LISTINGS KIDS
STRATHCLYDE
I BIGGER HE’ER BAY BUHFIRE Sun 31 Dec from 9pm. Biggar Main Street. Bonfires have been built around this time of year since before history began. to encourage the sun to start rising in the heavens again after reaching its lowest ebb. The biggest around is reckoned to be at Biggar where the fire has been known to rage right into the first week of the new
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I THE BIRDS - CHAPTER ONE Sun 17 Dec. 10am. Ranger Service. Watersports Centre. Strathclyde Country Park. 01698 266155 (ext 131). Free. The first in a series of ranger-led looks at birds' different winter habitats.
I BOBBY ROBERTS SUPER CIRCUS Fri 15 Dec—Sat 14 Jan (closed 25 Dec). SECC. Finnieston Quay. Glasgow. Performances at 2.30pm and 7.30pm most days. Phone 0141 248 9999 for full information. £9/£6 (£6/£4). All the thrill and spills of the modern Big Top.
I CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CARNIVAL Fri 15 Dec—Sat 14 Jan. l.45-10.45pm (Fri 15: 6.30-10.45pm) closed Mon 25. SECC. Finnieston Quay, Glasgow. £1. 12.000 square metres of mayhem and candyfloss with all your favourite rides! I CRAFT FAIR Sat l6/Sun 17 Dec. 10.30am-5pm. Trades Hall. Glassford Street. 75p (40p). Crafty stuff. brought to you by its makers just in time for the Christmas rush.
I SHIHE UH ’95 Daily. to Sun 24. Glasgow City Centre. This year's attempt by the City Council to brighten up your Christmas shopping focuses on manic performances from Mischief La Bas. On Sat l6/Sun 17 at 4pm. Lindsay John with Alex Rigg presents a new dance work at the Steel Christmas Tree on the comer of Buchanan Street and Gordon Street.
I WINTER WILUFUVIl Sun 17 Dec. 2-4pm. Ranger Service. Drumpellier Country Park, Townhead Road. Coatbridge. 01236 422257. Free. A chance to look at the winter migrants which join the park‘s resident wildfowl. The Rangers need volunteers to help with their conservation work every Saturday. 10am-3pm.
At the time of writing. all the ski resorts were being pestered by folk from England wanting to hire skis. little thinking that the white stuff had yet to fall up here. Still. the resorts are crossing their fingers for a white Christmas and New Year on the
slo s.
I gl Clubs For the social life and post- piste piss-ups. your local ski club can‘t be beat. They also organise cheap insurance and mini-buses up to the slopes on most weekends and can put you in touch with other peo le who might want to car share. Glasgow Ski Club Meet every Thursday at 9pm in The Scaramouche. Elderslie Street. Charing Cross. Glasgow. More info from 0141 632 9762 or 0141 883
6665.
Edinburgh Ski Club meet every Tuesday at 9.30pm in the Royal Circus Hotel. Royal Circus. Edinburgh. For an info pack phone 0131220 3121.
I Ski Slopes 1f the white stuff doesn't fall. you'll still need to practice. Hillend now offer a purpose-built ski-boarding
slo plus lessons for all skiing abilities. I lEHCUE Chairlift company: 01855 851 226 (Ski re rt 01855 851 232).
I HEVIS CE Chairlift company: 01397 705 825. (Ski report 01397 705 855).
I CAIRMURM Chairlift company and ski report: 01479 861 261.
I BLEHSHEE Chairlift company and ski report: 01339 741320.
I THE lECH'T Chairlift company and ski report: 01975 651440.
Rain or shine, our at-a-glance guide will see you through. Events are listed under Glasgow, Edinburgh and Outside the Cities columns, then divided by event. Kids listings compiled by Ellie Carr.
For all shows and pantomimes over the festive period see Theatre section.
Activities and Fun
I Singing Kettle Christmas Party See
photo-caption.
Music
I Children’s Christmas Concert Woodside Halls. Glenfarg Street. Booking: Theatre Royal box office on 3.32 9000. Fri 15 Dec 7.30pm; Sat 16 Dec 2.30pm. £5 (£2). A pop op evening from Scottish Opera for All.
