The Taste of Shetland Festival 2019 opens its doors to the public in Lerwick's Islesburgh Community Centre on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November. A packed programme of activities awaits visitors including several new features; increased interactivity for children and adults, a Saturday evening music performance with accompanying bar, and the launch of a 2020 Shetland Food and Drink Guide sponsored by DFDS Logistics.
Favourite festival features are also back for the public to enjoy, including culinary demonstrations and tasters, a heritage area, Islesburgh Cafe's regular service, and our member marketplace. Shetland fish, meat, dairy, baked goods, teas, preserves and sweet treats are all available to to buy direct from producers.
Beatrice Wishart MSP will open the festival together with David Bisset of main festival sponsors Scottish Sea Farms. Chair of Shetland Food and Drink, Marian Armitage, will also be acknowledged for her success in the recent Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards where she was named Ambassador of the Year at an Inverness ceremony.
The final of the Muckle Bites (over-18) cooking competition takes place on Saturday evening, with competitors from Whalsay, Vidlin, Bigton and Sandwick heats vying for victory. On Sunday Peerie Bites (under-18) cooking competition finalists take to the stage in primary and secondary aged categories. Shetland Food and Drink are grateful for competition sponsorship from Northlink (Peerie Bites), Cooke Aquaculture Scotland (Muckle Bites) and Loganair (transport sponsor).
The festival is open Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm. The daily entrance fee for over-16s is £5 and each visiting unit (individual, couple or family) receives a free Shetland recipe book. Under-16 daytime festival entry is free. On Saturday evening doors open at 6pm for the 6.30pm Muckle Bites cooking competition final and Haltadans concert until 11pm. Evening entry costs £10 and audience places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.
This year's festival takes place in a residential area, so a free shuttle bus service will run between old and new Anderson High School parking areas and Islesburgh Community Centre every 15 minutes during festival opening hours.
Our full festival programme is below.
