THE hard work work of the new Lochgelly Gala Committee will come to fruition on Sunday when Gala 2017 goes ahead.

The committee members have spent the past 12 months fundraising and putting together an excellent list of events for the parade and at the Public Park.

Things will start at 10.30am on Sunday morning when the fancy dress competition will be judged at the West End Park for two age groups, Under 6 and Over 7, with no particular theme.

There will be excellent prizes for the winners and also for the best float in the parade.

The parade this year will come down, from the West End Park via Zetland Place on to Main Street and then head along past the Ore Valley Business Centre and the Institute and on to Bank Street on the way to the Public Park.

There will be a series of floats taking part entered by local groups and organisations with Lochgelly Brass Band, the Lochgelly High School Pipe Band and the Resonate Samba Band providing music, plus the Cowdenbeath Karate Club, Lochgelly Tae Kwon Do, the Love To Dance, the Zodiac Dancers along with the Fiona Ferguson Dancers all taking part.

There will be Magic Del Boy the magician, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Paw Patrol Characters, Star Wars Storm Troopers, Lochgelly West, St Patrick's and Lochgelly South Primary Schools, along with Noah's Ark Nursery, and Fife Colts footballers involved.

At the park there will be some 1,500 gala boxes top be enjoyed and Joe's Band will be playing along with the parade bands, while there will a battlefield ambulance and a vintage bus from the Lathalmond Museum, a Foxhound, an Inflatable Assault Course, the 36 Royal Regiment of Scotland, the 32 Signal Regiment with a trailer, the Scottish and Northern Irish Yeomanry and a Quad plus the Scots Guards.

During the afternoon there will be Tug of War, with the Army against the Lochgelly public and volunteers will be wanted for that.

There will be 34 community stalls and fairground rides, birds of prey and a whole host of races for kids and adults, organised by Lochgelly undertaker John Gilfillan.

During the afternoon there will also be pony rides, Rockgelly Climbing frames, stock cars to see and the Citizen of the Year and Junior Citizen of the Year will be involved in the activities.

The committee is now hopeful that the weather will back them.

Said Derek Johnstone: "We have have had some great backing from the people of Lochgelly for our fundraisers and also tremendous support from sponsors and we thank them all."

George Courts said: "The parade should be one of the longest Lochgelly has had and we are just hoping that the weather plays fair."