St Andrews to Host Milestone Kate Kennedy Centenary Celebrations
St Andrews will mark a century of the Kate Kennedy Spring Procession on Saturday 18th April 2026, staging the largest celebration in the event’s history, with the town expected to come to a standstill.
Over 160 costumed participants will take to the town centre in a centenary parade, bringing a millennium of local, national and global history to life. The free event is open to all with residents and visitors encouraged to gather along the route and take part in the Community Day festivities.
The Procession begins at 2pm from St Salvator’s Quad on North Street with the traditional reveal of the Lady Katharine, a historical figure renowned throughout the town for her beauty, and whose spring visits in the 15th century inspired the tradition. It will then wind through the Scores, South Street and Market Street, before returning to the Quad at 4pm.
The centenary is expected to be the largest and most ambitious Procession in its 100-year history, with more participants, historical figures and a wider programme of community events than ever before.
A Historical Symposium on Thursday 16 April begins proceedings with an evening of fascinating, short historical talks on the history of St Andrews including the roots of the Procession. The renowned travelling Spiegeltent from the Netherlands, typically seen each year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, will also host events throughout the centenary weekend, including a Community Ceilidh.
The free to enter, the Community Day in the Town Hall is open to families, visitors and anyone curious about the stories that shaped St Andrews. Music, poetry, arts and crafts, facepainting, book readings, a treasure hunt and even a thrilling battle re-enactment will keep people of all ages entertained.
Parking will be suspended in the town centre on Saturday morning and from 1pm onwards, a full road closure will be in effect around the central streets until the Procession is complete, expected around 4pm.
Highlights will include mounted riders, a staged re-enactment of the assassination of Archbishop Sharp and the Lady Katharine, played by a first-year university student, travelling in a horse-drawn carriage decorated with daffodils from Cambo Estate.
Organisers say the weekend is not only a chance to celebrate St Andrews’ rich history, but also to bring together generations of locals, students and visitors for a shared experience that connects the town and university like no other event of the year.
Will Press, President of the Kate Kennedy Club, said: “The Procession has always been about students bringing the story of St Andrews to life.
“Every historical figure you see in the parade is portrayed by members of the Kate Kennedy Club, other students, residents of St Andrews, and staff from the University. The Procession involves careful preparation using costumes and artefacts that are painstakingly preserved in our archives, including shields, banners, specially made vehicles and headwear.
“We’re conscious that this is a town tradition just as much as a university one. The centenary weekend is our opportunity to celebrate St Andrews and say a massive thank you to the local community for a century of support. We hope visitors and residents alike will join us on the streets and be part of the celebrations.”
The City of St Andrews Pipe Band will provide live accompaniment with the parade featuring an array of characters from medieval to modern times that have had an impact on the town, including King Robert the Bruce, Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Margaret, Benjamin Franklin, Louisa Lumsden, Rudyard Kipling and John Cleese.
Founded in 1926, the Kate Kennedy Spring Procession has been held annually, with interruptions only during the Second World War and Covid-19 pandemic. The tradition traces back to spring celebrations in the 19th century, which were shut down for “unruly behaviour,” before being revived in 1926 by Principal Sir James Irvine and students Donald Kennedy and James Doak as a historical pageant celebrating figures who shaped St Andrews.
Centenary Weekend Guide
Thursday 16 April | Historical Symposium | Town Hall
An evening of fascinating short talks in the Town Hall on the history of St Andrews, including the roots of the Procession in the 19th Century, the medical characters featured in the current Procession, and the history of the Harbour and its role in local trade. The evening will include the chance to view the centenary exhibition and finish with a drinks reception. Tickets are £5.
Saturday 18 April | Community Day | St Andrews Town Hall | 10.30am onwards
Explore St Andrews’ unique local stories before the Procession with arts and crafts for all ages, literary talks by local authors, live music from the Kate Kennedy Music Scholar and The Other Guys a cappella group, and a town-wide history trail featuring nine character cut-outs. Entry is FREE with an optional Community Lunch before the Procession priced at £20pp.
Saturday 18 April | Kate Kennedy Spring Procession | 2pm-4pm
Free to watch, the Procession starts and finishes at St Salvator’s Quad, winding through the town centre for a total of two hours.
Sunday 19 April | Pier Walk & Community Ceilidh | St Salvator’s Chapel Spiegeltent, Station Park | 12 noon start
Walk from St Salvator’s Chapel to the Harbour, before heading along to the spectacular Spiegeltent on Station Park for the Community Ceilidh. Children are welcome free of charge with paying adults (£5 a ticket).
Tuesday 21 April | KT Tunstall Video Performance | Rotary Club Community Cabaret
Hosted by St Andrews Rotary, this is a fundraiser for Rachel House, the Children’s Hospice in Kinross. Six local groups – including Byre Youth, Fife Youth Jazz, StAMP and The Other Guys – will perform.
Scottish music icon and locally born KT Tunstall is contributing a specially recorded video that will be screened as a highlight.
For further details and to book tickets head to www.katekennedyclub.org.uk/100th-anniversary-events
More details of road closures are available at www.katekennedyclub.org.uk/procession
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About the Kate Kennedy Club
Founded in 1926, the Kate Kennedy Club is one of Scotland's oldest student societies and is now a registered charity (SC053839).
Beyond the Procession, the Club volunteers at the Cosmos Community Centre, organises heritage exhibitions, and raises vital funds for Fife charities.
Their three core aims: support local causes, preserve St Andrews' history, and strengthen town-gown relations.
