Cupar’s Big Celebration

by

In September 2021, Cupar celebrated the end of lockdowns with a great weekend of events and activities that involved hundreds and entertained thousands – and the town repeated a version of the same last year to celebrate Cupar’s extraordinary community spirit. More than 30 local associations, charities, clubs, groups and societies met last November to start plans for 2023’s event – agreeing on four key themes: music, youngsters, local food and Cupar & Country’s unique heritage.

And we are now on countdown … so save the date for Cupar’s Big Weekend!

Friday 15th September

  • Event: The Stirling Family’s Big Cupar Funfair
    • Location: Haugh Park
    • Times: 1700 until 2030
    • Tickets/access information: individual ride prices depending on the activity. If driving to the Fair, please park in Fluthers Car Park (on the opposite side of the park as you enter the town from St Andrews). The car park is free and has toilet and baby-change facilities.
  • What to expect: the Fun Fair returns and this is their final weekend of their run in Cupar, so come and enjoy all of the fun of the fair in the park.

 

  • Event: School Food & Drink Showcase
    • Location: Corn Exchange – lower hall
    • Times: to be finalised
    • Tickets/access information:
  • What to expect: the Royal Highland Education Trust Fife Countryside Initiative – working with local food producers and suppliers – will deliver a showcase of provenance working with local schools. More than 120 children will be attending. Alongside RHET, Willie Balfour from SRUC Elmwood will be at his demonstration kitchen cooking up a stir fry using local produce. Almost all of the ingredients being used are from Paterson’s Fruit Fayre on Bonnygate who have kindly donated the ingredients for the day. Please note, there are no ‘tasters’ as the organisers are avoiding any health & safety or allergen issues: but there are Recipe Cards for the children to take away so you can try the dishes at home.

 

Saturday 16th September

  • Event: The Stirling Family’s Big Cupar Funfair

    • Location: Haugh Park
    • Times: 1300 until 2030
    • Tickets/access information: individual ride prices depending on the activity. If driving to the Fair, please park in Fluthers Car Park (on the opposite side of the park as you enter the town from St Andrews). The car park is free and has toilet and baby-change facilities.
  • What to expect: the Fun Fair returns and this is their final Saturday of their run in Cupar, so come and enjoy all of the fun of the fair in the park.

 

  • Event: Food & Drink Showcase
    • Location: Corn Exchange – lower hall
    • Times: 1000-1400
    • Tickets/access information: this is a free event
  • What to expect: the Royal Highland Education Trust Fife Countryside Initiative – working with local food producers and suppliers – is delivering a showcase of provenance alongside SRUC Elmwood. Willie Balfour from SRUC will be at his demonstration  kitchen cooking up some delights using local produce. Almost all of the ingredients being used are from Paterson’s Fruit Fayre on Bonnygate who have kindly donated the ingredients for the day. Please note, there are no ‘tasters’ as the organisers are avoiding any health & safety or allergen issues: but there are Recipe Cards to take away so you can try the dishes at home. They include …
    • Apple & Blackberry Millefeuille Tart
    • Kofta Kebab with Flat Bread & CousCous
    • Cupar’s Carrot Biryani
  • You can also take a walk, roll or stroll around town and enjoy the Cupar Food & Drink Trail – just click on the image below. The Trail was created in 2021 to help promote the local food & drink offering across north-east Fife. There are seven trails, all centred on Cupar as the area’s market town – and you can discover more via this link.

 

  • Event: Cupar’s Medieval Market Town Meets the 21st Century Present
    • Location: Cupar’s Market Cross
    • Times: from 0930
    • Tickets/access information: this is a free event held alongside Cupar’s Market
  • What to expect: announcements and pronouncements, some live readings, some musical interludes and information on the weekend being shared with those attending. Many of this event’s activities are delivered by Three Estates Cupar and their respective partners including Cupar Development Trust.

 

  • Event: Cupar’s Churches Open Day
    • Location: across Cupar’s town centre
    • Times: 1000-1200
    • Ticket/access information: this is a free event
  • What to expect: come a discover Cupar’s churches – the places, the people, the architecture and more. St John’s on Bonnygate as well as the Cupar Baptist Church, also on Bonnygate. Cupar Old Parish Church on Kirkgate as well as St Columba’s Church – also on Kirkgate – and St James on St Catherine Street. St James will remain open as it is delivering a Music Marathon from 1000-1730 (see below).

 

 

  • Event: Cupar YMCA/YWCA Open Day
    • Location: Bonnygate
    • Times: 1000-1200
    • Tickets/access information: entry is free
  • What to expect: come and meet the Cupar Y team!

