More than 25,000 people are expected to visit the show over the weekend.

Despite a sodden summer, the event basked in glorious sunshine for the opening morning.

Festival manager Merrill Smith said, “The festival seems to be going very well — we are ahead of ourselves in organisation and a lot of people have already turned up.

“We had 26,000 people here last year and we would like to see that again.

“As usual, it is bigger and better than before. We have 20 more traders and we also have the National Gladioli Competition, which is very exciting.”

Trade exhibits at this year’s festival have broken all records with well over 200 different stands from food to horticulture, craft, general traders, charities and horticultural society stands.

Meanwhile, there have been more than 100 individual exhibits from adults for cut flowers, pot plants, vegetables, honey, wine, baking and handcrafts and over 400 children’s entries.

Today’s events included The Bayer Garden Roadshow team, back by popular demand to answer questions and give demonstrations on gardening topics, and the Beechgrove Potting Shed, hosted by Frieda Morrison.

Chef Craig Millar, from the Seafood Restaurants in St Monans and St Andrews, also passed on some of his culinary tips at a cookery demonstration.

Craig was also asked to judge a healthy eating competition run by NHS Tayside that saw primary five pupils design a sandwich for Desperate Dan.

Several bands were also on hand to provide musical back-up, while children were kept entertained by a variety of fun activities.

Other highlights over the weekend include a question and answer session with garden designer and TV presenter Chris Beardshaw tomorrow and a cookery demonstration with Ainsley Harriot of Ready, Steady Cook fame on Sunday.

The festival continues from 10am to 6pm tomorrow and from 10am to 5.30pm on Sunday.

Tickets are £9 for adults, £8 for concessions, with accompanied children under 16 going free.