🧭 New Water Sports Centre for Fife?

Good morning, Fifers!

Here’s what's coming your way today:

• New Water Sports Centre for Fife?

• World Cup Pub Opening Hours Confirmed

• 58 Events to See This Weekend

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about!

— Duncan

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🍻 Fife Council has approved later opening hours for pubs to screen key World Cup matches, allowing venues to stay open up to 30 minutes after games involving Scotland, England and knockout fixtures finish.

• 💊 NHS Fife has opened a public consultation on a new pharmacy application in Burntisland, with residents invited to give feedback before the deadline on the 25th of August.

• ⛳ More than 670 golfers took part in the annual Old Course Reversed event at St Andrews Links, giving players the rare chance to play the historic course in its original clockwise direction. 7,900+ golfers from 63 countries applied for public packages, which took place over the 17th, 18th and 20th April.

• 🚶‍♂️ Fife Council has praised schools across the region after nearly 50,000 active journeys were recorded during the Big Walk and Wheel event, with more than 50 schools taking part to promote healthier travel to school.

• 🏙️ Fife Council says Kirkcaldy’s regeneration is moving into a new phase, with a community event planned for the end of May to update residents on emerging town centre and waterfront plans shaped by local feedback. The proposals include improved green spaces along the Esplanade, better active travel links, and early ideas for a new waterfront destination linking the High Street to the coast.

• ⚓ Babcock International Group has completed a major maintenance programme on HMS Queen Elizabeth at Rosyth, with the carrier now returning to operational readiness ahead of sea trials. You may have spotted it in the Forth over the past week.

• 🏛️ Fife Council has agreed to continue funding Love Oor Lang Toun for another year, despite councillors raising concerns about its governance and delivery. A review of the organisation’s work and leadership will now be brought back to the committee in October, after new trustees have taken steps to improve governance.

• 🏊 Fife Sports and Leisure Trust is celebrating 10 years of its Learn to Swim programme, having helped over 80,000 people gain water confidence and lifesaving skills across the region. To celebrate, they are offering new customers the chance to join the programme for just £10 for their first month. More details here.

• 🎓 Fife Council has reported that 95.7% of Kirkcaldy school leavers moved into positive destinations in 2024/25, marking continued progress in attainment, though gaps with the wider Fife average remain.

TODAY’S TOP STORY

🏄 New Water Sports Centre for Fife?

Crail could be getting a new water sports hub after becoming the first East Neuk community to receive funding from the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm's community benefit fund. The Royal Burgh of Crail Community Council has been awarded £10,800 to develop a comprehensive business plan for transforming the Gas Works area adjacent to Crail Harbour into a multi-use water sports facility.

The funding will support both the business planning and a structural survey to establish the feasibility and financial sustainability of the project before any asset transfer from Fife Council to the community takes place. The ambitious proposal emerged from extensive community consultation for Crail's Local Place Plan, which identified "maintaining and improving harbour facilities" as a key priority, with a 2022 survey by Crail Community Partnership finding 88% of respondents considered harbour improvements important, given the harbour's prominence in community life and the local environment.

This is just the first grant from the NnG offshore wind farm, which is expected to provide £6.75 million in community benefit over its 25-year lifetime to East Lothian, Berwickshire, and Fife coastal communities. 20% is earmarked for Fife communities, including Crail, Elie & Earlsferry, St Monans & Abercrombie, Pittenweem & Kilrenny, and Anstruther & Cellardyke in the first three years, with funding in the other four Fife communities to be confirmed later this year.

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

Please remember to double-check details with venues before travelling, as events can occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, and some will require prebooked tickets.

Friday, 24th April

Hayley Matthews Art: Pop-Up Shop - Step into a celebration of colour and creativity at our exclusive pop-up shop featuring the work of contemporary artist Hayley Matthews.
📁 Market | 🕢 10am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Paint and Sip: People - Practice painting people - inspired by our new exhibition.
📁 Art | 🕢 5:30pm | 📍 R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £20

Friday Night Slides - 1/10th scale Electric RWD Drift cars only, and must be running Buzz Break or DS Racing LF4 tyres.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 6:30pm | 📍 Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth | 🎟️ £5+

Soroptimist International Kirkcaldy: Rock Choir Concert - Concert fundraising for Team Jak. There will be a raffle for the tombola & also for a hamper.
📁 Music | 🕢 6:40pm | 📍 St Bryce Kirk, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £10

Soul Station - Resident DJ Martin Duffy keeps us entertained, so bring your dancing shoes.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.38

Straighten Out - Tribute To The Stranglers.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13.20

Blue Angels Garden Gala 2026 - Join them as they celebrate another wonderful year of Blue Angels and Dance Club!
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £11+

Gypsy Pistoleros - Supported by James Kennedy and The Underdogs
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 The Monarch Bar, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £9.05

