance Festival Project Manager, at festival@visitabdn.com.