I THE SWAN Hill 588 (11) (Richard Rich 1995) Featuring the voices of Sandy Duncan, Steven Wright. Nationwide release from 'Fri 15 Dec. See film listings for details. The beaky bloke with the Dennis iiealey eyebrows is Puffin (Steven Vinovlch) and his bug-eyed mates are Speed the turtle (Steven Wright) and Jean-Bob the frog (John Cleese). Catch all three as they set about the rescue of Princess Odette in Richard Rich’s new adventure-packed traditional animation based on that classic fairytale, Sivan lake. Stock up on the M & Ms kids, this could be a Christmas
: John Cleese,
EDINBURGH
Activities and Fun
I A Picture of Christmas The Nether’oow. 43—45 High Street. 556 9579. Sat 16 Dec. 2.30pm—4pm. £3. Ages 6—9 years. An afternoon of storytelling and painting in the Upper Gallery with Jane Ford and Kay Shanks.
I Carousels Royal Mile. Fri 29 Dec~Mon 1 Jan. Noon—5pm. See separate Hogmanay section.
I Coach and Pony Rides Royal Mile (embark at The Tron). Fri 29—Sun 31 Dec. Noon—5pm. See separate Hogmanay section.
I Festive Tree Trail Royal Museum of Scotland. Chambers Street. 225 7534. Tue 26—Sat 30 Dec; Tue 2 Jan. Mon—Sat 10am—5pm; Sun noon—5pm; late night Tue until 8pm. Free. lt's spot the Christmas tree time at the museum. Collect your entry form from the enquiries desk and if you manage to track down all ten trees there may be goodies in store.
I Chosty Stories Tron Kirk. Royal Mile. Advance booking advisable: call Auld Reekie on 0131 557 4700. Fri 29 Dec—Mon 2 Jan. 4-6pm. See separate Hogmanay section. .
I Malsie Storyhour The Netherbow.
I SINGING KETTlE CHRISTMAS PARTY SECC, Finnieston Quay, 248 9999. Information: 01337 831121. Family shows: Sat16; Sat 23; Thurs 28; Sat 30 Dec 113m; 2pm. Sun 17; Fri 22; Wed 27; Fri 29 Dec; Tue 2; Wed 3 Jan 2pm; 6pm. Sun 24 Dec; Thurs 4 Jan 2pm only. £4-£7; family ticket 215—221 . It may look like the accounts department letting their hair down at the office ‘do’, but it is in fact those nice people at Singing Kettle throwing the biggest klds’ Christmas party in town, again. Come armed with tinsel, streaners and silly hats and you'll be In for a stuffed pillowcaseful of festive fun and games with Cilia, Artie, Cary and special Singing Kettle guest Jane.
43-45 High Street. 556 9579. Sat 30 Dec. lprn. £3 (£2). See separate Hogmanay section.
I The Readiscovery Book Bus Royal Mile. Fri 29~-Sat 30 Dec. Noon—5pm. See separate HOgmanay section.
Exhibitions
I Maisie The Netherbow. 43—45 High Street. 556 9579. Until Tue 2 Jan. See separate Hogmanay section.
Music
I Carol Party Usher Hall. Lothian Road. 228 1155; Ticketline 220 4349. Thurs 21 Dec. 7.30pm. 11350—519; family ticket £18.50. Traditional carol singing plus clowns. balloons and surprises in this special Christmas singalong concert by the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society in aid of'l‘lie Nazareth Christian Hospital in Israel.
Theatre
I Magic Bob’s Cabaret for Kids Hogmanay Bedlam Theatre. Forrest Road. Tickets from E &S Info Centre: 558 1072; Ticketline: 220 4349; TOCTA: 557 6969. Fri 29 Dee—Mon 1 Jan. Noon. £3.50. Ages 4 and over. See separate Hogmanay section.
W
Activities and Fun
I Santa Specials Almond Valley Heritage Centre. Millfield. Livingston. Information: 01506 414957. Every Sat/Sun in Dec. 10am—5pm. Admission fee £2 (including present for each child): trailer rides 50p. Visit Santa's magic cottage and take an illuminated sleigh ride.
I Santa Cruises The Edinburgh Canal Centre. The Bridge lnn. Ratho. information: 0131 333 1320. Every Sat/Sun in Dec. 10.30am; l lam; noon; 12.30pm; 1.30pm; 2pm; 2.30pm; 3pm; 3.30pm; 4.30pm. Sun 17; Sat 23; Sun 24 Dec 5pm; 6pm; 7pm; 8pm. £5. Cruise along the Union Canal to ‘Duck lsland' and meet Santa in a fairytale atmosphere.
The List 15 Dec 1995-11 Jan 1996 91