The annual Ballater Duck Festival, which this year will be held on Sunday 3 July from 11am to 4pm, is a family fun day on the Village Green (AB35 5NE) in the centre of Ballater on Royal Deeside involving 40-50 trade, craft and charity stalls, with entertainment for children including bouncy castle, bouncy slide and merry-go-round.

As well as the local shops, restaurants and cafes, there are food stalls on the Green including burgers, pizza and donuts. The Ballater Pipe Band plays and there’s live musical entertainment on the stage plus many other events on the Green, culminating in a giant inflatable duck race on the River Dee at 3pm and a Tote if you fancy a ‘flutter’ on one of the ducks.