Dunfermline and Kelty parades

Two west Fife communities are gearing up for their annual gala days tomorrow.

Dunfermline Children’s Gala parade will be the first to get off the starting blocks, leaving at 11am from East Port.

The parade, which will include children from all 19 local schools, will wend its way along the High Street to Pittencrieff Park for an afternoon of traditional fun and games.

This year’s parade will have the theme of children’s literature.

Crowds which turn up to cheer on the participants can look forward to seeing some very tall stilt walking BFGs and a five-metre-long Very Hungry Caterpillar.

The first gala took place in 1902 when it was organised by Dunfermline Co-operative Society. The following year, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie funded the event.

Meanwhile, Kelty has an equally proud heritage of holding children’s galas, which the whole village turns out to support.

Tomorrow the parade of youngsters, floats, bands, majorettes and other entertainers will leave the Marion Gates in Cocklaw Street at 12.30pm. It will wind its way up Main Street, doing a quick turn around Keltyhil Road and Oak Street and down Bath Street to the play park.

Some 14 teams have entered the tug of war competition.

Music comes from Japanese drummers and Motown singers.