Why Supporting Our Events Matters More Than Ever

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Ask anyone in town, and they’ll tell you the same thing: Bo’ness Fair Day is “The Best Day of the Year.”

It is a tradition steeped in history, a day where generations of families come together, streets are lined with stunning arches, and the smiles on our children’s faces make every ounce of effort worthwhile.However, behind the coronation, the bands, and the vibrant procession lies a reality that many in our community might not fully realise: it costs around £90,000 every single year to deliver Fair Day.

From hiring staging and booking procession bands, to providing essential health and safety logistics, such as road closures, legally required security personnel, first aid cover, and portable toilets. The expenses needed to run a safe and memorable festival are vast.

To ensure that Fair Day remains the day our children deserve, the volunteer committee relies entirely on community support and year-round fundraising.Every single ticket you buy for one of our fundraising events goes directly towards securing the future of the Fair.

Fantastic Events Throughout the Year

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To help raise these essential funds, our committee organises a variety of fun-filled events across the town all year round. Whether you’re looking for a lively night out, family-friendly fun, or seasonal celebrations, there is always something on the calendar for everyone:

  • From our popular Ladies Days and traditional Ceilidh to daytime discos and live music nights at local venues.
  • Family & Festive Fun:Magical seasonal events like Santa’s Festive Brunch and special movie screenings that bring smiles to everyones faces.
  • Community Fundraisers:Quizzes, fun runs and local appeals that bring our town together in a great community spirit.

Attending an event isn’t just a fun way to spend time with friends and family, it is a direct investment in keeping our town’s heritage alive. So head over to our online ticketing site to see what’s coming up and secure your tickets.

The Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival belongs to all of us. By supporting our fundraising efforts throughout the year, you help ensure that future generations will continue to experience the magic of Bo’ness Fair Day.

Visit our event page

Queen Sophie’s Final Message

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Hi everyone,

My time has come to hang up my cloak and hand over my crown to our new Queen Elect Holly. My reign as Queen has gone by in the blink of an eye. What an absolutely amazing year I’ve had, there are no words to explain how truly grateful I am to have been chosen as your 117th Bo’ness Fair Queen, I will cherish these memories for the rest of my life.

Thank you to the whole of the fair committee for being absolutely amazing, I have loved getting to know you all, and will have a special place for you all in my heart. My family and I have loved our time with you all.

I would like to thank my dad for yet again producing the most amazing special arch for me, he brought our visions to life. There is so much hard work that goes into them. Thank you so much to my family for everything, especially my mum, sister, nana, grandad and great gran Janet, I’m the luckiest girl to have you all by my side, treating me like a proper Queen.

Alice has given me the most beautiful dresses and I can’t wait to wear my new one tomorrow. Thank you so much Alice. Thank you to Mrs Heather Cullen for being by my side always. We had a bond before but is a truly special one now, and you mean so much more to me now.

I would like to thank my Chief lady Lucy for being with me through my whole experience, I don’t know what I’d have done without you, to helping me with speeches, to speaking on the mics for me. I’ve loved doing this together with you. Our whole retinue has been the best, and I’ve loved doing it with you all. We are all still the best of friends and I hope we are friends forever.

Thank you to the whole of Bo’ness, I love you all so much. Thank you for being so kind and generous with cards and gifts etc. Thank you to my very special Kinneil parent council, you guys are honestly the best, always going above and beyond for me and my family. Love you guys so much.

I hope the sun shines for the Grange tomorrow, and everyone has the most amazing fair day. Sending all my love and support to Queen Elect Holly and her retinue.

Bring on the best day of the year.

Hail To Our Queen Holly.

Hip Hip, all my love, Queen Sophie XxX

Celebrating School Success

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Road Closures 2026

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Weather and Collection Arrangements 2026

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1. When the Weather Is Fine

All pupils and Banner Parties will be dismissed from their designated school areas on Dean Road, between the traffic lights and the entrance to St Mary’s Church.

Fairies, Flower Girls and Guards will also be collected from the same designated
areas.