The Journey Back - The beloved show that’s wowed audiences in arenas all over, and we can’t wait to have a sing-along with the Rangers support in Fife!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £26.50

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure - Madagascar the Musical is a stage adaptation of the animated movie Madagascar.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Blyth Hall, Newport-on-Tay | 🎟️ £14.97+

The Milk Men - Nominated for 8 UK Blues Awards and British Blues Challenge finalists, and with a #1 blues single and album to their name.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £28.60

Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac - The ultimate tribute to one of rock and roll’s most remarkable groups.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £40+

Saturday, 25th April

Fife Brass Band Festival - Annual competition for up to 16 contesting brass bands from Scotland and further afield.
📁 Music | 🕢 9:30am | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £7.50+

Hayley Matthews Art: Pop-Up Shop - Step into a celebration of colour and creativity at our exclusive pop-up shop featuring the work of contemporary artist Hayley Matthews.
📁 Market | 🕢 10am | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

The Infusion Atelier - An immersive botanical experience to awaken your senses. Through scents and flavours, blend your unique gourmet herbal tea.
📁 Drink | 🕢 10am | 📍 Abbot House, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £36.50

Make Your Own Bug Hotel - A fun, hands-on workshop for kids at Kellie Castle where they can build their own bug hotel.
📁 Children | 🕢 10am & 2pm | 📍 Kellie Castle | 🎟️ £15

Coiled Rope Basket Workshop - Spend the day with Eilidh Weir (All That is Braw) creating a coiled basket with recycled materials.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Forgan Arts Centre | 🎟️ £77

Meeting Dandelion - Join local herbalist Rosy to meet and learn about one seasonal herb at a time.
📁 Food | 🕢 10am | 📍 The Wynd, Falkland | 🎟️ £33.22

Yoghurt, Butter & Fresh Cheese Masterclass - Spend a day immersed in the joy of cheesemaking, cooking, and sharing a beautiful, seasonal lunch.
📁 Food | 🕢 10am | 📍 Bowhouse, St Monans | 🎟️ £130.67

Curated in Cupar - Expect to find unique handmade crafts, thoughtful homewares, original art and carefully designed gifts.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 Cupar Corn Exchange | 🎟️ Free

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure - Madagascar the Musical is a stage adaptation of the animated movie Madagascar.
📁 Stage | 🕢 11am & 2:30pm | 📍 Blyth Hall, Newport-on-Tay | 🎟️ £14.97+

Pick-up a Fruit Tree at Orchard Blossom Day - Pick-up a tree to take away and plant at home in your garden.
📁 Garden | 🕢 12pm | 📍 Ravenscraig Walled Gardens | 🎟️ Free

Micro Bangers WCQR2 - Featuring National Hot Rods, Superstox, Stock Rods, Junior Bangers, and National Micro Bangers.
📁 Sport | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Lochgelly Raceway | 🎟️ £16

Stock Car, Banger, and Hot Rod Racing - The Racewall brings all the action from BriSCA F2, ORCi Stock Rods, Prostocks & Prostock Basics.
📁 Sport | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Cowdenbeath Racewall | 🎟️ £18.50

Big Country - Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £35.75

Witches of Scotland: The Scottish Witch Trials - A fascinating talk about their popular podcast & book "How to Kill a Witch".
📁 Talk | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Falkland Palace | 🎟️ £9.50+

Bounce Bingo - Zander Nation Presents Bounce Bingo.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Styx, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £16.75

Boogie Bingo - Get ready to dance and shout bingo at the grooviest Boogie Bingo night in town!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Tayside Institute, Newburgh | 🎟️ £16.96

Susan Calman: Work in Progress - Tall tales is a show about cruising, driving tanks, cats and getting older.
📁 Comedy | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £21.50

Henning Wehn: Acid Wehn - Everyone loves talking about the weather. Rain or shine, all will be fine. Or maybe it won’t. Who knows?! Come along. Or else.
📁 Comedy | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £29.50+

Fleetwood Bac - The UK’s most authentic Fleetwood Mac tribute band.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £26.50

Ursula Grant - Evening of live soul music featuring classics from Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and more.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

Saturday Comedy with Raymond Mearns - The comedy legend presents an extra-long dose of his searing brand of comedy.
📁 Comedy | 🕢 8pm | 📍 St Andrews Bowling Club | 🎟️ £16.96

Classic Clapton - World's No1 Eric Clapton Tribute Band will perform an acoustic concert.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £26.40

Sunday, 26th April

Lego Play Day - Open throughout the day for families to get creative with Lego.
📁 Children | 🕢 10am | 📍 R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Rosyth Community Market - Fabulous selection of stalls selling a huge variety of food, crafts and more!
📁 Markets | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Parkgate Community Centre, Rosyth | 🎟️ Free

