The bands may not be playing but the samba beat will continue in Kirkcaldy this summer, as two town events received differing news.
The Fife Carnival will return to the Lang Toun this summer, with hundreds of performers once again set to take to the “streets of Raith” following the success of last year’s event.
Councillors approved £15,000 of funding to allow musicians and dancers from across the globe to converge on Kirkcaldy for the Brazilian-style event, which brought thousands of visitors to the town centre last July.
However, a second major event, a proposed music festival, appears unlikely to take place this year, after councillors demanded more details from organisers before approving funding.
Roger Spence, carnival organiser, said that this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow would allow more performers to visit Fife than last year.
He said: “They could be playing in Glasgow the night before and then playing in Kirkcaldy the day after.
“We are actively engaging in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Kirkcaldy. We have artists coming from around the world that can perform at Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy and possibly even Glasgow.
“Last year’s carnival was a really big success. We think we can build on that but it is a free event and so it needs support.”
The streets of Kirkcaldy town centre were lined with as many as 14,000 people last July for the inaugural Fife Carnival.
Although the hot weather may have played some part in the high attendance, organisers are confident of replicating those numbers at this year’s event.
“A date of Saturday July 19 is expected to be confirmed for the occasion, which Labour councillor Neil Crooks, Kirkcaldy area committee chairman, believes can put the town on the map.
“Last year’s event was remarkable,” he said. “This could be part of the future of Kirkcaldy and it’s fantastic.”
Meanwhile, town councillors rejected a request for £20,000 to facilitate the staging of the proposed Kirkcaldy Summer Music Festival.
Business Improvement District group Kirkcaldy4All had applied for the funding to help stage the event in the town square from June 13-15.
However, the future of the project is now unknown, with councillors admitting that the timeframe for a revised application is limited.
SNP councillor George Kay said: “If we don’t say yes today then I don’t think it is going to happen. It would be too late even in March.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Susan Leslie added her concerns about funding the event, describing it as “a huge leap of faith.”