FESTIVAL fever is set to hit Aberdour with 10 days of the very best music, arts, comedy and entertainment starting tomorrow (Friday).

Billed as “possibly the best small festival of Scotland’s summer”, the 32nd Aberdour Festival promises a programme to suit all ages, tastes and abilities.

Caledonia singer Dougie MacLean kick-starts it all with a concert tomorrow (Friday), the festival crowning and parade is on Saturday, and there’s also the sandcastle competition and raft race with a family ceilidh and barbecue at night.

The seven-mile Donkey Brae run gets underway on Sunday at 1pm – there are shorter races too – and funnyman Craig Hill performs a preview of his Edinburgh Fringe show that evening. Throughout the rest of the fest there’s an evening of literary exploration with authors Nicola Morgan and Lucy Ribchester, a taste of Italy with the return of the Big Cooking Challenge, the village sports and gala day and even sing-a-long Sound of Music!

There’s village pride at stake in the Wester vs Easter football match, country band The Red Timber Pine Company will be performing and other attractions include a documentary into the events of the Miners’ Strike, a Quay Soiree and a picnic in Aberdour Castle.

The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Food and Drink, Light and Soil’ and has been inspired by a number of celebrations, including the Scottish Year of Food and Drink, International Year of Light and the 150th anniversary of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

The whole community is getting involved and the village is bursting with venues hosting events, including the Aberdour Hotel, Aberdour Hertiage Centre and Station Gardens, the Cedar Inn, Woodside Hotel, the Masonic Hall and the Foresters Arms.

Festival chair Philomena Oldfield said people would be “spoiled for choice”. As part of the Music Fringe, the Woodside Hotel is hosting three events, featuring Pearlfishers singer David Scott (left), MG Alba award winner Siobhan Miller and Manran singer and guitarist Norrie MacIver.

You can reserve tickets by emailing chair@aberdourfestival.org.uk or contacting Ronnie Kerr on 01383 860848 or 07977 613 788.

Storyteller and entertainer Carrie Todd will host a three-hour women’s empowerment workshop, a Faberdour Fairy Party for the little ones and even a Flamboyant Flamenco Fiesta, a three-part dance event at Aberdour Hotel for all the family.

To book a place on any of the Faberdour events, contact Carrie on 07952 945 749.

Aberdour Festival runs from 31st July to 9th August. For more information go to www.aberdourfestival.org.