 

  • Event: Horse Sculpture Open Morning
    • Location: Cameron Durie’s workshop off Bonnygate; access to the workshop is through the opening on the left of Cupar YMCA, where it is situated at the far left corner of the square, next to Bespoke Joinery.
    • Times: 1000-1200
    • Tickets/access information: this is a free event.
  • What to expect: come along and see how the sculpture is progressing and discuss the ideas behind it with sculptor, Cameron, and project coordinator, Margaret Robertson. You can read more via our Blog link here.

 

  • Event: Cupar Youth Cafe Open Day
    • Location: Castlehill
    • Times: 1000-1200
    • Tickets/access information: entry is free
  • What to expect: come and meet the Youth Cafe team and discover more on their work, projects and activities.

 

 

  • Event: Open Doors at Lodge No. 19
    • Location: Freemasons Hall, 72 Bonnygate (KY15 4LB)
    • Times: 1000-1500
    • Tickets/access information: this is a free event and all are welcome.
  • What to expect: The lodge rooms will be setup as if they were holding a meeting. They will also display some of their historical Masonic artifacts for the public to view. Also on display will be their elaborate regalia and office bearer jewels. Their members will be on hand to provide guided tours of the building as well as an historical overview of what the building has been used for over the centuries.

 

  • Event: Open garden at Over Rankeilour
    • Location: Over Rankeilour Walled Garden (look for the signs at the road end)
    • Times: 1030-1230
    • Tickets/access information: free entry
  • What to expect: The community therapeutic garden is just outside Cupar.  Their aim is to provide a safe and supportive green space environment for volunteers and those referred to them from NHS organisations and other third sector groups. They grow fruit, veg and flowers and – in doing so – are trying to restore the 2.5 acre walled garden that would once have been the kitchen garden for Over Rankeilour House. There will be teas & coffees, cakes and fresh produce on offer!

 

  • Event: Cupar Music Marathon
    • Location: St James Church, St Catherine Street
    • Times: 1000-1730
    • Tickets/access information: this is a free event
  • What to expect: you name it, you might hear it! Last year, the church had solo singers, choirs, musicians and more.

 

  • Event: Shire of Caer Caledon
    • Location: Haugh Park – by the picnic tables
    • Times: from 1100
    • Tickets/access information: this is a free event
  • What to expect: The “Shire of Caer Caledon” is St Andrews University’s medieval reenactment group ; they will be present in the Haugh Park and representing a number of the medieval guilds showing the lives of people in the late medieval period. You can find more on their group via this link.

 

  • Event: Ceilidh in the Park!
    • Location: Haugh Park – by the bandstand (please note – Old Parish Centre in the event of bad weather)
    • Times: 1400-1700
    • Tickets/access information: this is a free event but all attending are asked to register in advance so numbers can be managed for everyone’s safety and enjoyment.
  • What to expect: the Ceilidh will be delivered by The Jacqueline Raeburn Band. In addition …

 

Sunday 17th September

  • Event: The Stirling Family’s Big Cupar Funfair

    • Location: Haugh Park
    • Times: 1200 until 1700
    • Tickets/access information: individual ride prices depending on the activity. If driving to the Fair, please park in Fluthers Car Park (on the opposite side of the park as you enter the town from St Andrews). The car park is free and has toilet and baby-change facilities. It is 30p to use toilet facilities. The disabled toilet requires a Radar Key. You can also pay by card.
  • What to expect: the Fun Fair’s final day. Make the most!

 

  • Event: Cupar’s Big Wee Cycle
  • What to expect: this event has been organised by Sustainable Cupar and their Active Travel Group and will be highlighting Cupar’s accessibility to cyclists. It is open to adults and children over eight years old only (must be accompanied by an adult). The ride ends with a gathering in the Haugh Park, where Dr Bike from Greener Kirkcaldy will be in attendance … before a cycle around the park on a specially marked out route that will enable children to join in.

 

  • Event: Cupar’s Big Praise!
    • Location: Haugh Park – at the bandstand (or St John’s Church in the event of bad weather)
    • Times: 1400-1600
    • Tickets/access information: this is a free event but all attending are asked to register so that numbers can be managed.
  • What to expect: a coming together of Cupar’s Churches to celebrate our town, community and all those who make Cupar their home. It will see live music from Celtic Worship. Bring your voices – and your own ‘pew’ to sit and enjoy this unique ‘big praise’ event.
    • Hot and cold beverages will be available on the day.
    • Hymn Sheet: the organisers are trying to avoid unnecessary print costs for the day so we have added the day’s hymns to an online page where all can be accessed. This can be found via this link. It is our understanding they will also have screens to view on the day.