Sunday Social: Three Parks - This ride will include the three main parks in Kirkcaldy, as well as Pannie Den.
📁 Sport | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Ravenscraig Park Car Park | 🎟️ Free

Captain David Seath Memorial Fund 5K Run - Join us in marking ten years of supporting veterans and their families across Scotland.
📁 Sport | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £6

Spring Market - Join us for a vibrant day of local makers, treats and artisan finds!
📁 Markets | 🕢 11am | 📍 Doubletree Queensferry | 🎟️ Free

Sauna and Cacao Circle - Join us for a ceremonial cacao women’s circle.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 11am | 📍 Kinghorn Loch | 🎟️ £25

Market Garden Farm Tour - Join us once a month and walk through the garden as the growing season progresses.
📁 Tour | 🕢 11am | 📍 Pillars of Hercules Organic Farm | 🎟️ £6+

Foraging for Beginners - Foraging for complete beginners, family-friendly, accessible event.
📁 Food | 🕢 11am | 📍 Aberdour | 🎟️ £25.08

Culross Community Market - Enjoy a fantastic day of local shopping, delicious food, and live music.
📁 Markets | 🕢 12pm | 📍 Culross Green | 🎟️ Free

Falkland Estate Monthly Market - Enjoy browsing the monthly Makers Market held in our beautiful and unique spaces here at the Stables.
📁 Markets | 🕢 12pm | 📍 The Stables, Falkland Estate | 🎟️ Free

MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Draft - Celebrate the return to classes at Strixhaven with our 'Secrets of Strixhaven' Draft Event, and represent your chosen college with pride.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 12pm | 📍 Glebe Park Centre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £12

Community Sauna - Our wood-fired sauna is held outdoors at the beautiful Kinghorn Loch. Come and relax, restore, and step into the new year.
📁 Sauna | 🕢 1:30pm & 2:50pm | 📍 Kinghorn Loch | 🎟️ £5+

Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station Visit - Come and get a behind the scenes look at Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 2pm | 📍 RNLI Anstruther Lifeboat Station | 🎟️ Free

NTLive: The Audience - Returning to cinemas for the first time in over a decade, Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II.
📁 Movie | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10+

Galahad - Stalwarts of the UK and international ‘Prog’ scene.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £30.80

Monday, 27th April

Musical Theatre Toning - Class is suitable for all levels, with a full body workout that uses showtunes to make exercise feel like a performance.
📁 Sport | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Dunfermline Learning Campus | 🎟️ Free

Multi-Day Festivals & Events

Building No.3 Dock Exhibition - An exhibition curated by the Methil Heritage Friends showcasing a huge part of the history of the local area.
📅 Wed, 8th April - Sat, 30th May | 🕢 11am-4pm | 📍 Methil Heritage Centre | 🎟️ Free

Hayley Matthews Art Exhibition: Wild! - A vibrant new collection of original paintings and prints by self-taught artist Hayley Matthews.
📅 Tue, 7th April - Thu, 25th June | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ Free

Pins and Needles Exhibition - The exhibition showcases previously unseen or rarely-seen items from the museum’s textile collection.
📅 Thu, 9th April - Sun, 23rd August | 🕢 10am-4pm (Mon-Sat) & 11am-4pm (Sun) | 📍 Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther | 🎟️ Museum Admission

Living Colour: Celebrating 200 Years of the Royal Scottish Academy - Experience the incredible range of RSA artists represented in this specially curated show from OnFife’s collections.
📅 Sat, 28th March - Sat, 5th September | 🕢 10:30am-4pm (Mon-Sat) | 📍 St Andrews Museum | 🎟️ Free

Unearthed - Step back in time to where it all began in our latest family-friendly exhibition.
📅 Sat, 21st March - Sun, 6th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ Free

The Wemyss Ware Cat Trail - Trail of 17 large-scale Wemyss Cat sculptures, each standing over 1.7 metres tall.
📅 Sat, 25th April - Sun, 6th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

Dear Earth - An exhibition exploring how artists are responding to the increased fragility of the world around us.
📅 Sat, 21st March - Sun, 13th September | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Kirkcaldy Galleries | 🎟️ Free

Carnegie and the RSA: A Celebration of the Carnegie Travelling Scholarship - This exhibition celebrates the wide-ranging impact of the Royal Scottish Academy’s Carnegie Travelling Scholarship as part of RSA 200: Celebrating Together.
📅 Mon, 23rd March - Sun, 13th December | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum | 🎟️ Free

Kirkcaldy Boot & Mart - Indoor and outdoor market held every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.
📅 Sat, 10th January - Wed, 16th December | 🕢 9am (Wed, Sat, & Sun) | 📍 6 Michelson Drive, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

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THANKS FOR READING

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Cheers,

Duncan