Kids
Events are listed by city, then type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to kids@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor.
Glasgow Activities and Fun Family Fun Day Sat 12 Jun, 10am–2pm. Prices vary. The Loft, Ashton Lane, 0845 166 6028. All the usual fun for kids including face painting, kiddie cars and colouring-in, plus cooking lessons to start little ‘uns off on a lifetime of healthy eating. Part of the West End Festival. FREE Foundation Stone Literacy Project Sat 12 Jun, 10am–3pm. Mackintosh Church, Queen’s Cross, 870 Garscube Road, 946 6600. An exhibition of work by children from the West of Scotland telling the stories of their lives through visual art and music. Part of the West End Festival. FREE Glasgow Steiner School Summer Fair Sat 12 Jun, 11am–4pm. Glasgow Steiner School, 52 Lumsden Street, Yorkhill, 334 8855. Craft activities, games, stalls, music, face painting and tasty home-made food. Part of the West End Festival. FREE Mellow Out at St Mungo’s Sat 12 Jun, 2–3pm. St Mungo Museum, 2 Castle Street, 276 1625. Chill out in this free meditation session for families (ages 8+). Please book in advance. FREE The Big Day Oot Sun 13 Jun, 10am–5pm. Tollcross Park, 254 Wellshot Road, 276 9675. The ringside entertainment for Glasgow East’s 5K Fun Run is an all-encompassing festival of music, drama, storytelling, art, kids’ activities and more. FREE Science Sunday! Sun 13 Jun, 11am–4pm. Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, 82 Hillhead Street, 330 5431. Visit the exhibitions at the Hunterian and take part in all sorts of fun science-based activities. Part of the West End Festival. FREE multi-story family event Sat 19 Jun, 10.30am–1pm. Gallery of Modern Art, Royal Exchange Square, 287 3050. Replacing the usual Saturday Art Club, this event is part of a host of activities taking place across the city as part of Refugee Week, and includes a variety of arty sessions on the theme of journeys. Music Daniel’s Beard at the Cottier: A Trip to the Zoo! Sat 12 Jun, 1pm. Entry by donation. Cottier Theatre, 93–95 Hyndland Street, 357 3868. A musical trip around a zoo for families, where you’ll meet Peter and the Wolf, the Quangle- Wangle’s hat, and something rather fishy. Part of the West End Festival.
Theatre, Dance & Comedy Family Story Time – The Old Woman and her Pig Sat 12 & Sun 13 Jun, 10.30am & 12.30pm. £5 (family ticket £15; babies free). Scottish Youth Theatre, The Old Sheriff Court, 105 Brunswick Street, 552 3988. Storytelling theatre from Scottish Youth Theatre with actors, lights, props and audience participation. This fortnight’s story is ‘The Old Woman and Her Pig’. Recommended for ages 2–8; families and babies welcome. Caribbean Joe Sat 12 Jun, 2pm. £5.50 (children £4.95). Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, 8–10 Balcarres Avenue, 339 6185. Meet Mr Giggles, be entertained by his magic and take part in dressing-up. Glasgow Kids’ Comedy Club Sun 13 & 20 Jun, 3pm. £4. The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0870 600 6055. Another set of brave comedians dig out their clean material in an attempt to please the hardest audience of all.
Books Janey Louise Jones: Princess Poppy Party Sat 12 Jun, noon & 3pm.
66 THE LIST 10–24 Jun 2010
£4. Gilmorehill G12, 29 University Avenue, 330 5522. The author of the Princess Poppy series reads some of her latest stories. Come along dressed as a princess for a right royal time. Part of the West End Festival. Short Story Competition Sat 19 Jun, 1.30pm. £4. Gilmorehill G12, 29 University Avenue, University of Glasgow, 330 5522. Awards day for the Glasgow UNICEF Short Story Competition for schoolchildren. All are welcome, competitors or not, for afternoon tea, author workshops and the ceremony itself. Part of the West End Festival. Edinburgh Activities and Fun Edinburgh’s Festival of Sport Until Sun 28 Jun, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues, see www.clubsportedinburgh.org for details. The Festival programme features all sorts of mostly free sessions to get families active, from kayaking to football, tennis to cricket and much more besides. See preview, below. FREE Barnardo’s Big Toddle Thu 10 Jun, 10am. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. This half mile sponsored walk for children under five is part of the biggest pre-school charity event in the UK. Booking essential. FREE Taylor’s Fun Fair on the Links Fri 11–Sun 13 Jun, Fri 6–9.45pm; Sat noon–9.45pm; Sun noon–6pm. Leith Links, Leith, 553 1929. Rides and fun for children of all ages. Part of Leith Festival. The Weird and Wonderful Life of Bugs Sat 12 & Sun 13 Jun, 10.30am–12.30pm. £4 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Hunt Lauriston’s gardens for beasties and make one of your own. Booking essential. FREE Hailes Quarry Park Fun Day
