Aberdeen’s Curated in the Quad outdoor market will open for its final weekend today (Friday, December 17) at the city’s Marischal College.
A total of 24 stalls will be open from Friday to Sunday, with pastries, home bakes, locally distilled gin and vodka, photography, leather and wooden goods and candles among the unique finds on offer.
With the city centre expected to be busy as shoppers flock to pick up last minute gifts, visitors are being urged to shop local and support independent traders as well as the wider retail offering.
Among this weekend’s treats are handmade bespoke products by Intricate Designs, which specialises in unique wooden items, drinks distilled by Esker Sprits, Pilgrim’s Gin, Tayport Distillery and Lost Loch Spirits, and handbound leather notebooks, sketchbooks, watercolour books and photo albums made by McTavish Designs.
The Curated in the Quad market is being organised by Charlie House in partnership with Aberdeen Inspired.
All proceeds from the Curated in the Quad market at Aberdeen Christmas Village will go to this local children's charity, which aims to improve the quality of life for babies, children and young people in the north-east of Scotland who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and provide support to their families.
As the city centre Business Improvement District (BID), Aberdeen Inspired is supporting the festive events in the city centre as well as promoting the Aberdeen Gift Card, which is accepted in more than 200 local outlets and allows the recipient to choose their own present.
Chief executive Adrian Watson said: “The Curated in the Quad market has been a huge success so far, with great feedback from both traders and shoppers. This is the last chance for shoppers to find unusual gifts, clothing, food and drink that have been produced locally, while also raising funds for our event partner Charlie House.
“Together with Aberdeen’s wider retail offering, bars and restaurants, the market and Christmas Village is bringing many families and friends together to spend time in our city centre and we are hoping for a bumper last shopping weekend before Christmas.”
Lynne Duthie runs Esker Spirits, a family run distillery based in Kincardineshire O’Neil which will be selling its gins and range of flavoured vodkas this weekend.
Lynne said: “We have taken part in Christmas markets in Aberdeen city centre since 2017 and we are delighted to be back in the Quad again. To be able to be in the Quad and still support the amazing work of Charlie House is such a bonus for us.
“We are looking forward to spreading the Christmas spirit this weekend and being a part of such a happy, festive event.”
The Curated in the Quad market will run from 12pm to 7pm today (Friday, December 17), 11am to 7pm on Saturday and 11am to 6pm on Sunday.
Aberdeen Christmas Village on Broad Street and Upperkirkgate, including the ice rink, rides and food and drink stalls, are also open daily (apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day) up to and including December 31.
The current list of stallholders for this weekend (December 17-19; line-up subject to change) is Charlie House; Blue Toon Bakes; Brave Art Design; Candy Clouds; Catherine Redgate: Artist & Illustrator; Cocoa & Cinnamon; Colour Flux; Couille Candles; Cove Honey Bees; Dizzy's Sweets; Esker Spirits; Holistic Candle Company; Intricate Designs; Juliethh Patisserie; Johnny Forbes Photography; Lost Loch Spirits; Mahin Hussain Accessories; McTavish Designs; Origin That; Pilgrim's Gin; Raw Culture; Stinky Beasties; Tayport Distillery; and Teighan's Toys.
For more information, visit https://www.aberdeeninspired.com/festival/aberdeen-christmas-market/christmas-in-the-quad-important-information.