Countdown To Baton Relay

One week until Fife cheers on the Queen's Baton.

It's just one week until the Queen's Baton Relay arrives in Fife.

It will spend the day in the area on Thursday 26 June and take in Knockhill Racing Circuit, Dunfermline Abbey and travel by RNLI lifeboat between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy. Later in the day it will visit Falkland Palace and the East Neuk before finishing up in St Andrews for a carnival-themed parade.

Celebratory events to mark the Queen's Baton Relay coming to Fife have been supported through Games for Scotland, a programme managed by EventScotland and a key part of Legacy 2014.

Fife Council has set up a website at www.fifedirect.org.uk/queensbatonrelay with information on the route, the batonbearers, traffic disruptions and possible changes to council services.

Emma Broadhurst, the Council's Physical Activity & Legacy Manager, is looking forward to welcoming the baton to Fife and showcasing lots of sports and activities that are available in the area. She said: 

"We've got a great day planned to celebrate the baton coming to Fife and there has already been a really great reaction to it arriving in Scotland.

"Some areas have seen big crowds come out to welcome the baton so we would like to remind everyone of the traffic restrictions that will be in place in some areas from the night before the baton arrives."

The areas affected are Dunfermline, Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Leven, Falkland, Freuchie, Cupar, Pittenweem, Anstruther, Cellardyke and St Andrews. A full list of affected streets is on the website.

If you live in one of the communities on the baton’s route, Council services may be affected in your area too. 

If your street is on the line of route and due for a bin collection that day, please ensure your bin is out on time (by 6am). We will try to service these streets as early as we can that day. If possible, please take your bin back in as soon as you can to avoid causing an obstruction on the street, which may be busier than normal with pedestrians.

Fife Council's Active Fife team is also calling on Fifers to get involved in the FREE evening celebration event for the Queen’s Baton Relay in St Andrews. From 5.15pm until 7.30pm a carnival-themed parade will lead the way where there will be live music, a samba band, choirs and of course the baton itself!

As part of the party we are attempting to break the World Record for the World's Biggest Ceilidh. Anyone can come along to the celebration, just turn up on the night! And all you need to do to take part in the ceilidh is collect a wrist band in advance from St Andrews library, tourist information centre or local office. They are available now.

Provost of Fife, Jim Leishman said: 

"Excitement is building as the Games approach. We are set for a great day of celebration in Fife and I urge people to come along and take part in this wonderful opportunity that will hopefully see us celebrate in style by smashing the world record!"

Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: 

"We are delighted to be working with Fife Council to deliver their Games for Scotland events this year, as we countdown the final days to the Games. The Council have planned an exciting and creative daytime and evening programme to mark the Queen’s Baton Relay in the area and it should be a memorable occasion.

"The Games for Scotland programme has been spreading the message of the Games around Scotland's communities since 2010 and has proved to be hugely popular. The diverse programme of sport and dance events, which this year additionally celebrate the arrival of the Queen's Baton Relay, extend the legacy of the Games beyond the host city to benefit communities throughout Scotland."

Revellers taking part are being asked to wear something tartan, a kilt, hat, scarf to help get in the spirit of the event! To save time, you can print out a registration form online www.fifedirect.org.uk/queensbatonrelay and take it with you to collect your wristbands.

If you can't get to one of our St Andrews outlets, contact Rae in the Active Fife team on 01383 602393.