Lunch arrangements:

  • Presentees: Kinneil Primary School
  • Retinue:St Mary’s Church Hall

Afternoon arrangements:

Presentees: Collected from the Douglas Park Marquee between 2.30–3.30pm
Retinue: An adult must remain in Douglas Park for the full afternoon performance. Children will be dismissed around 4.15pm from the Marquee. Guards of Honour may be collected earlier.

ALL CHILDREN MUST BE COLLECTED WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE END OF THEIR DAY.

Any child not collected will be taken to the Missing Child area, and procedures will be followed with advice and guidance from Police and Children’s Services.

2. If the Weather Breaks Before Proceedings Begin

  • All school pupils remain in their schools.
  • Retinue, Fairies, Flower Girls, Presentees, Guards, Banner Parties and school stewards will be transported by bus to the Town Hall for the Crowning
    Ceremony.
  • Attendance is limited to Retinue parents and Invited Guests only due to capacity.

No other parents, family members or members of the public can attend.

3. If the Weather Breaks During the Coronation Ceremony

  • Grange Retinue, Presentees, Fairies, Flower Girls, Guards and Banner Parties will continue the Crowning in the Town Hall.
  • All school pupils will return to their schools with staff.
  • Attendance again limited to Retinue parents and Invited Guests.
  • The Procession will still go ahead, with support such as trailers, ponchos and umbrellas.

Lunch arrangements remain:

  • Presentees: Kinneil Primary School
  • Retinue: St Mary’s Church Hall

Collection for Fairies, Flower Girls, Guards, Presentees and Banner Parties will take place at their designated school areas on Dean Road.

4. Afternoon Royal Command Performance

Weather Fine or Slightly/Moderately Wet

Proceedings continue as normal.

  • Retinue & Presentees: Collected from the Douglas Park Marquee.

Weather Extremely Inclement

The afternoon performance will be cancelled.

  • Retinue: Collected from St Mary’s Church at 2.30pm
  • Presentees: Collected from Kinneil Primary School at 2.30pm

Programme Sale 2026

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Your Ultimate Guide to the 2026 Bo’ness Fair Day!

The countdown is officially on! To make sure you don’t miss a single beat of this year’s festivities, the Official 2026 Fair Programmeis officially available.

Queen Elect Holly, shown with the 2026 Bo'ness Fair Programme

Priced at £5, this is your essential handbook for all things Fair Day, from timings for the day, photos from last years Fair and events to the local stories that show why our Fair Day is so special. Picking up a copy doesn’t just keep you in the loop, it supports the hard work that goes into making the Fair happen every year.

Where to Grab Your Copy

Whether you’re doing your weekly shop or enjoying a stroll through town, you can find our programme at various locations across Bo’ness.

Area Stockists
Town Centre Tesco KIiosk, Visage Beauty (North Street), With Love, Vikki x (Market Street), Branches Gift Shop (Market Square), Inkspot & Silverleaf Booksellers (South Street), The Wee Wine Bar (South Street), Sweets ‘n’ Things (Hope Street)
Corbiehall & Grangepans The Corbie Inn, Talking Heads, Grangepans Mini Mart
The Drum & Hillcrest David’s Kitchen Ltd, Premier Store
Newtown, Maidenpark and Kinneil Baker St. Post Office, Spar (Jamieson Avenue), Morrisons (Dean Road), Fiaz’s (Gilburn Place)

Why Buy a Programme?

Aside from being a great souvenir, the programme includes:

  • Full timings for the Fair Day events.

  • Maps and procession routes.

  • Behind-the-scenes insights and community stories.

Make sure you’re ready for the “Best Day of the Year.” Grab your copy today and let the Mardi Gras celebrations begin!

Bo’ness Fair 5K & 2K Fun Run Success

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Sunshine, Smiles, and Sparkling Shoes!

What a day it was! On Sunday 10th May, the Bo’ness ommunity came together in the glorious sunshine for the  return of the Bo’ness Fair 5K, alongside our brand-new 2K Fun Run for younger runners.

