With just a week to go until the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen drops anchor, organisers have unveiled more than 70 makers, creatives, producers and charities who will create a vibrant and unique market at Curated On The Quayside.
The cream of north-east talent will take centre stage at these colourful, bustling stalls which will sit alongside almost 50 beautiful vessels at the Port of Aberdeen for the four days of this once-in-a-generation event, from July 19 to 22.
These will include a range of popular Aberdeen businesses, such as Dough & Co, MacBeans, and Aberdeen Whisky Shop.
Also taking part will be some local favourite creatives and makers, such as Catherine Redgate Designs, Cookie Cult, Very Spexy permanent jewellery, 13-23 Jewellery and Doric Studio, who have all built a cult-following at the Curated In The Quad Christmas market and other venues.
Following the success of its festive counterpart, local charity Charlie House supported the application process for Curated On The Quayside, collaborating with the Tall Ships organisers to assess and shortlist hundreds of applications from the many talented traders and charities keen to get involved in this landmark event.
The fee for the charity’s role in pulling the market together will support its mission to improve the quality of life for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families across the north-east.
John Brebner, CEO of Charlie House, said: “We want to say a big thank you to everyone who applied to be part of Curated on the Quayside, we were blown away by the response from charities and traders.
“The selection process was no mean feat, however we’re confident the final selection will bring something really special to visitors. You can expect a fantastic mix of stallholders lining the Quayside across the four days, including passionate small businesses, local makers, and inspiring charities.
“We can’t wait to see the harbour come to life when the Tall Ships Races arrive. It’s going to be an unforgettable celebration for the whole city, and Charlie House is really looking forward to seeing everyone there.”
The 50 plus commercial stalls at Curated On The Quayside will see a mix of jewellery, crafts, clothing, food and drink.
There will also be five charity stalls, shared between 18 organisations across four days to give more good causes a chance to be centre stage. These include VSA, Aberdeen Cyrenians, Befriend A Child, and seafarers’ charity Stella Maris.
One stall which is likely to attract a lot of attention is a joint venture between two talented creatives who were part of the Tall Ships Aberdeen 2025 Makers Programme, which saw local creatives produce crafts and designs inspired by a maritime theme.
Winner Laura Sherrifs – who was awarded a £5,000 prize for her eye-catching jackets and bags – and Gabrielle Reith – who created mobiles inspired by the Tall Ships – will join forces across two gazebos to put their work in front of thousands of visitors.
Partner agencies in bringing the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 to the city – Aberdeen City Council, Port of Aberdeen and Aberdeen Inspired - said they were also delighted that Curated On The Quad will be at the heart of the event which is expected to generate 400,000 visits to the Granite City.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We have worked closely with Charlie House on Curated In The Quad for several years now and we know how popular that is and how much it helps this fantastic charity.
“Curated On The Quayside will bring that same energy and excitement to the very heart of the spectacular Tall Ships event and act as a fantastic showcase for so many of our hugely talented north-east creatives, producers and businesses.
“Even better is the boost it will bring to the vital work of Charlie House. I know thousands of people will be charting a course to Curated On The Quayside and all the other wonderful attractions the Tall Ships are bringing to Aberdeen.”
Councillor Martin Greig, Chair of the Tall Ships Aberdeen organising committee, said: “The Curated on the Quayside market will be at the heart of the Tall Ships celebrations and will give the hundreds of thousands of visitors the opportunity to sample some of the finest wares the city’s traders have to offer during our spectacular festival.
“Not only that, but the market will also raise funds for a tremendous local cause in Charlie House, who do such incredible work in supporting the very youngest people in the North east who suffer potentially life-shortening conditions”
Bob Sanguinetti, CEO, Port of Aberdeen, said: “Curated on the Quayside is an excellent addition to The Tall Ships Races programme and spaces were in high demand. We look forward to welcoming a wide range of traders and charities from near and far into the port.”
Curated On The Quayside will run at Port of Aberdeen From Saturday, July 19 to Tuesday, July 22. It will be open from 9am to 8pm, except on Tuesday when it will close at 3.30pm.
For more information and a full list of stallholders at Curated On The Quayside visit Curated on the Quayside | Tall Ships Aberdeen
