Music, magic and merriment coming to Crail for annual festival

Scottish singer Christine Bovill is sure to be a big attraction at the festival.

The 2016 Crail Festival launches next week for a full 11 days fit to bursting with enough entertainment to satisfy anyone's summer festival appetite.

The sensational Jimi Shandrix Band will set the tone for the opening ceilidh next Wedneday with a rousing electric set fronted by Sandy Brechin on accordion.

Musical offerings don’t stop there with a unique opportunity to catch an evening of opera.

From rock pools to cake mix, there are plenty of activities to keep the kids happy including a fossil hunt on July 22, a sandcastle competition on July 24 and a crabbing competition on July 26.

But it’s not all about music and entertaining the children. Other events include a performance of ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by Illyria and in conversation with fellow crime writer and rising star Russel D McLean will be Val McDermid.

Folk musician and harpist Rachel Newton will join actor Clive Russell in the much anticpated ‘Desert Island Poems’ event on July 27.

And award-winning magician Jamie the Jester will pop his colourful face in on the Street Market which runs through Saturday afternoon.

There are also plenty of opportunities to play an active part in the festival by testing your skills and knowledge as visitors are invited to take part in a competitive quiz on July 22.

And there are songwriting workshops with Richard Digance throughout the day on July 24, art workshops on July 25 and ceramic workshops on July 26!

Among the attractions running throughout the festival is the ever popular putting green on St Andrews Road where adults and children can show their competitive side from 1.30pm to 7.30pm (£1 adults, 50p children).

An art exhibition in Crail Town Hall will run July 20-30, from 10am-5pm where the talents of local amateur and professional artists, many of whom are members of Crail Art Group, will be displayed.

Those under 12 are being called on throughout the festival to keep an eye out for shiny little angels which will be popping up in windows all over Crail. Each angel will have a number on it and to enter the competition for a small prize pick up an entry form for 20p from the Festival Box Office in the Town Hall.