Inverkeithing Highland Games gets underway on Saturday

Full of tradition and colour, a huge crowd is expected at Ballast Bank to enjoy the pipe bands, Highland dancing competitions, caber tossers, athletes and cyclists, as well as all the other attractions.

Visitors from as far afield as the USA and Canada will be in town for the games which kick-off with a procession from the civic centre on the High Street at 11.30am.

The heavyweight competitions are always a huge draw at Inverkeithing. (Image: Jim Payne)

The games actually gets underway an hour earlier, with more than 100 competitors expected to fling themselves into the Highland dancing competition from 10.30am.

The ladies heavyweight competition, together with the junior heavyweight contest it was added to this year's programme "due to popular demand" begins at the same time.

In a packed programme there's also track events - including the De'il Tak The Hindmost and Scottish championship cycle races - solo piping, local children's races, the junior and men's heavyweight competitions.

The skirl of the pipes will be heard at Ballast Bank. (Image: Jim Payne)

The latter will include shot putt, hammer throwing, weight over the bar and, of course, tossing the caber.

As well as the ladies and junior heavyweight competitions, a 4 x 100 metre relay has also been added to the programme for a "crowd pleasing" event before the De'il Tak The Hindmost cycle dash, which traditionally rounds off the track events.

It finishes at 5pm with the salute to the chieftain by the massed pipe bands, followed by a procession back to the High Street.

The games and Lammas Fair appear in Burgh records going all the way back to 1652, when on the first day it was stated that all kinds of merchant goods and livestock, horses, cattle and sheep, were on sale on the main street.

The De'il Tak The Hindmost cycle race will round off the track events. (Image: Jim Payne)

The event was reintroduced in Inverkeithing in 1972 and the committee, club patrons and army of unpaid volunteers are dedicated to keeping the traditions of the Highland Games going each year.

Malcolm McGregor, chairman of Inverkeithing Highland Games, said he hoped all visitors will enjoy this year's event.

He added: "It costs nearly £18,000 to put the games on, so if you would like to help keeping the games financially secure by contributing to the games fund, please consider joining our 200 Club, at a cost of £24 a year, by filling out the section at the bottom of the website (inverkeithinghighlandgames.com).

"We also rely on sponsorship for our survival.

"We are currently looking to extend our business support, local and national.

"If you would like to consider sponsoring an event, advertising in our programme, making a donation or would like further information, please contact the Games secretary at ihg.secretary@gmail.com."