Between 1000hrs and 1700hrs a variety of retail and entertainment experiences will be on offer to festival goers at Clickimin Leisure Centre. In Clickimin’s main hall, local businesses including Waas Bakery, Shetlandeli, Whalsay Made, Islandeli, Shetland Reel, Shetland Sea Salt, Thule Ventus, The Fungi and Mix Up Sweets will be selling food and drink on their market stalls. Free tasters of classic Shetland delicacies will also be provided by SFAD, alongside culinary merchandise and festival raffle tickets.
In Clickimin’s multi-use studio the SIC school meals service will be selling refreshments for hungry visitors, including soup, bannocks, stovies, fishcakes and traybakes plus tea, coffee and juice. In this space, children can also take part in a range of fun, free activities including hook a deuk, splat the rat, buzz wire, food-themed Bookbug and art sessions, and a sensory quiz.
By the festival main entrance Frankie’s Fish & Chips will be trading from the brand new Taste of Shetland trailer, serving up an array of seafood treats for festival goers and passers-by.
Festival wristbands are available to purchase on the door at Clickimin: £5 for over-16s and free for under-16s. Everyone attending the festival is asked to adhere to all current COVID guidance and take responsibility for their own health and safety and that of their dependents at the event.
Between 1100hrs and 1500hrs BST in Clickimin’s main hall festival goers can seat themselves in the audience for SFAD’s live online broadcast. Cooking demonstrations, short films, live music, culinary discussion and quizzes will combine in four hours of quality Shetland entertainment for viewers worldwide. This year’s broadcast contributions come fromThule Ventus, Marian Armitage, Blyde Welcome, Scalloway Meat Company, SIC school meals service, Uradale Farm, Shetland Tourism Association, Paparwark Furniture, Shetland Fishermen’s Association, Seaspray (Shetland), Scottish Sea Farms, Good Nude Food,Garths Croft,Culswick Beef, EJC Bakes,Shetlandeli, Whalsay Made, Shetland Reel and The Cullivoe Band. Last year’s festival played to more than 45,000 people in at least 53 countries.
SFAD manager, Claire White, said: “This year’s pioneering dual format is a response to member requests that we run in person and broadcast festivals simultaneously.
"It gives local businesses the best of both worlds: face-to-face trading with customers and international profile to help cultivate the global appetite for Shetland’s exceptional quality produce long term.
"We couldn’t be prouder of our members who are contributing generously to market stalls, the festival broadcast and our fabulous raffle. We are also incredibly grateful to Scottish Sea Farms who are sponsoring our festival for the third year running.”
Scottish Sea Farms’ northern isles regional manager Richard Darbyshire said: ““There’s always a healthy appetite for the Taste of Shetland Festival but there’s a particular buzz about this year’s event with the return of the hugely popular market stalls and the option for those further afield or unable to attend in person to be a part of things online. It’s a win-win format for festival-goers and local producers alike, and we’re delighted to be a part of it.”
Tickets for the in person festival in Clickimin Centre are available on the door 10am-5pm Saturday (23rd October), £5 for over-16s and free for under-16s. The online festival can be viewed on the Taste of Shetland Facebook page and at www.tasteofshetland.com 11am-3pm Saturday (23rd October).
Raffle tickets can be purchased in person at the event or online here.