Sat 12 Jun, 11am–3pm. Hailes Quarry Park, Dumbryden Road, Wester Hailes, 654 1933. A community fun day with nature trails, arts and crafts, music, a bouncy castle and more. FREE Life in Auld Reekie Sat 12 Jun, 11am, noon, 2pm & 3pm. Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate, 529 4143. Old gossip Mrs Doig tells tales of some of the colourful characters of Georgian Edinburgh. Performances last 25 minutes. FREE Wildlife Crafts Sat 12 Jun, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Drop into an animal craft session and then turn wildlife detective on a fun trail through the gardens. The Big Sing Comes to Leith Fri 18 Jun, 2–4pm. £3.50. South Leith Parish Church, 6 Henderson Street, Leith, 555 5879. Lively singing workshop for 9–14 year-olds, teaching body percussion, gumboot dancing, games, and of course singing. Part of Leith Festival. FREE Clan Warriors Sat 19 & Sun 20 Jun, 9.45am–4pm. National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, 225 4413. Could you face down a charge of big, bearded Highland swordsmen? Learn about 18th-century weaponry with the master-at-arms. Into the Future Sat 19 & Sun 20 Jun, 10am–5pm. £8.50 (£6.50; under 12s and members free). National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, 247 4238. Robots Live! brings its show to Scotland for the first time, including robot battles and a chance to try on antigravity boots. Davidson’s Mains Children’s Gala Day Sat 19 Jun, 11am–5pm. £2 per adult (children free). Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 336 2060. The 78th annual gala held in Lauriston’s grounds features pipe bands, stage acts and shows, pony rides, steam train and historic displays. Arrive before 11.30am to see the parade, followed by the crowning of the gala king and queen.
FREE Plant Refugees Sat 19 & Sun 20 Jun, 1–4pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Find out about some of the planet’s most endangered plants and what’s being done to save them. Under 16s must be accompanied. Forest Folklore Sun 20 Jun, 10.30am–1pm. £4 per adult/child. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Find out about the strange tales behind the trees and flowers in the grounds, then write a story or poem of your own. Booking essential. Theatre & Dance The Wiggles Tue 22 Jun, 1pm & 4.30pm. £14.50–£16. Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. Australian children’s entertainers The Wiggles twist and jive their way through a new collection of interactive songs and dances.
Books & Storytelling Story Space: Lives and Legends Thu 17 Jun, 11am. £5 per child. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. A lively session of storytelling, games and song for wee ones aged 2–5, with Marie Louise Cochrane. Please book in advance for tickets. Part of the Old Town Festival. FREE Lari Don Fri 18 Jun, 2pm & 3pm. Leith Library, 28–30 Ferry Road, 529 5517. Award-winning children’s author Lari Don reads from her new picture book, The Big Bottom Hunt at 2pm for ages 4–7. She’ll then read from her new novel, Rocking Horse War, an adventure set in the Scottish mountains, for ages 9–12. Part of the Leith Festival. L’Heure du Conte Sat 19 Jun, 11am–noon. £5 per family. Institut Français d’Ecosse, 13 Randolph Crescent, 225 5366. Tanya Czajka (Le Petit Monde) presents her fun puppet show, Lapin a perdu ses maracas, followed by games in French and English. Booking in advance is advised.
FESTIVAL EDINBURGH FESTIVAL OF SPORT Various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 4–Sun 13 Jun
It’s a sad but true fact that the closest many parents come to sporting activity is dropping their kids off at the swimming pool or standing at the touchline on a Saturday morning. Which is why Edinburgh’s Active Schools campaign has just launched its new off-shoot, Active Families, to encourage more people to get sporty together. Trying something new can be a daunting – and costly
– experience however, so it’s worth checking out the many free activities at Edinburgh’s second annual Festival of Sport. Aside from dozens of events aimed purely at adults or children, the Festival has several family-centred sessions including a Kayak and Canoe Open Day at the Union Canal, Orienteering for Beginners at Bonaly Country Park, taster sessions of lesser-known martial arts such as Tang Soo Do and
Aiki Jutsu, plus tennis and golf family days.
‘The idea behind the Festival is to raise awareness of opportunities for sport and physical activity across the city,’ says co-ordinator Donna Finnie, ‘and to encourage people who haven’t done sports for a while to try something different and challenge themselves.’ Edinburgh City Council has set itself a challenge of its own – to make the capital the most physically active city in Europe by 2020. ‘It’s quite a lofty goal,’ says Finnie, ‘and in order to
achieve it we have to engage with lots of different people. One of our target groups is families, because a stumbling block for kids is that they can’t take part in activities unless their parents take them. So if we can provide things in the Festival that the whole family can do together, like recreational volleyball events or tennis open days, then maybe we’ll get more people being active.’ Full details of the Festival can be found at www.clubsportedinburgh.org (Kelly Apter)