With over 100 runners crossing the finish line, an incredible atmosphere, and more than £860 raised for our Fair Day Funds, the event was an absolute triumph. Whether you were sprinting for a personal best, jogging with family, or shouting from the sidelines, you made it a day to remember.

Blinged-Up Laces and Podiatry Advice

A massive shout-out goes to our sponsor, Grant Podiatry, who were on hand at the event to champion foot health and cheer on our competitors.

Not only did they keep everyone putting their best foot forward, but they were also kept busy with their shoe bedazzle service. Runners of all ages lined up to have their laces blinged up in exchange for a small donation. Thanks to their creativity and your generosity, those sparkles translated directly into vital funds for the Fair Day.

Our Community Heroes

An event of this scale simply cannot happen without the backing of our local business community. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our sponsors who stepped up to make the day possible:

  • Grant Podiatry

  • Alan Steele Asset Management

  • FLXY Space

  • Frank McGarry Independent Celebrant

Running for the Fair

Every single penny raised from the registrations, donations, and bedazzling stations goes directly toward the Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival funds.

Seeing the community out in such high numbers, and bathed in such beautiful May sunshine, reminds us just how special our town is. The addition of the 2K fun run brought a fantastic energy to the morning, and it was brilliant to see the next generation of runners sporting their Fair Day with pride.

Thank You, Bo’ness! Whether you ran, volunteered, sponsored, or spectated, thank you for making the return of the Fair Run such a resounding success.

Keep an eye on our social media pages for photo galleries of the day and updates on upcoming Fair Day events!

The Magic of the Bo’ness Arches is Underway!

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There is a distinct kind of buzz that takes over Bo’ness at this time of year. If you take a stroll down almost any street right now, you’ll hear the hum of saws, the rustle of chicken wire, and the hushed, top-secret chatter of neighbours plotting their next masterpiece.

Yes, arch-building season is officially in full swing!

Across the town, teams of builders are pouring months of hard work, late nights, and endless cups of tea into bringing this year’s spectacular school themes to life. From the vibrant, carnival energy of Mardi Gras to the nautical adventure of All Hands on Deck, the creativity on display this year is shaping up to be an absolute triumph.

Let’s be honest, there is absolutely nowhere else in the world that does it quite like Bo’ness.

There is nothing sweeter than that magical window before the Fair when the streets come alive. Walking around the town, bumping into old friends, and soaking up the community spirit is a tradition like no other. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or welcoming visitors to the town, the arches are the beating heart of our Fair season.

If you are building an arch this year, we want to make sure your hard work gets the spotlight it deserves. There are two fantastic ways to get involved and show off your skills this year:

Get on the Map 🗺️

Don’t let your arch be a hidden gem! By submitting your location to our Interactive Arch Map, you’ll help locals and visitors alike plot their journey around the town, ensuring nobody misses out on your incredible creatio

Enter the Competition 🏆

Think your team has what it takes to take home the glory? Enter our official competition! Our judges will be doing the rounds on the morning of the Fair to review every single entry. Once the procession is over and the dust has settled, you might just return home to a shiny winner’s certificate to hang proudly on the wall.

Ready to share your masterpiece?

Don’t wait until the last minute! Click the link below to register your location for the map, enter the judging, or both before Sunday June 21st.

Submit your arch

What theme are you most excited to see brought to life this year? Let us know in the comments below, and happy building, Bo’ness!

2026 Door-to-Door Appeal Launches!

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Every Penny Counts: The 2026 Door-to-Door Appeal Launches!

It’s that time of year again! This week, the Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival Committee officially launches the 2026 Door-to-Door Appeal. Running from Sunday 19th to Sunday 26th April, a small army of dedicated volunteers will be hitting the streets of Bo’ness to deliver and collect donation envelopes from homes across Bo’ness.

Last year, the appeal raised an astounding £20,051. It was a phenomenal show of community spirit, and we cannot thank you enough. This year, however, we are hoping to dream even bigger and exceed that total.

