A popular Aberdeenshire music festival will raise funds for the homeless and hungry this weekend.
Stonehaven’s Party in the Park is being held at the town’s Mineralwell Park tomorrow with a line-up featuring live music, food stalls and a festival bar.
Profits from the festival will go towards Aberdeen Cyrenians, which provides food and shelter to homeless people across the north-east.
And this year, supporters are being asked to bring a tin of food as part of the entrance fee.
The cans will then be donated to the Aberdeenshire South food bank which operates from Banchory’s West Church.
The event is organised by Stonehaven music shop Ma Simpson’s.
All bands and musicians have agreed to play the festival for free including locals Totico, Hoodoo Zephyr and singer-songwriter Craig John Davidson
Depute chief executive of Aberdeen Cyrenians, Scott Baxter, said he was delighted the festival had decided to back the charity – just month’s after its vital drop-in service came under threat due to a lack of funding.
He added the charity’s workload is continuing to increase, due in part to the slump in the oil and gas industry.
Mr Baxter said: “In terms of folk in Stonehaven obviously there is a great awareness about how you can have a house one minute and not the next because of the flooding.
“Our numbers were increasing even before the oil and gas downturn and that was a combination of high prices across the housing sector, lack of affordable accommodation and the impact of welfare reform.
“Since the beginning of the year with the impact of the oil and gas downturn we have seen increasing numbers of folk working behind the scenes in the services industry being impacted.
“Then obviously there is the new budget and further austerity, it is certainly not going to get better.”
Festival organiser Chris Stirk said: “When we heard about the possible closure of Aberdeen Cyrenians’ drop-in service, the team and I had a discussion about how we may be able to help.”
Tickets cost £7 for adults and £5 concession plus a pack or tin of food. A £25 family ticket for two adults and up to four concessions is also available.