BOOK your place for ‘literary the best’ Dunfermline Children’s Gala on Saturday with thousands of people set to enjoy the fun. 

Children’s stories is this year’s theme with kids dressing up as characters from their favourite tales and parading down High Street and into Pittencrieff Park. 

Look out for BFGs and hobbits, Harry Potters and Tiggers, princesses, dragons, Buzz Lightyears and Storm Troopers as this riot of colour makes its way through the town from 11am.

And don’t miss the Very Hungry Caterpillar! 

More than 3,000 youngsters are expected to take part and, with around 15,000 people lining the streets to watch them stroll by, it’s a major crowd-puller for Dunfermline and the biggest event of its kind in Scotland.

The gala has been a fixture for more than 100 years – the first one was organised by the Dunfermline Co-operative Society in 1902 – and joining the school kids in the parade will be brass and pipe bands, acrobats, stiltwalkers, jugglers and a whole host of entertainers. 

They’ll finish up in the Glen and each school will have an allocated place for an afternoon of games and races and each child will receive a goody bag which includes a balloon, hat, streamers, treats, drink and lunch.

There’ll be plenty of entertainment with a kids’ funfair, games with Dunfermline Rugby Club, sea cadet drills, a reading by best-selling author Jenny Colgan, charity stalls, food vans and ‘Beat the Goalie’ with the Dunfermline Tartan Army. 

There will be music aplenty too with the Musicians of Bremen joining the parade and Heart and Sound introducing three acts – Bad Penny,

Between the Lines and Conall Adam – to the main stage in the Glen. 
Old favourites Samba Ya Bamba will also be bringing their infectious Brazilian rhythms and colourful dance beats to the town. 

As well as the tireless work of the gala committee and hundreds of volunteers, who raise money all year round to ensure the gala takes place, there are others behind the scenes who help to make it such a special day. 

The Vine Church will be sorting all the hats, streamers, water and crisps for all the children taking part and helping out with stewarding.

Rosyth Sea Cadets will assist with the marshalling of the children from the buses to Viewfield car park while Dunfermline Round Table will be distributing 3,000 balloons before the parade.

The Carnegie Hall is helping out with the use of its facilities for the entertainers and children while Alastair Hoey, Danny Caines and their crew give up their time every year to co-ordinate the smooth running of the parade and entertainment.