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AROUND TOWN list.co.uk/aroundtown
HITLIST THE BEST FILMS, FESTS & FOOD
✽ Only Human? Festival of talks, walks, exhibitions, performances and pop-ups
with researchers from the fields of geography, philosophy, theatre and film, designed to get you thinking about the relationship between human and ‘more than human’ (think everything from water and weather recording to the Hawaiian tree snail species). Gilmorehill Centre, Glasgow, Fri 14–Sun 16 Nov.
✽ Poets Against Humanity If you haven’t heard of ‘Cards Against Humanity’ – the board game for those looking to be offended – you may want to read up on it before attending. If you know the score, this is a poetry session inspired by the game. Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh, Thu 27 Nov.
✽ Capital City Roller Derby Double
Header: A Bridge Too Far Edinburgh’s only men’s roller derby league host its first home game. Meadowbank Sports Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 29 Nov.
✽ Glasgow Coffee Festival
A one-day event celebrating the mighty coffee bean, with tastings, competitions, presentations and music. Proceeds go to Coffee Kids UK. The Briggait, Glasgow, Sat 6 Dec.
✽ Glasgow Santa Dash A five kilometre fun-run in which everyone is dressed as
jolly old Saint Nick. As well as working off some of those mince pies, the race raises funds for worthy causes such as the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow. George Square, Glasgow, Sun 7 Dec.
WINTER EVENTS Get into the seasonal spirit with fairs, toddles and wassails
A fter an ever more successful return year on year, Edinburgh’s Christmas (various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 21 Nov– Sun 4 Jan) is now bigger than ever, with fairs, markets, ice rinks, and theatre shows focused on St Andrew Square, Princes Street Gardens and the surrounding area. Something similar – although not on quite as large a scale – will be happening in Glasgow too, with Glasgow Loves Christmas. Highlights include a switch-on of the Christmas Lights (Sun 16 Nov), skating at Glasgow on Ice (Thu 27 Nov–Wed 31 Dec) and the annual Santa Dash (Sun 7 Dec). The capital will be having its own Christmas light event with Edinburgh’s Christmas Light Night (George Street, Edinburgh, Sun 23 Nov).
For something a bit more out of the ordinary, head along to the seasonal edition of the Glasgow Comic and Toy Fair (Renfield St
Stephen’s Church, Glasgow, Sat 6 Dec) for more than 30 tables of sellers and a chance to meet Super Santa, or A Royal Christmas (Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Sat 6 Dec–Tue 6 Jan) for a taste of how Christmas was presented by the royals in the 1930s.
Wassailing and Carolling (Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Sat 6 Dec) will combine historical education with song, while Scotland Street Santa School (Scotland Street School Museum, Glasgow, Sat 6–Sun 21 Dec, Sat & Sun only) invites kids to learn St Nick’s skills in case of a Christmas emergency. Edinburgh will host a Christmas Run, Walk and Toddle (Inverleith Park, Edinburgh, Sun 7 Dec) and a bunch of fairs in both cities will include the large-scale Country Living Christmas Fair (SECC, Glasgow, Thu 20–Sun 23 Nov). (Da vid Pollock)
40 THE LIST 13 Nov–11 Dec 2014