Tag Archive for: 2026

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.

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!

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!

Tag Archive for: 2026

Ladies Day

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Join us for a fundraising Ladies Day on Saturday, 3rd October, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at Bo’ness Town Hall.

“Get in ladies, we’re going fundraising.” Saturday, 3rd October, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at Bo’ness Town Hall, we’re bringing the sparkle, the sisterhood, and the sweetest homemade cakes to Bo’ness Town Hall for a Ladies Day Afternoon Tea with purpose. Our committee will be behind the bar pouring the bubbly, the room will be filled with laughter, and live entertainment will set the tone for a truly unforgettable afternoon.

But beyond the tea stands and the fizz, this day is about something bigger and more important, it’s a day to support the Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival – a tradition that belongs to every family, every street, every generation. By joining us, you’re helping preserve one of Scotland’s most treasured cultural celebrations, ensuring its heritage continues to inspire and delight the children who will one day take their place in its story.

2026 Annual General Meeting – AGM

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The Annual General Meeting of the Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival will be held on Thursday, 29th October at 7:30pm, in St Mary’s RC Church, Bo’ness.
Members of the public are invited to attend. This meeting provides an important opportunity for the community to engage with the ongoing stewardship and future planning of one of Bo’ness’s most valued traditions.
The Committee welcomes all attendees and encourages active participation in the discussions. Your insights and support are vital to ensuring the continued success and relevance of the Bo’ness Children’s Fair in our community.

Halloween Quiz

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Get ready for a spooktacular night of trivia at the annual Bo’ness Fair Halloween Quiz! Test your creepy trivia knowledge hosted by your favourite Quizmaster, David “Dead Sea” Paterson 🧟‍♂️
Date: Friday, 30th October
Start: Doors 7pm, quiz starts 7:30pm
Location: Bridgeness Miners Welfare Club
Entry: £5 per person (Maximum of 6 people per team)
Tickets: Contact 07496978098 to secure your team
As well as your quiz there will be a “Trick or Treat” Raffle: Try your luck to win spooky prizes.
Fancy Dress Competition: Fancy dress is optional, but a prize will be awarded for the best dressed costume!
Bring your own snacks to keep your energy up throughout the night, but no nuts please.
All proceeds go directly to supporting the Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival (SC031990)

Santa’s Festive Brunch

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Santas elves warmly invite you to a magical morning at Bo’ness Parish Church on Saturday, 12th December. We’re bringing the community together for a some christmas cheer with a special story from Santa followed by a warming brunch served up from Mrs Claus kitchen.

Your ticket includes;

  • A warm, hearty breakfast roll and a much-needed cup of tea or coffee to kick off your Saturday.
  • Santa will be taking a break from his workshop to read a classic Christmas Story to all the children. It’s the perfect moment of festive magic for the little ones.
  • After the story, every child will receive an early Christmas gift directly from Santa’s sack.
  • Where: Bo’ness Parish Church
  • When: Saturday, 12th December
  • Tickets: £8 per person plus booking fee (Includes breakfast roll, tea/coffee, Santa story time, and a gift for the children)

Torchlight Procession

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Bo’ness Children’s Fair Festival is lighting up the winter night once again!

Join us for the return of our Torchlight Procession on Sunday, 27th December, as we illuminate a one-mile route to celebrate 6 months to Fair Day 2027.
Each ticket includes a wax torch for adults or a child-friendly glowstick pack for under 12s to guide your way. Wrap up warm, gather your family and friends, and come mark this Fair tradition with us!

Key Information & Accessibility

Wax torches carry an open flame, so please dress appropriately with non-flammable outer layers. The full one-mile route is wheelchair, pushchair and pram friendly, and well-behaved dogs on short leads are very welcome to join the walk.

Event Details

Date: Sunday, 27th December
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Start and finish points to be confirmed soon
Tickets: Early bird offer of £5 per person plus booking fee available until 31st October, which includes your torch or glowsticks.