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鈥榊ou go from being a normal 12-year-old girl to a local superstar!鈥�

Each calendar year in the town of Bo'ness there is a day so significant that the schoolgirl at the centre of it gains celebrity status overnight. For a whirlwind few weeks, the chosen lass will become... the Fair Queen.

Kennedi's reaction to selection and her coronation as this year's Fair Queen

The election and coronation of the Fair Queen means more to this West Lothian town than perhaps evens a real coronation would to the nation.

Kennedi and her friends react to news she will be Fair Queen 2019.

As new documentary, The Fair Toon, reveals, there is a huge outpouring of local support that goes into, what is said to be, the biggest children's festival in Europe.

Since 1897 in the town of Bo'ness, a local school girl has been chosen to be the Fair Queen. She is crowned in front of the whole town wearing a bespoke dress that brings tears to some of the locals' eyes.

As presenter Peter Ross explains in the programme (which is part of the 大象传媒 Scotland Hidden Lives series), such is the generosity of spirit around the event that the community even melt down some of their own jewellery to forge a gift for their Fair Queen.

This year the honour fell to Primary 7 pupil, Kennedi who after giving a short speech was elected by her fellow pupils.

"Getting elected the Queen means you go from being a normal 12-year-old girl to a local superstar", says Ross.

Kennedi gets a huge reaction from the crowd.

Kennedi’s mum, beaming with pride, says, "It’s massive! It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity."

Presenter Peter meets some of the town's former queens to discuss the role's impact on them.

One explains it's a big deal in the town and it doesn't necessarily end when Fair Day does, "Every girl aspired to be the Bo’ness fair queen."

"You’re always known for being the Bo'ness Fair queen and you can’t get away with anything!"

"Later on," she explains, "when you’re a teenager and you want to have a good time, someone’s always watching you to see what the former Fair Queen's up to."

"This is like Las Vegas strip made manifest on the Firth of Forth!"

Witness some of the 鈥榬emarkable鈥� structures decorating homes at the Bo'ness fair鈥�.

"Huge piece of work"

But there's no doubt, it's a big commitment for the family of the chosen girl. The principal characters are expected to erect huge ornate structures in front of their homes called ‘arches’.

Kennedi's family built her arch as the carousel from Mary Poppins

These are often built by friends and families and take several weeks.

One year, a Fair Queen's father created a replica Buckingham Palace, balcony and all: it made the national papers.

Donna, mother of Sylvie - this year's Chief Lady in Waiting which is the second most important female part says,

"You don't have to put their name in... you understand that's the risk you take."

"If their name goes in for a principal character, if they are chosen, you've got a huge piece of work ahead of you."

"But it's very exciting," she continues, "it's very good fun."

Kennedi's crowning ceremony, June 2019

Watch The Fair Toon

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