Why Your Support Matters

We all feel the pinch of rising costs, and the Fair is no exception. To deliver the spectacular Fair Day that Bonessians expect and deserves, we need to raise roughly £90,000. Because the event is funded entirely through fundraising and donations, this appeal week is the lifeblood of the Fair.

To give you an idea of where the money goes, here are some of our “big ticket” essentials:

Requirement Estimated Cost
Logistics (Equipment hire, road closures, and toilets) £20,000
The Stage (Where the magic happens) £18,000
The Bands (The heartbeat of our procession) £12,000
Safety (Professional Security & First Aid) £7,000

How to Donate

Our volunteers work tirelessly to visit every home, but we know life is busy. If you happen to miss your collector on their return visit, you can still drop off your envelope at any of these fantastic local businesses:

  • The Corbie Inn

  • The Wee Wine Bar

  • Talking Heads Hairdresser

  • Baker Street Post Office

  • Spar

  • David’s Kitchen

  • Sweets n’ Things

  • Fiaz’s

And if you operate in a busy house where cash is rarely seen, you can also donate via our JustGiving page.

 

Preserving a Treasured Tradition

Every penny raised brings this beloved tradition to life for our children. As we prepare to crown Grange Primary School’s Queen Elect, Holly, we ask you to think of the smiles on the faces of the children taking part.

Whether it’s a few coins or a few pounds, every penny counts. Thank you for helping us keep the Fair Day spirit alive for another year!

Bo’ness Fair 2026 Announced

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Grange Primary School buzzed with energy as pupils took part in the selection of the 2026 retinue. Pupils delivered thoughtful and heartfelt speeches celebrating the meaning of Bo’ness Fair Day in true election style during a whole‑school assembly. After the presentations, every pupil within the school cast their vote by completing a ballot slip and placing it—class by class—into an authentic ballot box, a memorable experience for all involved.

Raise your masks, cue the marching band and let the carnival take over…presenting your 2026 Mardi Gras‑themed retinue:

Queen Elect – Holly Boyle, who will be crowned by Mrs Gail Dickson

Page Boys – Finlay Gibbs & Reuben Lawrence

Chief Lady – Ariana Barr

Queen of Flowergirls – Jessica Scott

Queen of Fairies – Natalie Bell

Bower Girls – Poppy Carr, Belle Simpson, Sophie Reid, Abigail Kidd, Charlotte Finaly, Avery Earle, Isla Devlin, Rosie Christie

Ladies in Waiting – Olivia Aird, Rhea Barrett, Ellie Johnston, Khloe McGill, Aria Mullen, Parker MacDonald, Jessica Robertson, Ruby Williamson,

Champion – Ruaridh Webster

Chief Lord – Richie Cunningham

Lord in Waiting – Alyaan Irfan

Herald (Glebe Park) – Thomas Davidson

Herald (Douglas Park) – Layton Dickson

Sword Bearer – Aaron Kelly

Crown Bearer – Jamie Rodgers

Sceptre Bearer – Frankie Vallely

Yeoman of the Guards – Freddie Sommerville & Oliver Allan

Queens Guards of Honour – Albert Houston, Rhuan Blackwood, Samuel Brown, Koen Van Der Hoek, Oliver Neilson, Kody Gibson, Reggie MacLachlan, Olly McCallum

Grange Primary will bring the party at this year’s fair with their presentation of ‘Grange Mardi Gras’. But lets take a moment to catch up on the exciting themes from other schools:

🏎️ Bo’ness Public Primary enter the fast lane with ‘BPS Lights out, and away we go’,

🏈 St Mary’s RC Primary will touchdown with “‘St Mary’s Super Bowl’,

⚓ Deanburn Primary School call to the sea with ‘All Hands of Deck’ and

🎸 Kinneil Primary bring 50’s Rock n’ Roll with ‘Rock, Hop and Jive’.

Get ready for a spectacular display of creativity and talent from our town and a massive congratulations to those children selected for the 118th Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival.