Kids
HITLIST Events are listed
THE BEST KIDS’ STUFF
Pollok Family Day
National Piping Centre Family Fun Day A grand and very noisy day out for all, where hitting things is not just allowed, it’s positively encouraged. Expect drumming, piping, Highland dancing and more at this lively annual event. National Piping Centre, Glasgow, Tue 9 Aug.
Pollok Family Day With X Factor stars on the stage, and farm animals in the paddocks, it’s up to you to decide who’s got the best haircut – Jedward or the Highland cattle? See photo caption for what else is on offer at this fun free event. See caption, right. Pollok Country Park, Glasgow, Sat 6 Aug
Tramway Family Day: British Art Show 7 Tramway’s ongoing strategy to encourage families into the venue continues – this time introducing kids to the wonders of the British Art Show. Weave tapestry, fold paper and help to shape the next generation of contemporary artists. Tramway, Glasgow, Sun 7 Aug.
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 & Fun Summer Tee Club Until Fri 12 Aug, Mon–Fri, 8.30am–12.30pm & 1.30–5.30pm. £28 per session; £85 per week. World of Golf, 2700 Great Western Road, Clydebank, 944 4141. Get kids golfing with a little bit of sanctioned whacking down at the driving range. Morning and afternoon sessions are available every weekday throughout the holidays. As well as tuition from professional instructors, mini golfers can expect some fun games, arts and crafts and other outdoor activities. The Forgotten Island Until Sun 18 Sep (not Tue/Wed), 10am–5pm. £6 (children £4.50; under 3s free). Glasgow Harbour, Between Riverside Museum and Glasgow Heliport, Stobcross Road, 0844 481 8898. A mystery travelling island has landed on Glasgow’s riverside, and it needs some intrepid explorers to discover its many botanical treasures. Hunterian Summer School Until Fri 5 Aug, 10am–noon & 1–3pm. £7 per child per class, materials included. Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, University of Glasgow, 82 Hillhead Street, 330 5431. Last few chances to attend these creative art workshops. Morning sessions are for ages 5–7 and afternoon sessions for ages 8–12. Family Summer Art Club Thu 4 Aug, 10.30am–noon. £5 per child
114 THE LIST 4–11 Aug 2011
This fun day out has been running for more than 30 years, so it must be doing something right. Aside from one very large selling point – it’s free – the event has lots of entertainment on offer, and the beautiful setting doesn’t hurt either. This year you can expect to find a music stage, martial arts display, countryside crafts, football zone, police dog display, children’s farm, an outdoor adventure zone, music and dance on the lawn and much more besides. For once, when an event organiser says they have ‘something for everyone’, they may actually be right. ■ Pollok Country Park, Glasgow, Sat 6 Aug.
(accompanying adults free). Lansdowne Bar & Kitchen, 7a Lansdowne Crescent, 334 4653. Artist Tessa Dunlop leads arts and crafts workshops for ages 5–15 and their families, including making masks, cards and kites. Complimentary hot drinks and cakes for parents. Glasgow Rocks Basketball Camp Thu 4 Aug, noon–4pm. £25. Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena, 1445 Argyle Street, 334 4600. Scotland’s only professional basketball team welcomes kids aged 7–17 to the annual summer camp. Included in the price is four hours of professional coaching and games, the chance to meet some of the team players, T-shirts and goodies, and a ticket to the Rocks’ opening home game of the 2011/12 season. FREE Deep Sea World at Hamleys Fri 5 & Sat 6 Aug, times vary. Hamleys Toy Store, St Enoch Centre, St Enoch Square, 227 3040. Discover the wonders of the travelling rockpool. The Wee Organic Art Club Sat 6 Aug, 10am–noon; Sun 7 Aug, noon–2pm. £5 per session. West End Arts, Hidden Lane, 1103 Argyle Street, Finnieston, 07868 243213. Art club with a conscience for kids. Numbers are very limited so advance booking is advised.
✽✽ FREE Pollok Family Day Sat 6 Aug,
OUTSIDE THE
FESTIVALS
includes workshops in tapestry making, ‘tights sculpture’ and origami-based den building, plus ‘Sprog Rock’, quizzes and Little Explorer bags for wee ones. Aimed at families with children aged 0–12. D’airDevils Summer School Mon 8–Fri 12 Aug, 9am–3pm. £30 per day; £110 per week. Firhill Sports Complex, 87 Hopehill Road, spinalchord.com. A summer course to bring out the little monkey in your kids. They can learn the trapeze, aerial silks, circus tricks, hula- hooping, juggling, face painting, costume making and acrobatics. Flexible but not too loose clothing and a packed lunch required. Groups for ages 6–9 and 10–15. FREE Simple Pleasures Workshop 3 – Child’s Play Wed 10 Aug, 1–3.30pm. Victoria Park, Victoria Park Drive Whiteinch, 276 0927. A chance for children to get back to nature with fun activities and games.
