THE return of the Aberdour Festival has been creating a “real buzz” for villagers as celebrations kicked off - and they continue this weekend.

The annual event, which has been paused due to COVID restrictions, returned for its 39th year.

“There’s a real buzz around the village again,” Helen Pearson, chair of the organising committee, told the Press.

“It has been an amazing first weekend, it has been beyond our widest dreams, there has just been a great community spirit.”

It's often billed as "the best small festival in the world" and the weekend saw highlights such as the pet show, including a “highly competitive” waggiest tail round, art festival, involving an interactive treasure hunt, and beach day.

Saturday’s line-up included a traditional parade through the village, as well as the crowning of Queen Martha Millar, King Sam Milroy and their attendants, Violet Fenner and Samuel Fenton.

“The royal party all looked amazing – they are so enthusiastic. They have been brilliant.”

And competitive spirits were not only high during the pet show, but also throughout the raft race, which was fully booked, and in the Donkey Brae run on Sunday, which saw 250 runners compete in the main event and 150 take on the family run.

The festival also held a huge village market, with the largest variety there has ever been.

And a new ARt Trail allows visitors to use their smartphones to search for virtual art-installations across the village.

It has been created by Aberdour-based CGI and VR studio Where Giants Roam in collaboration with Aberdour Arts Committee.

Alison Chapman, part of the ART Festival team, said: “Since 2016 we have organised the Aberdour Festival’s opening weekend art exhibition, in conjunction with Dalgety Bay Art Club who look after the exhibits in the church hall.

“It’s great to be back after three years and we are particularly excited to have Aberdour’s Where Giants Roam on board with an augmented reality AR-t trail.”

Leaflets with location clues can be picked up from village shops during the week.

The festival continues with the gala day tomorrow (Saturday), before the close of celebrations on Sunday with a flower festival and afternoon tea and cocktails.

The programme of remaining events can be found here: https://aberdourfestival.org/