 

  • Event: Cupar’s Big Concert!
    • Location: St John’s Church
    • Times: from 1900
    • Tickets/access information: this is a free event but all attending are asked to register so that numbers can be managed.
  • What to expect: a line up of local musical talent – musicians and singers – is being assembled to deliver an eclectic and entertaining musical finale to Cupar’s 2023 Big Weekend. So far, the line-up includes …
    • First set
      • St Columba’s School Choir
      • Bagpipe Solo – by Gabriel
      • Songs – by Agatha
      • Violin Solo
      • Rebecka & Ava
    • Interval
      • Bagpipe Solo – Magnus
      • Songs – by Rebecka
      • Bagpipe Duet – Magnus & Gabriel
      • The Klez Un Mair Collective

 

Food & Drink …

Cupar has more than forty businesses selling food & drink – from convenience stores and supermarkets to a whole host eateries. In partrnership with Cupar Development Trust, we helped to create the North East Fife Food & Drink Trails – a series of seven trails all centered on Cupar that take you on a foodies’ journey of discovery.

There is a Cupar Trail – and you can find more by following this link. When visiting for the BIG Weekend, be sure to take time out to enjoy local food and drinks across the town.

For the collective of trails, please click on the image below …

Thank you …

The forum of community groups involved in delivering the BIG Weekend would like to acknowledge and thank The National Lottery Community Fund who have made an award to help fund the events and activities taking place through the BIG Weekend. Through the auspices of Cupar Development Trust, an application for support was made. The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still: said: “National Lottery funding can make amazing things happen in local communities across the country. This project is a great example of community activity in action, showing just what can be achieved when people come together for a common cause or to help others. National Lottery players can be proud to know that the money they raise is helping to support this vital work which is making a real difference to so many.”

So thank you to the Trust. Thank you to Raymond Young who wrote the application using materials and information provided by members of the Cupar Forum – and thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund for their award.

 

So far, so good …

The itinerary listed above covers all the events and activities to date – but there’s room for more! If you run a local organisation or business and would like to become part of this unique celebration, please do get in touch. Remember the themes:

  • Music
  • Youngsters
  • Local food & drink
  • Cupar & Country’s unique heritage

If you’d like to run an event on the weekend that dovetails with one or more of these Big Weekend themes, please drop an email via this link to Raymond Young who has helped to lead the fantastic forum of community groups that have collaborated and combined to bring together what promises to be a wonderful weekend for all to enjoy. The more the merrier!

 

Need Free Wi-Fi?

If you are in town for the weekend and require access to free Wi-Fi, you can use the CuparNow network. Thousands have done so to date – and subscribed to receive our regular e-shot updates sharing news and events from the town. Just search for the CuparNow network and use the registration information to access the network.

 

Visiting?

Planning on coming to the Big Weekend? We hope the following information is useful to help you plan your trip …

  • By Rail: the town centre is a short stroll or roll from the station … regular services connect Cupar to all mainline stations.
  • By Bus: Cupar is a hub for Express buses as well as for local services across north-east Fife.
  • By Car: Cupar is a five-road hub – the A91, A913 and A914 converge with two B roads (from Levenmouth and the East Neuk). The largest car park that’s closest to the Haugh Park (where the funfair will take place) is Fluthers. It is free (circ. 200 cars), has electric car charge points and a toilet block at its entrance. It is a short walk via pedestrian crossings to the park. There is limited on street parking in the town (free for given periods denoted on signs) and pay and display car parks – the largest of which is accessed from Bonnygate. It is operated by Fife Council. You can also use Ringo to pay via your phone: please click on the map below for more.
  • By Bike & Hike: Cupar is just off the National Route 1 Cycleway. The town has bike racks in a number of car parks. Many local walks & trails are close by.
  • By Taxi: there are a number of taxi operators in the town. The taxi rank is by the Corn Exchange.

 

Please note …

All events/activities are subject to change without prior notice but we will do all we can to ensure this page and the information shared on our channels is as up to date as it can be. If you are running any activity and need to make us aware of changes to this Blog, please use this link to email us. Thank you.

 

A part of the Big Weekend?

If your company or organisation is a part of the Big Weekend’s calendar, you can download a PDF to gain access to use the event’s logos, QR code and poster.

Just click on the logo below to open our shared Google doc.

On TV …

In 2022, we shot and broadcast a TV campaign inviting folk to spend a day in Cupar & Country. It was seen by more than 330,000 people during its run. The TV ad is being repeated this summer in a campaign that runs up to and including the BIG Weekend. You can watch the ad by clicking on the image below …

 

Work in progress – still to add: this Blog feature will be updated between now and the weekend in September.

Thanks for reading.

Please share with family and friends to help spread the word. Thank you!