St Andrews Kate Kennedy Procession

Where: St Andrews, Fife from North Street, via South Street & Market Street
When: Saturday/Sunday in mid-April
Time: 2pm

 

St Andrews University is the oldest academic institution in Scotland, and its Kate Kennedy Club stages a magnificent pageant each year celebrating the great characters and events from Scotland’s history. The parade is led by the St Andrews Pipe Band and the patron saint of Scotland St Andrew; a (usually)male student dressed as Kate, accompanied by her uncle Bishop Kennedy brings up the rear of the procession in a daffodil-bedecked horse-drawn carriage – there is no historical evidence that Kate ever really lived but that doesn’t stop her appearing here! Also expect many other characters in fancy dress with set pieces of drama, including a spirited re-enactment of the brutal murder of Archbishop Sharp. Golfers, divines, scholars, monarchs and courtiers all take their place in the parade, with elaborate costumes, cross dressing in both directions and some luxuriant false beards. In the old days it used to be a riotous event which local worthies repeatedly tried to ban but still the Procesion marches on…

Helpful Hints

In 2024 it should be on Saturday 13th April.

In 2023 it was on Sunday April 2nd but it’s nearly always on a Saturday so make sure you go on the right day!

It lasts about an hour. Programmes are on sale on the day -look out for students with charity collection buckets outside St Salvators; in 2018 they were £3 and well worth having to help identify all the characters in the procession.

Click here for the University website : http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/

and here for the event facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thekatekennedyprocession

and website: https://katekennedyclub.squarespace.com

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