The Midsummer Beer Happening in Stonehaven is a not-for-profit event organised by local beer fans.
This would have been the day we opened the doors to the 2021 Midsummer Beer Happening and welcomed thousands of people back for three days of fun and joy.
It is, of course, not to be. Sadly, neither is our Plan B of shifting the festival back to a weekend in September, something we had been working towards.
We are so disappointed this has proved to be impossible, given the huge uncertainty still swirling around the coronavirus restrictions we all must follow to keep everyone safe. There simply isn’t enough clarity about what the future holds to allow the volunteer organisers to plan an event in 2021.
Even Level 0 would only allow for 400 people seated in our marquee at Baird Park. That would represent, at best, a quarter of our usual festival goers, while the cost of staging the event would remain the same, making our beloved event economically unviable.
There is no route map out of Level 0 at present and even the move to level 0, proposed for June 28, looks highly likely to be pushed back three weeks. This is coupled with the possibility of spikes in cases which could mean levels changing at short notice.
Staging the Happening needs at least 12 to 16 weeks to bring everything together, committing to high cost outlays, such as creating our special glasses, paying for marquee hire and toilet block rentals.
Facing those costs, while still being unsure if we could actually stage the Happening at all, has forced us to the realisation we have no choice but to cancel the Midsummer Beer Happening completely for a second year.
We are devastated at having to do this. We know the joy the event brings to the community and the boost its fundraising brings to the area.
Things, however, should always end with hope. While the Midsummer Beer Happening 2021 is not to be, we are already looking to MSBH 2022. Planning starts now and in June next year, we are determined to welcome you all back to Stonehaven for a fantastic three days where we can forget these dark days and make great new memories to last into the future.
Press release from Mid Summer Beer Happening
CONTACT: Organiser Robert Lindsay on 07840 678243 or at brewbob@sixdnorth.co.uk