The Auchmithie Haar
The Heritage Arts Auchmithie Residents
The HAAR started twenty two years ago. A group of local people decided to celebrate Auchmithie`s rich heritage dating back to the 12th century and to support the artists who have always flocked to Auchmithie because of its wild beauty and timeless environment.
The Haar utilise stories, memoirs and photographs to shape re-enactments that tell of the fishing and culture life of the late 19th century These scenes fill the village at an annual festival. We, of course, celebrate all things Smokie, which had its birth here in Auchmithie
The Haar are lucky enough to have skilled members who have written scripts, songs, designed costumes, and endless support material and continue to develop fresh ways to celebrate the life of Auchmithie.
The festival grew fast and in year three the Haar split the themes of the festival so that one year we have the Intangible Heritage theme and the next we have an Open Doors Arts festival. Both of these events attract record amounts of visitors
In between times they open their extensive Auchmithie Archive in the local hall, accept some of the numerous invitations to take part in other events and continue to evolve and grow their repertoire.
All of the events are free, this is key to our ethos, and all the work is done by volunteers.