Fife events through the year

Dates change from year to year, so we’ve given the usual timing. For exact dates and the full listings, see the official websites or Welcome to Fife’s what’s on guide.

January

• New Year’s Day dips, Kirkcaldy and Kinghorn: Brave (or cheer on) a charity dip in the Forth on 1 January.

March

• StAnza, St Andrews: Scotland’s international poetry festival, with readings, talks and performances. Website

April

• Links Market, Kirkcaldy: A funfair that has run along the seafront every April for centuries, often called Europe’s longest street fair. Free to enter; you pay per ride.
• Isle of May season opens, Anstruther: Boats sail from 1 April, and the puffins are back for the summer. Website

May

• Fife Show, near Cupar: Fife’s agricultural show, on a Saturday in late May: livestock, horses, vintage machinery and local food. Website
• Balgove Night Markets, St Andrews: Evening food and craft markets, on the first Tuesday of the month from May to September. Website

June

• Ceres Highland Games, Ceres: Held on the last Saturday of June, and said to date back to 1314, making it one of the oldest free Highland games in Scotland. Website
• Markinch Highland Games, Markinch: Piping, dancing and heavy events in early June.

July

• East Neuk Festival, East Neuk villages: Classical and folk music in churches, barns and harbours, around the start of July. Website
• Burntisland Highland Games, Burntisland: One of Scotland’s oldest Highland games, held on the Links on the local July holiday Monday.
• The Open 2027, St Andrews: The 155th Open comes to the Old Course from 11 to 18 July 2027. Where to stay for The Open.

August

• Pittenweem Arts Festival, Pittenweem: For a week in early August, homes, studios and gardens across the village open as galleries.
• Lammas Market, St Andrews: A street fair of medieval origin that takes over Market Street and South Street in August.
• Anstruther Harbour Festival, Anstruther: Boats, music and stalls around the harbour at the end of August.

September

• Outwith Festival, Dunfermline: Music, theatre, film and books in venues across the city in early September.

October

• Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, St Andrews and Kingsbarns: A professional pro-am played over the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie in late September or early October. Website
• Grey seal pups, Tentsmuir and the Isle of May: Autumn is seal pupping season. Watch from a distance at Tentsmuir.

November

• St Andrew’s Day, St Andrews: Celebrations around 30 November in the town named after Scotland’s patron saint, with music, a market, a torchlit procession and fireworks. Website
• Christmas lights, Dunfermline and around Fife: Towns across Fife switch on their lights from mid-November.

December

• Festive markets, around Fife: Look out for the December editions of Fife’s regular markets, including the Bowhouse market weekend in St Monans. Website

All year round

• Bowhouse market weekends, St Monans: Local food, drink and makers on the second weekend of most months. Website
• Farmers’ and craft markets, around Fife: Regular markets in St Andrews, Cupar, Dunfermline and Falkland. Check with each organiser for dates.
• Seals, Tentsmuir: Grey and common seals haul out on the sands at Tentsmuir all year.

Staying for an event?

Big weekends, such as the Links Market, the Highland games and the golf, fill up early. Search with your dates to see which of our homes are free, and book direct for the best price.

Event information researched from organisers’ websites, Fife Council and Welcome to Fife. Events can change or be cancelled, so please check before you travel.