The team behind a hugely popular arts festival have decided to keep their village buzzing all year round by organising a series of mini pop-up festivals.
Braemar Creative Arts Festival is held in October, with music, craft, drama and literary workshops and an arts and crafts market attracting visitors and tutors from across the country.
Now the committee has decided to keep Deeside residents busy all year through, and has joined forces with various community groups – including the SWRI, the local history group and even the cubs and scouts – to organise their first mini festival, focusing on science.
Next week’s four-day event, named Telescopes, Trivia and Test Tubes, coincides with British Science Week.
On Thursday, the festival will kick-off with a science evening in Invercauld Hotel from 7.30pm.
On Friday, a group of scientists from the astronomy department at St Andrew’s University will give a talk on stargazing, before giving participants the chance to view the night sky through their powerful telescopes at Mar Lodge. To join in, meet in the dining room of the lodge at 7pm.
Other activities lined up for Friday include a mobile planetarium, and a quiz in Gordon’s tea room on Friday from 7.30pm. To register a team of three or four, for £10, call 01339 741030 or turn up on the night.
One of the biggest events will be a family discovery day in the village hall on Saturday.
The free fun day, which will run from 2pm-5pm, will give visitors the chance to learn more about astronomy, minibeasts, the science of diving and to also try out some hands-on activities such as flying a model helicopter and a mini chemistry laboratory.
There will also be another chance to take part in a stargazing session on Saturday in the Braemar Games Park from 8pm.
On Sunday, there will also be the chance to try eco-teering – a cross between a treasure hunt and orienteering – at Mar Lodge from 2pm and a showing of a docu-drama on Braemar astronomer John Von Lamont in the village hall from 7.30pm.
For further information, visit the events page on www.braemarbuzzard.org.uk or call Liz Robertson on 01339 741030.