Town’s streets to come alive as annual Lammas Market returns

The thrills and spills of the fairground are on their way to St Andrews.

The town’s annual Lammas Market will swing into action on Friday. Scotland’s oldest street fair, dating back to medieval times, will see Market Street transformed into a carnival for five days.

As well as rides and fairground stalls, there will be a continental market, general market and food and drink stalls, with entertainment spilling into South Street.

Historically, the market celebrated the first harvest of the year, following Lammas Day on August 1.

Today, the atmospheric event brings thousands of visitors to the town centre for traditional rides, such as the Waltzers and carousel, and others not for the faint-hearted.

Several streets will be closed for the event. Market Street (between Bell Street and Union Street) and Church Street will close from noon on Thursday.

South Street (between West Port and Abbey Street), Bell Street and Queens Gardens will close from 3pm on Sunday.

Alternative routes will be via North Street, Abbey Street, Abbey Walk, St Mary Street, Lamond Drive, Bridge Street, City Road, Queens Terrace and Greenside Place.

All roads will reopen at noon next Wednesday.

There will also be rolling closures from 4-6pm on Sunday of the roundabouts and junctions at the A91 Petheram, Links Crescent/City Road, North Street/Golf Place, North Street/Greyfriars Garden and St Mary’s Place/Bell Street.

The market runs from 11am-11pm each day, except on Sunday when it will open at noon.