Music ✽✽ Family Fun Day Tue 9 Aug, 11am. £2.50 per adult + child pair; 50p per
extra child. The National Piping Centre,
30–34 McPhater Street, Cowcaddens,
353 0220. Drumming demos, tours, face-painting, Highland dancing and Come & Try instrument sessions to bring the national piping gathering to life for little ones. A special session for under 5s is available from
10am–5pm. Pollok Country Park, Pollokshaws Road. Watch Clydesdale horses, martial arts experts, Highland cattle and police dogs being put through their paces, soak up the sounds of the music stage, see the fluffy animals at the Children’s Farm, try and buy some arts and crafts, pick up a bite to eat, and learn about nature and biodiversity at Pollok Park’s annual flurry of outdoor family fun. See photo caption. FREE Saturdays at the Palace Sat 6 Aug, 2pm. People’s Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow Green, 276 0788. Fun activities for families, including child- friendly talks about the displays in the museum. Booking essential.
✽✽ FREE Tramway Family Day: British Art Show 7 Sun 7 Aug, 10am–6pm. Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, 0845 330 3501. The Tramway continues its series of imaginative family days tying in with the contemporary art on show in the venue. This one is based around the work in the British Art Show 7, and
9.15am to 10.45am at £1 per child; booking required. Part of Piping Live! OUTSIDE THE CITES Activities & Fun Wild Adventures Until Sun 14 Aug, 10am–5pm. £5 (£3.50; family ticket £17) centre admission; activities are included. Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, 01506 414957. Go back in time this summer to recreate a prehistoric encampment through workshops in shelter-building, crop planting, hunting, food preparation and clothes making. FREE Professor Egghead’s Tern Around the World Until Sun 4 Sep, daily 2–2.45pm. £7.95 (£5.95; children £4.50) centre admission; activities are included. Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, 01620 890202. The prof ponders how far we’d all go to get a good meal, then applies this to the life of a tern, who doesn’t have it as easy as we do.
Lochwinnoch Holiday Club Fri 5 Aug, 11am–2pm. £6 (members £4). RSPB Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve, Largs Road, Lochwinnoch, 01505 842663. Outdoor activities including mini-beast safaris, pond dipping and survival activities, if the weather permits. Under 8s must be accompanied. FREE Young Rangers Day Tue 9 Aug, 10am–noon. Linlithgow Peel, Linlithgow, 01506 842065. Jellyfish surveying, minibeast hunting and bird box making are all on the cards for kids, as they learn more about the countryside and wildlife. Outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear recommended. Under 15s only, and must be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. FREE Nature Treasure Hunt Wed 10 Aug, 2–5pm. By donation. House of the Binns, Linlithgow West Lothian, Linlithgow, 0844 493 2124. Have some family fun hunting down the answers to nature-themed clues around the grounds. FREE Construction Club: Gear Driven Roadster Workshop Wed 10 Aug, 2–3pm. Scottish Mining Museum, Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, 663 7519. Know a small person who loves to take things apart and learn how they work? These workshops encourage practical thinking and applications, an educational and fun day out, particularly for budding mechanical engineers. Ages 7+. Limited spaces, booking essential. Music The Singing Kettle: Funny Farm Thu 4–Sat 6 Aug, 11am & 2pm. £12 (family ticket £44). Perth Theatre, 185 High Street, Perth, 01738 621031. Cilla, Archie, Gary and Kevin host another tour of musical madness. Party with the pigs and carouse with the cows at this Funny Farm adventure. Bonus points for dressing up as your favourite farmyard animal! The Singing Kettle: Pirate Party Sun 7 Aug, 2pm. £8 (family ticket £29). Muddy Boots Farm Shop, Balmalcom Farm, A914 west of Cupar, Balmalcolm, 01337 830258. Jump on board (in costume, of course) for sea shanties and nautical nonsense with the incredibly popular children’s entertainers. The Singing Kettle: Funny Farm Wed 10 & Thu 11 Aug, 1pm & 3.30pm. £12 (family ticket £44; under 12 months £2). Howden Park Centre, Howden, Livingston, 01506 777666. See above.