Upcoming AGM

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Every year, the Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival brings our town together in a celebration full of tradition, and community spirit, with one aim to create unforgettable memories for local children. And this year was no different as we crowned the 118th Bo’ness Fair Queen from Grange Primary School. “The Best Day of the Year,” the Fair’s success relies entirely on the dedication, passion, and fresh ideas of people across our community.
Whether you have attended the Fair Day for decades, watched your children or grandchildren take part, or want to support one of Scotland’s longest running local traditions, we want to invite you to join us at our upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Meeting Details

  • Location: St Mary’s Church Hall, Linlithgow Road, Bo’ness
  • Date: Thursday 29th October
  • Time: 7:30 PM
  • Eligibility: Open to all local residents aged 18 and over

Why Attend the AGM?

The AGM is more than just an official meeting, it is an opportunity to look back on the year, share feedback, and set the wheels in motion for next year’s Fair.
Here is what you can expect:
  1. Hear Updates from the Executive Committee: Get an overview of the past year, financial reports and administrative updates.
  2. Have Your Say: Your feedback, ideas to help the Fair grow and evolve for future generations.
  3. Get Involved: The Fair Committee is always looking for new volunteers. Whether you can lend a hand on the day, assist with fundraising events throughout the year, or take on an executive role, every bit of help makes a difference.
The Fair is powered by volunteers and community enthusiasm. Seeing new faces alongside long-standing supporters brings the energy and ideas needed to keep our Fair thriving year after year.
Mark your calendars, bring a friend or neighbour, and come along to discover how you can play a part in delivering the next Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival. We look forward to seeing you there as we recap on another Bo’ness Children’s Fair Day!

Preserving the Magic: How You Can Help Save the History of the Bo’ness Fair

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For generations, the Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival has been at the heart of our town. The vibrant arches, the excitement of Fair Morning, and the tradition around it bind the community together year after year. For the past few years, researchers from the University of Glasgow have been working alongside local residents to explore this rich heritage. Now, the project is taking an exciting next step: creating a community-led archive to ensure the history of the Fair is protected for generations to come.

To kick things off, a special community event is coming to Bo’ness Hippodrome:

  • What’s Happening at the Event?
    Research Insights: Learn what the University of Glasgow team has uncovered so far about the history and cultural impact of the Fair.
  • Archive Sneak Peeks: See fascinating materials discovered during the latest phase of the project.
  • Exclusive Footage: Be among the first to enjoy a special short snippet from the Fair Day 2026 film on the big screen.
  • Community Story Sharing: Swap memories and connect with fellow locals passionate about keeping the town’s history alive.

How You Can Get Involved
An archive is only as rich as the stories within it, and you might be holding onto a piece of Bo’ness history without even realising it. Everyone is invited to bring along any Fair-related items, old or new. If you can’t bring the items themselves, photos or a simple list of what you have are just as helpful.

Items of interest include:

  • Photographs, scrapbooks, and home videos
  • Programmes, tickets, and newspaper cuttings
  • Official letters, documents, and audio recordings
  • Unique memorabilia and personal keepsakes

Event Details

  • Date: Tuesday, 15th September 2026
  • Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
  • Venue: Bo’ness Hippodrome
  • Admission: Free (All welcome!)

Whether your family has lived in Bo’ness for generations or you are new to the area’s unique traditions, your memories matter. Drop in, share your stories, and help build a lasting legacy for the Fair.

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!