Festival was a right royal day out!
Published 28 Aug 2012 09:30
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Visitors to Dunfermline were royally thrilled as they mingled with jesters and jousting knights at the eighth Bruce Festival.
The weekend event survived Saturday's downpours to celebrate the city's famous past and bring the history of 14th century Scotland to life.
The sights and sounds of the Robert the Bruce story were encapsulated in the free festival in Pittencrieff Park.
Maggie Mitchell, chief executive of Bruce Festival organisers Dunfermline Delivers, said, "This year's festival was a great event, with people from as far afield as the USA, Canada and Argentina visiting.
"The sword procession, featuring an exact replica of Robert the Bruce's sword, provided a great start to the festival with the procession making its way through the historic quarter and onto the festival.
"The sword was then presented to a real-life Bruce descendent, Lord Charles Bruce, son of the Earl of Elgin.
"Following this the festival was officially opened by the Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman."
She added, "The entertainment, including 14th century music, actors and re-enactment battle scenes, created a fantastic atmosphere.
"The festival also included local food stalls that were so popular several sold out before the end of the day.
"The brief spell of rain late on Saturday did nothing to dampen spirits, although it did cause a small rush on the beer tent!
"This tent offered customers a chance to sample, among others, de Brus Dunfermline Blond Ale, a beer created in memory of Robert the Bruce."
Maggie said the sword procession helped the event stand out for visitors, including the eye-catching opening ritual which gave visitors an insight into the ceremonies of the times.
She said, "We really wanted to make the event as authentic as possible, allowing visitors to feel like they'd been transported back to feudal times of the 14th century."
For the first time a medieval fashion show took centre stage, allowing children and adults alike the chance to see how people of different classes dressed, with the models explaining these differences.
Also a hit, particularly with the younger generations, was the jousting arena, where knights on horseback charged at each other, lances bouncing off shields as spectators cheered.
Gifford Bruce, managing director of the Alfred Stewart Property Foundation, main private sponsors of the festival, said, "We're delighted to have played our part in this year's successful Bruce Festival.
"The Alfred Stewart Property Foundation has been set up to develop projects that generate revenues which is then reinvested in community projects within Dunfermline, so the Bruce Festival is an excellent fit.
"Alf Stewart helped to get the festival up and running in its early years and we are very pleased to see our support result in an event that the whole community celebrates."
See this week's Press for a festival picture special.
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 28 Aug 12
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