www.list.co.uk/kids Ocean Drive, Leith, 555 5566. See the Britannia in all her Christmas glory, and enjoy complimentary festive refreshments. A Green Christmas Sat 6 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. £4. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Make your own personal Christmas decorations and help the environment at the same time. FREE Just Imagine . . . Sat 6 Dec, 10.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–3.30pm. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3963. Let your imagination go wild in this family drawing workshop. Please book in advance. Ages 4+. Green Christmas Sat 6 & Sun 7 Dec, 10.30am–1pm & 2–3pm. £3 to see Santa; all other activities free. Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Every weekend you can meet Santa in his magical grotto and have a go at crafty activities using recycled materials. Working with Leather Sat 6 Dec, 10.30am–3pm. £45. Four Winds Inspiration Centre, The Pavilion, Inverleith Park, Arboretum Place, 332 2229. A leathercraft workshop for parent and child. Booking essential. FREE A Green Christmas Sat 6 Dec, 11am–12.30pm & 1.30–3pm. National Library of Scotland, 33 Salisbury Place, 623 4675. Learn how to create personalised books, cards, wrapping paper and gifts at this family workshop suitable for all ages. Email events@nls.uk to book. FREE Super Science Show / Meet the Scientist Sat 6 & Sun 7 Dec, 12.15pm, 1.15pm, 2.15pm & 3.15pm. Royal Museum: Connect, 2 Chambers Street, 247 4219. Learn about the science behind everyday life, hitch a ride on a mini hovercraft, sit on a chair of nails or find out what scientists get up to in their laboratories. Ages 5+. FREE Potty About Potter Sat 6 Dec, 2pm. Borders Books, Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, 657 4041. Celebrate the release of JK Rowling’s new book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard and remember all the fun that Harry Potter gave us with a day of activities, fancy dress and competitions.
FREE Art-tastic: Green Christmas Crafts Sun 7 Dec, noon–3pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Combine household materials with natural objects to create a unique Christmas wreath. Suitable for all ages. FREE Signs of Winter Sun 7 Dec, 2–2.45pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Why is it so dark in winter? What happens to the plants? What do animals get up to while we’re all wrapped up on the sofa? Find out the answers to these and more with the Garden Rangers. Ages 7+. Christmas at the Castle Sun 7 Dec, 12.30–3.30pm. Included in admission: £10 (£5-£7; under 5s free). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. A day of Christmas magic at one of Scotland’s most famous castles. Featuring music, shows and, of course, Father Christmas himself.
Festival Edinburgh’s Christmas Thu 27 Nov–Sun 4 Jan, times and prices vary. Various Venues. Once again Edinburgh gets its glitter on for a packed festive season, with an ice rink, Victorian fairground, festive market, concerts, Santa and loads more. Visit www.edinburghschristmas.com for full details. Theatre & Dance The Ceilidh Tree Mon 1–Wed 3 Dec, 1.30pm (Wed & Tue mat 10.15am). £2. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. See caption. Little Light Thu 4–Sat 6 Dec, 10am & 11.30am (Sat mat 2pm). £2. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Join Little Light on an adventure at this interactive, highly visual show.
Books FREE Books for Babies Wed 3 Dec, 10.30am. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Stories, songs and rhymes with Bookstart, to introduce the very wee ones to books. Ages 0–5 years.
FREE The Tales of Beedle the Bard Wed 3 Dec, 9pm. Borders Books, Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, 657 4041. See caption. Storytelling FREE Talking Trees – Grotto Tales Fri 5 Dec, 2–3pm. Royal Botanic Garden (Forest Room), Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Enter the magical grotto for Christmassy tales of deepest winter. Ages 7+. Let it Snow Sat 6 Dec, 2.30pm. £4 (£3; family ticket £12). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Snow-bound tales with Ruth Kirkpatrick followed by paper snowflake-making activities. Ages 6+. FREE Talking Trees Storytelling Sun 7 Dec, 2–3pm. Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row, 248 2968. Talking Trees storytelling returns to transport adults and children to a magical land. Suitable for ages 5+.
Outside the Cites Activities and Fun Santa at Almond Valley Sat 29 & Sun 30 Nov & Sat 6 & Sun 7 Dec, 10am–5pm. £5 (£3.50). Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, 01506 414957. Visit Santa, receive a Christmas present and join in with the Christmas crafts. FREE Christmas Opening Sat 29 & Sun 30 Nov, 11am–4pm. Traquair House, Innerleithen, 01896 830323. Free entrance to house and grounds with Christmas craft market, puppet shows, Santa’s grotto and other festive fun. Santa’s Grotto Sat 29 Nov–Sun 21 Dec, 11am–4pm. £5. Dean Castle, Dean Road, Kilmarnock, 01563 522702. Visit Santa in his Christmas village, climb into his magic sleigh and receive a special gift. Festive cartoon show and more.
Kids
The New Lanark Christmas Experience Sat 29 & Sun 30 Nov & Sat 6 & Sun 7 Dec, 11am–5pm. £8.50 (family £30–£40). New Lanark Visitor Centre, New Lanark Mills, 01555 661345. Festive celebration including a pantomime by the Arkeen Theatre Company, a magical Christmas ride and Santa’s grotto. Walking with Birds Sun 30 Nov, 9am. £tbc. Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, 01620 890202. Fun and informal birdwatching followed by breakfast. Phone Maggie Sheddan on 07709 505133 for more information. Children’s Christmas Party Fri 5 Dec, 4.30–6pm. £3 (members £2). Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, 01620 890202. Fun, games, dancing, nibbles and Santa! Victorian Christmas Sat 6 Dec, Sat 11am & 2pm. £tbc. Callendar House, Falkirk, 01324 503770. Dress up and head to the kitchen to help prepare Christmas food, listen to ‘The Night Before Christmas’ and decorate your own stocking. Festive Fun Sun 7 Dec, 1–4pm. £2 (members free). RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, 01505 842663. Christmas capers and crafts for the kids with a special guest appearance from Father Christmas. Theatre & Dance The Snow Queen Thu 27 & Fri 28 Nov, 6pm. £4.50 (£3.50). Motherwell College, Dalzell Drive, Motherwell, 01698 403120. See Glasgow. The Singing Kettle: Christmas Toy Shop Fri 28 Nov, 10am–1pm. £8.50–£10.50 (£7). Albert Halls, Dumbarton Road, Stirling, 01786 473 544. See Glasgow. Little Light Wed 10 & Thu 11 Dec, 9.45am & 11.15am. £6.50 (£5.50). Macrobert, University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 466666. See Edinburgh.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard Prepare for some bleary eyed school kids on the morning of
4 December, as they recover from a rather special shopping trip the night before. At 12.01am the previous night, the book which helped Harry, Ron and Hermione defeat Lord Voldemort will finally be available for all to read. Borders Books in both Edinburgh and Glasgow will celebrate the publication of The Tales of Beedle the Bard with an evening of fancy dress competitions, games and all manner of Potter- related fun. Just don’t tell your teacher . . . ■ Borders Books, Fort Retail Park, Glasgow & Borders Books, Fort Kinnaird Retail Park, Edinburgh, Wed 3 Dec, 8pm (9pm Edinburgh).
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