This year’s much-anticipated Anstruther Harbour Festival, which incorporates the yearly muster of boats and has been expanded to have activities and events appealing to all ages and interests, runs from today until Sunday.
Kingdom FM will broadcast live on Saturday from noon till 3pm, with music and interviews, and schedules will keep everyone updated on what is taking place.
Out on the piers and along the harbour front folly, birds of prey from Kingdom Falconry will be tethered for handling and a there will be a woodcarving demonstration.
Additional children’s activities will include an activity afternoon at Bankie Park today, a show by Puppets & Co at Anstruther Church (Saturday afternoon) and a fun fair of rides and games will be on the pier throughout.
Classic boats will be in the harbour, visiting boats will be bobbing on the water and skiffs from Anstruther, Pittenweem, Crail and Newburgh will participate in a rowing regatta on Saturday afternoon.
The Langtoun Model Boat Club will have much smaller boats for display and inspection, while a much larger boat, the Reaper, will be open to the public for boarding.
The Scottish Fisheries Museums will have various exhibit galleries.
RNLI rescue boats, the fire brigade and the coastguard will be present at various times unless called to rescue duty.
This evening sees Scottish dancing by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and the Dunedin Dancers, Edinburgh, will perform on the harbour folly, followed by the City of St Andrews Pipe Band marching from Waid Academy to the harbour front, “beating the retreat”.
Tomorrow, the first full day of the festival begins at 11am, as 20 market stalls of crafts, food, charity booths and other goods open for business.
Saturday will see a morning memorial service at the submariner’s memorial and a nightly town hall dance.
On Sunday, boats depart early morning, based on tides and weather, but activities continue as the festival winds down, ending with the golden oldies dance party on Sunday night (7-11pm), with Eric Stardust, for charity.
For more information, Anstruther Harbour Festival Facebook page, or www.anstruthersailingclub.org.uk.