4 September 2015
Next month on October 3 and 4 Balmaha will be hosting a festival of food, drink, music and entertainment. Balmaha’s Braw Weekend is the brainchild of the multi award winning Loch Lomond business The Oak Tree Inn and inspired by Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink.
The festival, with free admission, will
take place next to The Oak Tree on a large field, on the banks of Loch Lomond. The
Oak Tree, renowned for their own brewed beers and homemade ice cream, are bringing
together a number of other leading food and drink producers from both the
National Park and across Scotland. 
Starting at 11am each day visitors will be able to sample food and drink, watch cookery demonstrations and enjoy live music. Children can make their own pizza creations and enjoy a Mad Hatters Tea Party. Children’s theatre group The McDougalls will perform a funny food-themed show throughout the weekend.
Saturday night will feature a real ale, beer and whisky festival from 6pm to midnight with live music from Dave Arcari, The Zips, Mick Hargan and Have Mercy Las Vegas. The weekend will close with a ceilidh on Sunday night.
The event organised by The Oak Tree Inn is sponsored by Deanston Distillery with support from Scotland’s Year of Food & Drink, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority and Love Loch Lomond.
Mairi Bell, Head of Visitor Experience at Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park said: “The Year of Food & Drink has been embraced by National Park businesses with an exceptional calendar of events taking place throughout 2015. Balmaha’s Braw Weekend looks set to be an autumnal highlight. Craft beers, hearty local food, live entertainment by the banks of Loch Lomond, what’s not to love? With lots of inside and cosy covered spaces, the event team have covered all bases come rain or shine!”
VisitScotland Regional Partnerships Director, Liz Buchanan said:
“Balmaha’s Braw Weekend promises to be a fun, family event and a real treat for the local community and visitors alike. A key part of the entertainment – in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink - will be the focus on culinary delights; there will be a choice of fantastic Scottish produce to sample and buy as well as cooking demonstrations and other activities for kids as well as grown-ups. Events across the country during this Year of Food and Drink are providing a superb opportunity to celebrate and promote the rich natural larder and talented producers that Scotland boasts - which is great news for both our thriving tourism industry and our economy. I hope that as many people as possible will get along to Balmaha to experience and enjoy some wonderful regional and Scottish produce and a great weekend.”
For more information about Balmaha’s Braw Weekend, please visit: www.balmahasbrawweekend.co.uk
Ends
Picture caption:
Picture Credit: Paul Saunders Photography
For more information contact Paul Saunders at Paul Saunders Media
Tel: 01360 661029 / 07810 481426 e: paul@paulsaundersmedia.com
Notes to Editor
The Year of Food and Drink
- The Year of Food and Drink Scotland began on 1 January 2015 and ends on 31 December 2015. The Year will build on the momentum generated by Homecoming Scotland 2014 by celebrating the role that food and drink plays in shaping our economic success. Through a series of exciting events and activities, the year will showcase Scotland’s outstanding natural larder and our reputation as a land of food and drink. For more information visit www.visitscotland.com/tastescotland
- The Year of Food and Drink is a Scottish Government initiative being delivered by VisitScotland in partnership with Scotland Food & Drink, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Tourism Alliance, SRUC and Young Scot.
- The Year of Food and Drink events fund is managed by EventScotland. The Community Food Fund, which is managed by Think Local on behalf of the Scottish Government, has contributed £150K towards the overall events fund for 2015.