Flavour of Shetland event ready to impress visitors from near and far

The ever-popular Flavour of Shetland event opens today on Victoria Pier at 11am.

For the next four days, Hamefarers, locals and visitors will be able to enjoy some great Shetland food, music, crafts and culture right in the heart of Lerwick.

Now in its fifth year, the event goes from strength to strength and the organisers are delighted that participants continue to show great enthusiasm for being part of the festivities.

This year sees some new additions to the food line-up including In Da Raw, Da Soup Galley and JK Mainland. In Da Raw is run by Heather Moncrieff who will be offering a variety of smoothies; two of which will be made using superfood supplements.Her ingredients will also include local strawberries, honey and milk.

Food enthusiasts Margaret Stuart and Wilma Couper will be back to demonstrate the art of traditional Shetland cooking with sessions every day.

Today’s music line-up includes the Bells Brae Choir and Samba Band, Loveshack and Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag. Shetland Fiddlers Society, Tess with Red, Hot and Blue, and The Fabulous Ramstams will take to the stage tomorrow.

Children may have to wait until tomorrow to see Cheeko the Clown, but there is plenty of entertainment laid on to keep them amused. A highlight will be Jacqui Clark’s play Winnie and Flushing Frank, which can be heard today, tomorrow and Sunday.

Another attraction guaranteed to draw in the crowds is the visit by the Lerwick Up-Helly-A’ Jarl’s Squad on Saturday, accompanied by the specially built Hamefarin 2010 galley. The squad will march from Harbour Street at 1pm along Commercial Road to Victoria Pier. The galley will remain on the pier until 6pm.

Kevin Moreland, one of the event organisers, said: “This year’s programme of activities and variety of participants is definitely going to make Flavour of Shetland a great event for all the family.

“The event couldn’t be the success it is without the hard work and time given by so many individuals who deserve to be hugely commended for their efforts. Let’s kick-start Flavour of Shetland in style and make Victoria Pier the place to be this weekend.”