A river of fire, fun, fireworks and flotillas will mark the 50th birthday of the Forth Road Bridge.
Starting today will be a 10-day festival to celebrate the iconic bridge’s half-century.
Thousands of people are expected to join in the festival.
More than 30 events are taking place both on land and water, with themes of Scottish food and drink, arts and crafts, history and heritage, plus music and culture.
Highlights will include Scotland Welcomes the World to Lunch, a flotilla on the Forth, the unveiling of a brand new sculpture the Guardian of the Bridges a torchlight procession, bridge party and spectacular fireworks display.
On Saturday more than 500 people will dine from a menu created by celebrity chef Nick Nairn at Scotland Welcomes the World to Lunch, then on Sunday the flotilla will see a multitude of crafts muster beneath the bridges to create a free display.
The festival will reach its climax on September 13 when thousands of revellers will enjoy an evening of live music, headlined by Fife’s Big Country and special guests Bwani Junction at a bridge party and outdoor ceilidh.
Then 2,014 torchbearers will form a kilometre-long river of fire across the bridge, before a spectacular fireworks finale set to music at 10.06pm.
Other highlights include:
* Zero to Fifty the Road Bridge Diaries exhibition in Hopetoun House, featuring the work of the bridge’s artist in residence Kate Downie.
* Mark your Spot couples can declare their love by attaching a specially designed LoveLock on two panels on the bridge.
* The unveiling on September 12 of The Guardian of the Bridges a green structure who protects the thousands of travellers who crossing the Forth every day.
The full programme and event details are available at www.forthbridgesfestival.com.