Shetland Made: celebrating islands' crafts, food and drink

‘Shetland Made’ – a new event celebrating the best of Shetland's arts, crafts, food and drink – will be held for the first time in 2023, making it an excellent time to be in Shetland.

With events around the islands Shetland Made provide an exciting range of activities in the week between the Taste of Shetland Food and Drink Festival – 28th-29th October – and the Shetland Craft Fair - 3rd-5th November.

Those two festivals are well established having run annually for many years. However, in 2023 the dates have been moved to bring the two major events closer together. And Shetland Made provides plenty of opportunities to get creative in between, with a range of enticing workshops.

As a collaboration between Shetland Food and Drink and Shetland Arts & Crafts Association, the week of activities will provide opportunities to learn more about the islands’ producers, try your hand at traditional crafts, and sample some exquisite food and drink.

For the first time in 2023, the food and drink and arts and crafts festivals, described above, take place on consecutive weekends. And to make sure there is plenty to do between the two autumn festivals a series of events will be staged.

These engaging workshops will be hosted by some of the islands’ exceptional craftspeople, and there is also the opportunity to enjoy Shetland’s famous food and drink.

Shetland Food and Drink chairwoman, Marian Armitage, is looking forward to the collaboration between members of that organisation and Shetland Arts and Crafts Association.

"It's exciting to see these activities which encompass a range of crafts and some of the venues which are food venues. There is a strong link between the two.

"This is a good time of year for enjoying indoor activities, celebrating some of the crafts and skills and experiences Shetland has to offer, and enjoying food and drink. Shetland Made is new this year and it is something we will look to develop."

Book your place on any of these unique workshops on the Taste of Shetland website.

In 2023 the Taste of Shetland Food and Drink Festival takes place on the weekend of 28^th and 29^th October in the Clickimin Leisure Centre in Lerwick.

As ever there will be many demonstrations, tastings, workshops, and entertainment – as well as the opportunity to meet the many producers and sample and buy fantastic food and drink.

Celebrity guest this year is the international best-selling author and Instagammer The Hebridean Baker, Coinneach MacLeod. He will be entertaining and cooking some recipes from his latest book.

Marian said his passion for local produce and traditions made him an ideal choice. "He's really focused on local products and that fits very well with everything we are trying to do both at the food festival and the craft fair."

Other highlights of the Taste of Shetland event include the Peerie Bites junior cookery competition, which will see Shetland bairns cook a pasty of their choice, and a Global Culinary Journey, with foods from around the world cooked by Shetland residents.

The annual craft fair is a firm favourite in the Shetland social calendar and a perfect way to find unique and interesting Christmas gifts.

Organised by Shetland Arts and Crafts Association it showcases the breadth of craft skills and artistic talent in the islands both with members creating exceptional traditional and contemporary items.

The craft fair will be held on 3^rd-5^th November 2023 in the Clickimin Leisure Complex.

Visitors will come across beautiful photography, jewellery, textiles, leatherwork, knitwear, gifts, fine art, furniture, and much more.

There will also be some tasty treats available.

Plan your visit to Shetland this autumn and enjoy the Shetland Made, Shetland Food and Drink, and Shetland Arts and Crafts festivals. Discover more here.